Home of the oldest prehistoric pottery found in North America, Columbia County was one of the first counties in Georgia and is still growing today. From the tumultuous years of the Civil War to the 20th century, Columbia County's history is recorded in these vintage images, many of the photographs never before seen by the public, as well as several ambrotypes of Confederate soldiers. The history of the county's education system, one of the state's best, is traced with snapshots of old field schools and village schoolhouses, and its industry is revealed, from locally-owned lumber yards to the famous Lake Thurmond Dam, which created the largest recreation facility in a five-county area. Culled from individuals, family collections, and county organizations, these pictures are treasured items offered for public perusal. An engaging retrospective, Columbia County offers something for everyone, from the history buff to the nostalgia seeker to the leisurely reader.