Colonels Island, Georgia facts for kids

A Georgia Historical Marker stands at the entrance of Colonels Island. Next to it is the road leading onto the island, U.S. Route 84.

An ancient artifact, like this one, was found in a mound on Colonels Island. It was featured in a book about the history of "southern Indians."

Colonels Island is a quiet island located in the state of Georgia, USA. It got its name because many military officers, called colonels, built large farms there. These farms were known as plantations.

Discovering Colonels Island's Past

Before Europeans arrived, the land that is now Colonels Island belonged to the Guale Indian Kingdom. The Guale people were part of the larger Creek Nation. They lived on the island and used its resources for many years.

Early European Settlements

Colonels Island is part of Liberty County, Georgia. One famous farm there was "Herron's Point," owned by Colonel Alexander Herron. Many plantations on the island grew important crops like rice and indigo. These were very valuable crops for Georgia during the time before the American Civil War, known as the antebellum era.

Why the Name Changed

The island was first called Bermuda Island. It's believed that many people from Bermuda settled there. However, many of them became sick with a disease called malaria. Because of this, most of the settlers left the island.

Getting Around the Island

Today, people who live on Colonels Island use U.S. Route 84 to travel. This road connects the island to the mainland and ends right on Colonels Island.