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Places and Personalities Sumter County, Georgia with it county site (as the center of government was originally called, now referred to as the county "seat") at Americus also includes the towns of Plains, Andersonville, and Leslie plus many other communities and un-incorporated areas. Internationally, Sumter County is known as the home of the 39th President Jimmy Carter and his family. It is also the home of the World Headquarters of Habitat for Humanity.
The village of Andersonville became the supply center for the prison, all necessary supplies being shipped by rail to this point. In Andersonville you will find the famous Drummer Boy Civil War Museum along with antique shops and a restaurant. The City R.V. Park provides complete hookups or you may choose to stay at the Bed and Breakfast. The Andersonville Antique Fair is held on Memorial Day Weekend (the last weekend in May) each year and attracts many. For further information contact the Andersonville Guild at 912-924-2558. The Georgia Rural Telephone Museum in Leslie, Georgia, is home to one of the largest collections of antique telephone and telephone memorabilia in the world. Located in Americus, Georgia Southwestern State University is a small, public four-year institution, part of the University System of Georgia. The school offers - (to be completed later) Also in Americus, the South Georgia Technical School located near historic Souther Field where Charles Lindbergh purchased a "jenny" and first soloed in 1923, offers study in the technical fields including aviation maintenance. The school site was also once a training facility for American and British pilots during World War I. Nationally recognized over the years for its high school football teams, Americus High School was the home of two active professional football coaches; Dan Reeves of the Atlanta Falcons and Chan Gailey of the Dallas Cowboys. Kent Hill was a valuable player for many years with the L.A. Rams and many others were outstanding athletes at various colleges while participating in football as well as other sports. Malcolm King played for Americus High School and went on to play four years as a running back at Georgia Tech where during a game with Clemson in "death valley" he physically met William (Refrigerator) Perry. Olympic Champion swimmer Angel Myers Martino is also from Americus. Victor Green of the New York Jets is another area standout. Another sport well represented in Americus is NHRA Drag Racing - Pro Stock Bike catagory. Star Performance Parts and the Star Racing Team is internationally recognized as a component producer, bike builder and racer. Star Racing has to its credit three NHRA Winston Points World Championships with driver John Myers as well as some 36 event wins since 1989. The current driver is Angelle Seeling of New Orleans, LA who began racing in 1996 is in second place in the current (1998) Winston Points Standing. Star offers visitors tours by appointment. Joanna Moore, mother of Tatum O'Neal who played among other roles the girlfriend of Andy Griffith in some of the early shows, grew up in Americus.
The historic Rylander Theatre is under renovation and will open to the public in April, 1999 where Broadway shows, revues, educational seminars, multi-cultural programs and more will be produced in this state of the art, high-tech facility. There are over 42 restaurants located in Americus and Sumter County including offerings from gourmet to hot dogs, ethnic varieties, and good southern, down home cooking and desserts. Accommodations:
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Medical Facilities Additional information may also be found in the local newspapers, The Americus Times Recorder, The Sumter Free Press and Sumter Observer. 
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