Jonesboro

Book excerpt: Pioneers came to the Jonesboro area, originally known as Leaksville, following the Treaty of Indian Springs with the Creek Indians. In 1845, the Macon and Western Railroad was completed, and the town was renamed in honor of engineer Samuel Jones. It was designated the county seat when Clayton County was formed in 1859 and was soon a commercial center for the surrounding area. Jonesboro was developed around the railroad, and these rails brought the Yankees here for the last and decisive battle of the Atlanta Campaign during the Civil War, which destroyed much of the town. Turmoil followed with Reconstruction, but by the 1880s, the economy had been revitalized. When a journalist visited her grandparents, local residents shared their memories of war experiences with her. Their stories and Margaret Mitchell's imagination produced the masterpiece Gone with the Wind. Tourists from around the world still come looking for Tara and the old South. They may not find Tara, but Jonesboro still offers true Southern charm. Catch a glimpse of Jonesboro from the early days through its centennial celebration.