BlockFrom the record
3 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Webster County, Georgia
18 topographic sheets cover 8 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 59 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 2 buildings and 1 district.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 8 populated places in this county; 8 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
3Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boyd Mill Place | district | 2009 | 09000752 |
 | Webster County Courthouse | building | 1980 | 80001262 |
 | Webster County Jails | building | 2000 | 00000152 |
The county from the air
8 shownFlown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 248 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 8 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.
Weather records
1 station, 1 gageThe thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them.
- PRESTON 1956 to 2012
- KINCHAFOONEE CREEK AT PRESTON, GA 1951 to 2026
The 1950 census, district by district
8 districtsWho lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.
- 152-1Militia District 978, Preston: Preston town
- 152-2Militia District 978, Preston - That part east of Kinchafoonee and Lanahassee Creeks
- 152-3Militia District 978, Preston - That part west of Lanahassee Creek and northeast and north of U.S. Hwy. 280, outside Preston town
- 152-4Militia District 978, Preston - That part south and southwest of U.S. Hwy. 280 and west of Lanahassee and Kinchafoonee Creeks, outside Preston town
- 152-5Militia District 1092, Weston: Weston town
- 152-6Militia District 1092, Weston - That part outside Weston town
- 152-7Militia District 1093, Gooseberry
- 152-8Militia District 1105, Slaughter Creek
Wildfire, 1992 to 2020
475 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 475 of them, burning about 1,110 acres. 22 started naturally and 26 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 286 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 74 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 32 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 26 |
| Natural | 22 |
| Smoking | 17 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 10 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 7 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 October 2016 | Debris and open burning | 48 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2017-WEBSTER-004 |
| 13 March 2013 | Debris and open burning | 41 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2013-WEBSTER-013 |
| 17 August 2000 | Debris and open burning | 35 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2001-WEBSTER-004 |
| 31 May 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 29 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2011-WEBSTER-025 |
| 26 May 1998 | Equipment and vehicle use | 25 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 10 May 2018 | Arson/incendiarism | 20 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2018WEBSTER011 |
| 3 March 2011 | Natural | 20 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2011-WEBSTER-014 |
| 11 November 2011 | Arson/incendiarism | 20 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2012-WEBSTER-009 |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1954 to 2026
60 of 75 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 75 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 11 injuries and about $1,788,150 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 44 |
| Hail | 20 |
| Tornado | 7 |
| Flood | 2 |
| Flash Flood | 1 |
| Lightning | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1954 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 8 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 2007 | Tornado (EF3) | Weston | 3 hurt, $1,000,000 | A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, GA concluded that a strong, violent, and long-lived EF3 tornado tracked across southeast Webster, much of Sumter, and far southern Macon counties. The tornado touched down near Chambliss on the Webster/Terrell county line and tracked east-northeast exiting the county into Sumter county near Bottsford. While the overall path length of the tornado was around 40 miles, the path length within Webster county was between seven and eight miles. While the tornado reached its maximum path width of 1.0 mile in Sumter county near Americus, it was determined to be less than this within Webster county. A path of significant damage was noted across southeast Webster county. A concrete block house and two machine shops on East Centerpoint Road just northeast of Chambliss were completely destroyed. Three injuries resulted from the damage here. Twenty-five feet of asphalt in front of the home was also ripped up by the tornado. On a nearby farm, five cows were killed when they were tossed about by the tornado. A tractor-trailer traveling on Georgia Highway 520 near Chambliss was overturned causing it to catch on fire and burn. Very nearby, at the intersection of Georgia Highway 520 and TV Tower Road, a 1096 foot Georgia Public Television transmission tower was destroyed when two-thirds of the tower was twisted off by the tornado and destroyed. Only 150 feet of the 1096 foot tower was left standing after the tornado passed. Numerous trees and power lines were also down in the area. |
| April 2017 | Tornado (EF1) | Weston | $100,000 | A National Weather Service survey team found that the tornado that began in Randolph County and moved across southeastern Stewart County moved into Webster County at EF1 intensity, with maximum wind speeds of 104 MPH and a maximum path width of 880 yards, south of Goodwins Pond Road. The tornado continued moving east crossing Highway 41 and Highway 520 before ending around the intersection of Hudson Leverette Road and County Road 23. The damage was mostly to trees, power lines, and small farm outbuildings. One peanut farm storage building was destroyed, but fortunately the employees had been sent home earlier in the day due to the threat for severe weather. The owner of the farm had left minutes prior to the arrival of the tornado after receiving a phone call stating that Weston was in the path of the storm. No injuries were reported. [04/05/17: Tornado #3, County #2/2, EF-1, Stewart, Webster, 2017:062]. |
| February 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Weston | $55,000 | The Americus Times Recorder reported that thunderstorm winds caused significant damage within Webster county. A total of 12 mobile homes, one brick home, a pole barn, and a sanitation shop sustained minor to moderate damage. The majority of the damage was from Lynn Lane at Georgia Highway 520 northeastward through the county. Numerous trees and power lines were down within this same area. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $50,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and a few power lines blown down across the entire county from the Seminole area across Preston, Weston, Dumas, Centerpoint and Leveretts. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Weston | $50,000 | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $45,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported a roof blown off of a small office building near the intersection of Washington Street and Industrial Boulevard and several trees and power lines blown down in Preston. One tree fell on a house. |
| April 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Weston | $30,000 | The Webster County EMS/Fire Department found damage along a 5.1 mile long, 300 yard wide path from an EF-0 tornado. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 80 MPH. The path stretched from just northeast of Weston along State Highway 41 to around the intersection of East Centerpoint Road and County Road 24. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped along this path. Along County Road 26, minor roof damage occurred on two houses and the skirting along the bottom of a manufactured home was ripped off. A small shed was destroyed along East Centerpoint road. No injuries were reported. [04/07/16: Tornado #2, County #1-1, EF0, Webster, 2016:006]. |
| March 1981 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| January 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerpoint | $20,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager and the county 911 center reported trees blown down from around the intersection of Highway 41 and Center Point Road south of Preston to Wilson Pond Road north of Preston. There was damage to metal outbuildings and shingles blown off of several houses northwest of Preston. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $15,000 | Emergency manager reported that multiple trees were reported down across Webster county including a number of roads that were impassable, all north of HWY 280. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $15,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees blown down in and around Preston. |
| May 2020 | Hail | Preston | $15,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported hail the size of golf balls in Preston. |
| March 2019 | Tornado (EF0) | Weston | $15,000 | A National Weather Service survey found that the EF2 tornado that moved across Stewart County weakened to EF0 by the time it moved into Webster County along the Ichawaynochaway Creek west of Highway 41. The tornado moved only a short distance into the county before dissipating near the intersection of Highway 41 and Goodwin Cutoff Road. Despite weakening, the tornado still managed to snap large tree branches and overturn a large agricultural irrigation system around this intersection. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #14, County #2/2, EF0, WSebster, 2019:019]. |
| April 2017 | Tornado (EF0) | Preston | $15,000 | A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF-0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 75 MPH and a maximum path width of 150 yards occurred in northern Webster County. The tornado touched down just west of Seminole Road snapping several trees onto the roadway. The tornado moved east snapping trees as it crossed County Roads 8 and 123 before ending prior to crossing Highway 41. No injuries were reported. [04/03/17: Tornado #9, County #1/1, EF-0, Webster, 2017:041]. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $10,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees blown down along Highway 41 just north of Preston. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $8,000 | Report of 8 trees down hwy 280 west of Preston. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $7,000 | The Webster County 911 Center reported that thunderstorm wind gusts blew down many trees throughout the county. |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $5,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported several trees and power lines blown down near the courthouse in Preston. |
| August 2007 | Hail | Centerpoint | $5,000 | The Webster County Emergency Management Director reported quarter-sized hail around the Centerpointe community. There were reports that a number of cars in the area sustained damage from the hail. |
| November 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $5,000 | The Webster county sheriff reported numerous trees were knocked down across county roads in extreme northern Webster county. Other trees were downed southwest of Preston by a second, later storm. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Webster | $5,000 | Numerous power outages occurred when several trees, limbs and lines were downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $4,000 | The Webster County 911 center reported trees blown down in Preston near the intersection of Highways 280 and 41. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $3,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported a few trees blown down along Montgomery Street in Preston. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $3,000 | The Webster County Emergency manager reported trees and large branches blown down from Ponders Mill Road to Wilson Pond Road. |
| December 2009 | Flood | Preston | $3,000 | The Webster County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerpoint | $3,000 | The Webster County Emergency Management Director reported that eight to nine trees were down in the area. Two power lines were also down as a result. |
| March 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $3,000 | The Webster County 911 Center reported that a number of trees were down along and near U.S. 280 in the northwest part of the county. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $3,000 | The Webster county 911 center reported that several trees and some power lines were blown down. |
| December 2005 | Hail | Preston | $2,500 | The Preston Police Department reported golf ball-sized hail. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Archery | $2,000 | Trees down at intersection of US-280 and Bishop Johnson Circle Road. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $2,000 | The Webster County 911 Center reported that over half-a-dozen trees were down across the county. |
| April 2009 | Hail | Weston | $2,000 | Two reports of golf ball-sized hail were received from the public in the Weston area. Radar data indicates that golf ball-sized hail likely fell from Weston east-southeastward to the southeast corner of the county. |
| March 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $2,000 | The Webster county 911 center reported that several trees were down. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $2,000 | Several trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds to the east of Preston. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $1,000 | Fire department reports a tree down on a home near the intersection of washington street and industrial boulevard. |
| March 2025 | Hail | Preston | $1,000 | A photo of hail up to quarter size was received from hwy 41 n near the marion county line. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $1,000 | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down on Churchill Road. |
| August 2007 | Lightning | Preston | $1,000 | The Webster County Emergency Management Director reported that lightning struck a couple of trees and electrical transformers and set them on fire at private residences. No structural damage was reported. |
| March 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerpoint | $1,000 | The Webster County 911 Center reported that several trees were down on East Center Point Road. |
| May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Weston | $1,000 | The Webster county 911 center reported a few trees down near Weston. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Weston | $750 | The Webster County 911 center reported 3 trees down in Weston. |
| April 2006 | Flood | Preston | $500 | The Webster County 911 Center reported that one dirt road was flooded and under water and had to be closed. |
| November 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $500 | The Webster county 911 center reported that two trees were blown down. |
| March 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parrot | $500 | A few large trees downed power lines caused power outages in Parrot. Hail that fell over Parrot accumulated one to two inches in depth. |
| March 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $300 | no account filed |
| January 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Preston | $100 | Thunderstorm winds knocked tree limbs down on power lines. |
| May 2012 | Hail | Preston | - | The Webster County Emergency Manager reported that penny sized hail fell north of Preston. |
| March 2011 | Hail | Preston | - | The public observed quarter-sized hail across northern Webster county near Preston. |
| February 2008 | Hail | Preston | - | The Webster County Emergency Management Director observed penny-sized hail on Deerfield Road. |
| August 2007 | Hail | Preston | - | The Webster County Emergency Management Director reported that penny-sized hail was observed in the Seminole community. Two to three trees were also blown down at private residences. |
| January 2006 | Hail | Preston | - | The Webster County Sheriff reported penny-sized hail near the Stewart county line, about five miles west of Preston. |
| March 2005 | Hail | Centerpoint | - | The Webster County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail. |
| April 2005 | Hail | Preston | - | The public reported penny-sized hail. |
| July 2003 | Flash Flood | South Portion | - | The Webster county 911 center reported that several roads in the county were flooded and impassable. |
| April 2003 | Hail | Preston | - | The Webster county 911 center reported golf ball-sized hail. |
| July 2002 | Hail | Weston | - | The Meritt Pecan Farm reported dime to nickel size hail. |
| June 2000 | Hail | Weston | - | The public reported dime size hail. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Weston | - | The sheriffs office reported quarter size hail. |
| March 1993 | Hail | Parrot | - | A few large trees downed power lines caused power outages in Parrot. Hail that fell over Parrot accumulated one to two inches in depth. |
Every populated place in the county
8Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
-
Archery
Preston census division · 31780 · On Rabbit Branch · Plains quadrangle
8 sheets, 1955 to 1981
-
Dumas
Preston census division · 31824 · On Lanahassee Creek · Plains quadrangle
8 sheets, 1955 to 1981
-
Gooseberry
Weston census division · 31824 · On Choctahatchee Creek · Preston quadrangle
7 sheets, 1955 to 1981
No longer a settlement
The vanished settlements of Webster County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
Provenance
- Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
- Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
- Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.