Scull Shoals

Industrial Firsts

State: Georgia County: Greene County Founded: 1793 Abandoned: 1870s Peak Population: Cotton mill town

Scull Shoals was home to Georgia's first paper mill (1811) and first cotton factory (1812). The town thrived until the Civil War and soil exhaustion killed the cotton economy. Ruins of the mill, slave quarters, and cemetery remain in the national forest.

Plan Your Visit

Best Time: Year-round

Difficulty: Moderate (hiking)

Time Needed: 2 hours

Quick Facts

  • First GA paper mill
  • First GA cotton factory
  • Ruins in forest

Location

Address: Scull Shoals, Oconee National Forest, GA

Coordinates: 33.75, -83.4