Near Adabelle in Bulloch County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Croatan Indian Community

Photographed by David Seibert, January 19, 2005

1. Croatan Indian Community Marker

Inscription. In 1870 a group of Croatan Indians migrated from their homes in Robeson County North Carolina, following the turpentine industry to southeast Georgia. Eventually many of the Croatans became tenant farmers for the Adabelle Trading Company, growing cotton and tobacco. The Croatan community established the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Adabelle, as well as a school and a nearby cemetery. After the collapse of the Adabelle Trading Company, the Croatans faced both economic hardship and social injustice. As a result, most members of the community returned to North Carolina by 1920. The tribe to which these families belonged became known as the Lumbee in the early 1950s.

Erected 2004 by Georgia Historical Society and Bulloch County Historical Society. (Marker Number 16-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 32° 17.425′ N, 81° 52.517′ W. Marker is near Adabelle, Georgia, in Bulloch County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Adabelle Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 301

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. Marker is at the intersection of US 301 and Adabelle Road, one mile south of Interstate 16. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Register GA 30452, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Adabelle, Georgia (approx. 3 miles away); Oliff, Rushing, Durrence House (approx. 3.9 miles away); Register, Georgia (approx. 5.2 miles away); Excelsior and its Academy (approx. 5½ miles away); Harville House (approx. 6.3 miles away); Nevils Station & Shearwood Railroad (approx. 6.9 miles away); Pulaski, Georgia (approx. 8.4 miles away); Old Sunbury Road (approx. 8.6 miles away).

Photographed by David Seibert, January 28, 2013

2. Croatan Indian Community Marker

US Highway 301 is on the right; Adabelle Road runs west (to the left) in the photo.

Croatan Indian Memorial Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger burke, 03042023

3. Croatan Indian Memorial Cemetery

Located on private property.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 5,219 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on December 6, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. Photos: 1. submitted on July 6, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2. submitted on August 29, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 3. submitted on April 5, 2023, by Roger burke of Pembroke, Georgia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.