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Houston County (pronounced House-ton), the 51st county formed in Georgia, was created in 1821. Originally part of the Creek nation's land, the county was named for John Houston, a member of the Continental Congress and Governor of Georgia from 1778 to 1784.
Perry is named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, the naval officer who said "We have met the enemy and they are ours," after a fleet under his command defeated the British at Lake Erie. Both Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base were named for Brigadier General Augustine Warner Robins. Robins Air Force Base, the center of the Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, was built in 1941 for around $15 million. It covers 6,400 acres and is Georgia's largest single employer, providing an important economic boost to central Georgia. Warner Robins is home to one of the top Air Museums in the country, the Museum of Aviation. This facility also includes the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame as well as the Robert L. Scott Vistascope Theater. Some of the county's special events include the World Class Air Show and the International City Festival, in Warner Robins; and the Georgia National Fair, the Mossy Creek Barnyard Arts and Crafts Festival, and the Dogwood Festival in Perry. The Georgia National Fair is an old-fashioned, state-sponsored fair held nine days at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. |