Waycross, Georgia

Incorporated in 1874, Waycross is the only incorporated city in Ware County, Georgia. Many conflicting stories surround the naming of the city and, at separate points in history, Waycross was known as Old Nine, Number Nine or Tebeauville. The official name of Waycross takes after the city’s railroad junction where lines from six directions meet, a location where “ways cross”. Waycross is the closest city to Okefenokee Swamp, a 438,000 acre protected wetland on the Georgia/Florida border.

Waycross served as a hub for stagecoach roads and pioneer trails in colonial days. Around the turn of the 20th century, the Plant System, an organized system of railroads and steamboats in Georgia and Florida, was taken over by Atlantic Coastline Railroad. Dozens of other railroad companies operated in Waycross throughout the years, including CSX Railroad and Seaboard Coastline Railroad. In the 1940s, Waycross witnessed the creation of a new pulp industry that utilized southern pine trees to produce newsprint. The Champion International Paper mill, owned and operated by Champion Paper Company, was a major player. In due time the corporation expanded to include the Champion Plywood division.

Currently, Waycross is home to over 35,000 people and is a place of continued business and industrial development. The modern railroad system plays a central role in the survival of the city. Due to Waycross’ extensive railroad history, the city is in a high risk category for asbestos exposure. Workers in Waycross exposed to asbestos may be at risk to develop malignant mesothelioma, a cancer caused by the inhalation of asbestos particles.

Jobsites in Waycross where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Waycross, GA have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.