Business View Magazine | November 2019

325 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2019 WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA Explosive growth W arner Robins is a city in Houston County in the central part of the State of Georgia. This vibrant metropolis began its existence as the little hamlet of Wellston, located 18 miles south of Macon and 17 miles northeast of Perry, the county seat. At that time, little Wellston had a population of 52 residents and was surrounded by peanut patches, peach orchards, and cornfields. The impact of World War II had a direct effect on Wellston after it was selected as the site for an Army Air Corps Depot. The Air Force Base was initially called Wellston Army Air Depot when it opened in 1942. Its first commander, Colonel Charles E. Thomas, wanted to name the depot in honor of his mentor, Augustine Warner Robins, but regulations prevented him from doing this, as they required the base to be named after the nearest town. Not deterred by this, Colonel Thomas persuaded community leaders to rename the town of Wellston. So, on September 1, 1942, the town was AT A GLANCE WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA WHAT: A city of 75,000 WHERE: Houston County, in the central part of the state WEBSITE: www.wrga.gov