From Ford to Hyundai

October 28, 2025

A century ago Henry Ford and his wife Clara discovered Ways Station in coastal Georgia and saw potential for agricultural experimentation and a winter home. They bought tens of thousands of acres beginning in 1925, hoping to cultivate rubber-producing plants and diversify into other crops after rubber trials failed. Their experiments unintentionally revealed that iceberg lettuce and other crops thrived, creating new local employment and shipping opportunities.

Ford invested heavily in the community’s infrastructure and welfare, building schools, a medical clinic, worker housing, a bakery, and a community house. He and Clara prioritized education and health, founding the George Washington Carver School for African American students and establishing home economics and wellness programs. Medical interventions, including the use of Atabrine, helped eradicate malaria and improve public health across the county.

After the Fords’ deaths, International Paper purchased the holdings and preserved much of the land while providing jobs until development accelerated decades later. The company donated portions of the property, including Fort McAllister, to the state, which helped conserve local heritage. The departure of Ford-era social programs reduced some employment and population, but the skills, education, and health foundations the Fords created continued to benefit residents.

In recent years Bryan County shifted from a quiet bedroom community to a rapidly growing manufacturing hub, driven primarily by the arrival of Hyundai and associated suppliers. Hyundai’s decision was influenced by Georgia’s business climate, available large tracts of land, and proximity to ports, highways, rail, and major universities that support workforce development. The project has catalyzed regional economic growth, attracting suppliers, service providers, and new families across neighboring counties.

Local leaders emphasize balancing growth with preservation of community character and heritage while expanding opportunity. Public investments in education have paid off, with the school system now highly ranked in the state and local residents better positioned to pursue careers without leaving the county. The county’s evolving industry base offers a diverse set of jobs that can sustain multigenerational prosperity.

Officials draw a throughline between Ford’s transformational influence a century ago and Hyundai’s contemporary impact, seeing both as watershed moments that reshape livelihoods and identity. Both industrial investments shifted wages and created durable opportunities, with Hyundai’s projected salaries representing a generational lift for towns like Pembroke. The piece frames Bryan County as a place where past and future industry converge to redefine the community’s economic and cultural landscape.

For the full story, please read the article "Echoes of Ford: Hyndai Drives a New Chapter in Bryan County", written by Gail Parsons with Bryan County Magazine.