To the east of here on the Altamaha River stood Doctortown, a place whose name may have come from the Muskogean Indian word "Alekcha," purported to mean doctor, and where a Creek Indian called "Alleck" is believed to have lived in the late 1700s. From the time the Alachua Indian Path crossed the river there until World War II, Doctortown was the major crossing point of the Altamaha River, and for many years it was the only road and rail crossing in this part of the coastal plain, making it a vital shipping and travel point. As a steamboat landing, it provided river access to important overland routes. It became an important target for Gen. Sherman's troops during the March to the Sea and was the site of an unsuccessful assault in December, 1864. After the Civil War, Doctortown developed into an industrial center for the South Georgia timber and paper industry, with large sawmills and the world's largest pulp mill in 1992.