One of the New Deal programs that had a major impact on the state was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933-1942. The purpose of the program was to hire unemployed young men to work on public service projects. Some of these projects included erosion control, flood prevention, and public parks. Men who volunteered for this service signed six month contracts and were provided room and board. In addition, they also received $30 a month, $25 of which had to be sent back to their families.

Of all of the New Deal programs, this was probably the most successful and popular. Over the nine years it was in existence, over 3 million young men worked in the program and planted millions of trees throughout the country. However, once the U.S. entered World War II, these men changed out of their CCC uniforms and into military ones. In 1942, the CCC was disbanded.

In Georgia, the CCC had a lasting impact. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, over “78,000 Georgians were employed by the CCC” and these men planted over 22 million trees and built or improved several state parks. These parks are still used today, including historic battle fields such as Chickamauga and Kennesaw Mountain, and “forest parks” such as A.H. Stephens and Hard Labor Creek. Segregation was incorporated in these federal groups. For example, an all-black CCC unit helped to develop the infrastructure of the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge.