John Stith Pemberton was born in 1831 in Knoxville, Georgia -- a small town in Crawford County – and that’s something the people who live there are proud of.
"We would like people to realize John Pemberton, such an important person, was born here," said historian Kathleen Cook.
Though Pemberton was born in Knoxville, he has roots throughout the state,
He went to school in Rome, medical school in Macon, and invented the soft drink as a physician and pharmacist in Atlanta.
Cook has done a lot of research on Pemberton.
"His aunt and uncle lived in Knoxville and during the summers he would come and stay with his aunt. Her husband was a pharmacist and that's how he developed his interest in pharmacy and medicine," said Cook.
He used that background in pharmacy to concoct Coca-Cola.
"The early beverages contained cocaine. It was thought to be a remedy for morphine addiction," said Cook.
Today's Coca-Cola is a bit different and at the Knoxville Store, Pemberton is a frequent topic of conversation.
"It's actually pretty cool. I just learned about it last year," said Knoxville Store employee Sylvia Preston.
"I think it's great. I think there are a lot of people in the United States and in Georgia that don't even know that," said customer Mitch Conger.
Even though you may think Coke reigns king in Crawford County, other sodas are also sold.
"There are some Pepsi loving people in Roberta too," said Preston, "We cannot tell people what they can and cannot drink. I don't want to deprive them of that, but I don't like going places where I can't get a Coke."