Colonial Group began in 1921 as the American Oil Company, Savannah’s first independent wholesale petroleum company. Renamed Colonial Oil in 1933, the company built its first independent ocean terminal on the Savannah River in 1934, contributing to the growth and diversification of the Port of Savannah. Having expanded with multiple, diverse subsidiaries over the years, today the family-owned company is one of the Savannah area’s largest employers and one of the largest privately-held corporations in the United States.

Read the Business History Initiative profile and case study on Colonial Group, Inc., which explores the company's founding and growth, its impact on Georgia, and the concept of intermodal transportation.