Georgia-Pacific LLC is an American pulp and paper company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, recognized as one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products, related chemicals, and other forest products, primarily sourced from its own timber resources. Founded on September 22, 1927, by Owen Robertson Cheatham in Augusta, Georgia, as the Georgia Hardwood Lumber Company, a hardwood lumber wholesaler, the company initially focused on lumber distribution. It expanded rapidly during the post-World War II era, renaming to Georgia-Pacific Plywood and Lumber Company in 1948 and going public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1949. Over the decades, Georgia-Pacific diversified into plywood, paper products, and chemicals, achieving significant growth through acquisitions and innovations, such as becoming a major supplier to the U.S. armed forces during World War II and later dominating in tissue, towel, linerboard, and kraft paper production by the late 1980s. In 2005, Georgia-Pacific was acquired by Koch Industries for approximately $21 billion, becoming an independently operated and managed subsidiary that expanded Koch's portfolio in consumer goods and forest products. This acquisition marked a pivotal shift, allowing Georgia-Pacific to leverage Koch's resources for further global expansion. Key milestones post-acquisition include the 2000 purchase of Fort James Corporation for $7.7 billion, enhancing its tissue and towel operations, and the 2001 divestiture of fine-paper mills to Domtar for $1.65 billion and merger of its Timber Company into Plum Creek, exiting the standalone timber business. As of fall 2019, the company employed more than 35,000 people across over 180 locations in North America, South America, and Europe, maintaining a strong focus on sustainable forestry and product innovation. Georgia-Pacific's operations span a wide array of industries, from consumer staples like bathroom tissue (brands such as Angel Soft and Quilted Northern) to industrial building materials and packaging solutions. Its integration into Koch Industries has amplified its influence in global supply chains, though it operates autonomously. The company's history reflects the evolution of the American forest products industry, from lumber wholesaling to a multinational conglomerate, with ongoing commitments to environmental stewardship and community engagement.