diff --git a/src/main/java/net/knarcraft/stargate/config/ConfigOption.java b/src/main/java/net/knarcraft/stargate/config/ConfigOption.java
index f497f98..da046b1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/knarcraft/stargate/config/ConfigOption.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/knarcraft/stargate/config/ConfigOption.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ public enum ConfigOption {
     /**
      * The max number of portals on a single network
      */
-    MAX_GATES_EACH_NETWORK("gates.maxGatesEachNetwork", "The max number of stargates in a single network", "0"),
+    MAX_GATES_EACH_NETWORK("gates.maxGatesEachNetwork", "The max number of stargates in a single network", 0),
     /**
      * The network used if not specified
      */
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ public enum ConfigOption {
     /**
      * Whether to remember the lastly used destination
      */
-    REMEMBER_DESTINATION("gates.cosmetic.rememberDestination", "Whether to remember the last destination used", "false"),
+    REMEMBER_DESTINATION("gates.cosmetic.rememberDestination", "Whether to remember the last destination used", false),
     /**
      * Whether to sort the network destinations
      */
-    SORT_NETWORK_DESTINATIONS("gates.cosmetic.sortNetworkDestinations", "Whether to sort destinations by name", "false"),
+    SORT_NETWORK_DESTINATIONS("gates.cosmetic.sortNetworkDestinations", "Whether to sort destinations by name", false),
     /**
      * The main color to use for all signs
      */
@@ -44,57 +44,58 @@ public enum ConfigOption {
     /**
      * Whether to destroy portals when any blocks are broken by explosions
      */
-    DESTROYED_BY_EXPLOSION("gates.integrity.destroyedByExplosion", "Whether stargates should be destroyed by explosions", "false"),
+    DESTROYED_BY_EXPLOSION("gates.integrity.destroyedByExplosion", "Whether stargates should be destroyed by explosions", false),
     /**
      * Whether to verify each portal's gate layout after each load
      */
-    VERIFY_PORTALS("gates.integrity.verifyPortals", "Whether to verify that portals match their gate layout on load", "false"),
+    VERIFY_PORTALS("gates.integrity.verifyPortals", "Whether to verify that portals match their gate layout on load", false),
     /**
      * Whether to protect the entrance of portals
      */
-    PROTECT_ENTRANCE("gates.integrity.protectEntrance", "Whether to protect stargates' entrances", "false"),
+    PROTECT_ENTRANCE("gates.integrity.protectEntrance", "Whether to protect stargates' entrances", false),
     /**
      * Whether to enable BungeeCord support
      */
-    ENABLE_BUNGEE("gates.functionality.enableBungee", "Whether to enable BungeeCord support", "false"),
+    ENABLE_BUNGEE("gates.functionality.enableBungee", "Whether to enable BungeeCord support", false),
     /**
      * Whether to enable vehicle teleportation
      */
-    HANDLE_VEHICLES("gates.functionality.handleVehicles", "Whether to enable vehicle teleportation", "true"),
+    HANDLE_VEHICLES("gates.functionality.handleVehicles", "Whether to enable vehicle teleportation", true),
     /**
      * Whether to enable teleportation of empty vehicles
      */
-    HANDLE_EMPTY_VEHICLES("gates.functionality.handleEmptyVehicles", "Whether to enable teleportation of empty vehicles", "true"),
+    HANDLE_EMPTY_VEHICLES("gates.functionality.handleEmptyVehicles", "Whether to enable teleportation of empty vehicles", true),
     /**
      * Whether to enable teleportation of creatures using vehicles
      */
-    HANDLE_CREATURE_TELEPORTATION("gates.functionality.handleCreatureTransportation",
-            "Whether to enable teleportation of vehicles containing non-player creatures", "true"),
+    HANDLE_CREATURE_TRANSPORTATION("gates.functionality.handleCreatureTransportation",
+            "Whether to enable teleportation of vehicles containing non-player creatures", true),
     /**
      * Whether to allow creatures to teleport alone, bypassing any access restrictions
      */
     HANDLE_NON_PLAYER_VEHICLES("gates.functionality.handleNonPlayerVehicles",
-            "Whether to enable teleportation of non-empty vehicles without a player", "true"),
+            "Whether to enable teleportation of non-empty vehicles without a player", true),
     /**
      * Whether to enable teleportations of creatures on a leash
      */
     HANDLE_LEASHED_CREATURES("gates.functionality.handleLeashedCreatures",
-            "Whether to enable players to teleport a creature on a leash", "true"),
-    USE_ECONOMY("economy.useEconomy", "Whether to use economy to incur fees when stargates are used, created or destroyed", "false"),
-    CREATE_COST("economy.createCost", "The cost of creating a new stargate", "0"),
-    DESTROY_COST("economy.destroyCost", "The cost of destroying a stargate. Negative to refund", "0"),
-    USE_COST("economy.useCost", "The cost of using (teleporting through) a stargate", "0"),
-    TO_OWNER("economy.toOwner", "Whether any teleportation fees should go to the owner of the used stargate", "false"),
+            "Whether to enable players to teleport a creature on a leash", true),
+    USE_ECONOMY("economy.useEconomy", "Whether to use economy to incur fees when stargates are used, created or destroyed", false),
+    CREATE_COST("economy.createCost", "The cost of creating a new stargate", 0),
+    DESTROY_COST("economy.destroyCost", "The cost of destroying a stargate. Negative to refund", 0),
+    USE_COST("economy.useCost", "The cost of using (teleporting through) a stargate", 0),
+    TO_OWNER("economy.toOwner", "Whether any teleportation fees should go to the owner of the used stargate", false),
     CHARGE_FREE_DESTINATION("economy.chargeFreeDestination",
-            "Whether to require payment if the destination is free, but the entrance stargate is not", "true"),
-    FREE_GATES_GREEN("economy.freeGatesGreen", "Whether to use green coloring to mark all free stargates", "false"),
-    DEBUG("debugging.debug", "Whether to enable debugging output", "false"),
-    PERMISSION_DEBUG("debugging.permissionDebug", "Whether to enable permission debugging output", "false");
+            "Whether to require payment if the destination is free, but the entrance stargate is not", true),
+    FREE_GATES_GREEN("economy.freeGatesGreen", "Whether to use green coloring to mark all free stargates", false),
+    DEBUG("debugging.debug", "Whether to enable debugging output", false),
+    PERMISSION_DEBUG("debugging.permissionDebug", "Whether to enable permission debugging output", false);
 
 
     private final String configNode;
     private final String description;
-    private final String defaultValue;
+    private final Object defaultValue;
+    private final OptionDataType dataType;
 
     /**
      * Instantiates a new config option
@@ -103,10 +104,35 @@ public enum ConfigOption {
      * @param description  <p>The description of what this config option does</p>
      * @param defaultValue <p>The default value of this config option</p>
      */
-    ConfigOption(String configNode, String description, String defaultValue) {
+    ConfigOption(String configNode, String description, Object defaultValue) {
         this.configNode = configNode;
         this.description = description;
         this.defaultValue = defaultValue;
+
+        if (defaultValue instanceof String) {
+            this.dataType = OptionDataType.STRING;
+        } else if (defaultValue instanceof Boolean) {
+            this.dataType = OptionDataType.BOOLEAN;
+        } else if (defaultValue instanceof Integer) {
+            this.dataType = OptionDataType.INTEGER;
+        } else {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown config data type encountered.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets a config option given its name
+     *
+     * @param name <p>The name of the config option to get</p>
+     * @return <p>The corresponding config option, or null if the name is invalid</p>
+     */
+    public static ConfigOption getByName(String name) {
+        for (ConfigOption option : ConfigOption.values()) {
+            if (option.getName().equalsIgnoreCase(name)) {
+                return option;
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -122,6 +148,24 @@ public enum ConfigOption {
         return pathParts[pathParts.length - 1];
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the data type used for storing this config option
+     *
+     * @return <p>The data type used</p>
+     */
+    public OptionDataType getDataType() {
+        return this.dataType;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the config node of this config option
+     *
+     * @return <p>This config option's config node</p>
+     */
+    public String getConfigNode() {
+        return this.configNode;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Gets the description of what this config option does
      *
@@ -136,7 +180,7 @@ public enum ConfigOption {
      *
      * @return <p>This config option's default value</p>
      */
-    public String getDefaultValue() {
+    public Object getDefaultValue() {
         return this.defaultValue;
     }