Petersburg, Georgia facts for kids
Petersburg, Georgia was a busy market town that no longer exists. It was located in what is now Elbert County. The town was named after Petersburg, Virginia. Dionysius Oliver founded Petersburg in 1786. It was built to serve the fast-growing Broad River Valley area of Georgia.
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History of Petersburg, Georgia
Petersburg was connected to Augusta, Georgia, by pole boats on the Savannah River. These boats were like large canoes pushed with long poles. Petersburg became important as a place where tobacco could be checked and sold. This helped local farmers get good prices for their tobacco.
Petersburg's Golden Age
Between 1800 and 1810, Petersburg was very successful. It was the third-largest city in Georgia. Only Savannah and Augusta were bigger. A writer named Sibbald described Petersburg in 1801. He said it was a "handsome well built Town" that seemed to appear "as if by enchantment." It had two warehouses for checking tobacco.
Another writer, Longstreet, described Petersburg around 1806 to 1809. He said it was an "active, busy, commercial little town." It had about eight to ten stores and many homes. People in Petersburg were known for being polite and welcoming.
Important People from Petersburg
Several important people lived near Petersburg.
- William Wyatt Bibb was a doctor in Petersburg. He became a U.S. Representative for Georgia. Later, he served in the U.S. Senate. He then became the first Governor of Alabama.
- Charles Tait moved to the area in 1783. He also served in the U.S. Senate. This meant Petersburg was home to two U.S. Senators at the same time!
- George Rockingham Gilmer was born nearby. He became a U.S. Representative and later served as Governor of Georgia twice.
Why Petersburg Disappeared
Petersburg did not last very long. Its population started to shrink after 1810. Eventually, everyone left, and the buildings fell apart. The land became farmland again. The last known sale of a town lot was in 1837.
There were several reasons why Petersburg declined:
- New Crops: Tobacco was replaced by cotton. Cotton did not need to be inspected in the same way.
- New Transport: Steamboats became popular, but they could not travel past Augusta on the river.
- No Railroads: Later, rivers made it hard to build railroads through the area. Railroads were important for towns after 1850.
- Moving West: Many people moved west to find new land and opportunities.
The Petersburg post office moved in 1844 and closed in 1855. The nearby town of Vienna, South Carolina also disappeared.
Petersburg is still remembered for its "Petersburg boats." These were special pole boats that could carry about ten tons of goods. They were perfect for traveling between Petersburg and Augusta. People used them for a long time, even after the American Civil War.
Geography of Petersburg, Georgia
Petersburg was located where the Broad River meets the Savannah River. This spot is about 75 river miles upstream from Augusta. The town was first laid out with 86 lots, covering about 40 acres. In 1810, the U.S. Census reported 332 people living there.
Today, most of the old town site is underwater. It is covered by Clarks Hill Lake. However, if you visit Bobby Brown State Park when the water level is low, you might still see some old building foundations. Experts have even studied the submerged ruins of the town.
