Timeline of Augusta, Georgia facts for kids
Augusta, Georgia, is a city in the United States with a long and interesting past. This timeline will show you some of the most important events that have shaped Augusta from its early days to today. It's like a historical journey through time, highlighting key moments in the city's development.
Augusta's Early Years: The 1700s
- 1740 – A "highway" was built connecting Augusta to Savannah. This made travel and trade easier.
- 1750 – St. Paul's Church was started.
- 1779 – January 29: British forces took control of Augusta during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1780 – Augusta became the capital city of Georgia for a time.
- 1781
- April 16: American forces began a siege to take Augusta back from the British.
- May: American forces captured Fort Grierson, which was held by the British.
- 1785 – The Academy of Richmond County opened, providing education for young people.
- 1789
- The town of Augusta officially became an incorporated town.
- The The Augusta Chronicle newspaper started being published.
- 1790
- A Baptist Church for African Americans was established.
- The Government House was built.
- 1791
- May: The first U.S. president, George Washington, visited Augusta.
- A bridge was built across the Savannah River, making it easier to cross.
- 1792 – John Milton became the mayor of Augusta.
- 1795 – Meadow Garden was built. It was the summer home of George Walton, who was the youngest person to sign the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Augusta in the 1800s: Growth and Change
- 1802 – Wray's drug store opened for business.
- 1805 – A Methodist church was built around this time.
- 1808 – The Library Company and Thespian Society were founded.
- 1810 – The Bank of Augusta was established.
- 1812 – The First Presbyterian Church was built.
- 1815 – A Catholic church was built around this time.
- 1817 – Augusta officially became an incorporated city.
- 1818 – Magnolia Cemetery began to be used.
- 1819 – The Augusta Arsenal was built.
- 1820 – The First Baptist Church was built.
- 1821
- The town of Hamburg was established in South Carolina, just across the river from Augusta.
- The Free School Society, a charity, was formed.
- 1822 – The Medical Society was incorporated.
- 1824 – The City Hall building was completed.
- 1825 – Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution, visited Augusta.
- 1827 – The Library Society was founded.
- 1828
- The Medical Academy of Georgia was founded.
- A Unitarian church was built.
- 1829 – April 3: A large fire occurred in the city.
- 1830 – The city's population reached 6,710 people.
- 1833 – A railway connecting Augusta to Charleston began operating.
- 1836 – Another fire, known as the Broad Street fire, happened.
- 1837
- The Georgia Railroad started operating between Augusta and Berzelia.
- The Augusta Chronicle & Sentinel newspaper began publication.
- 1840 – A yellow fever epidemic affected the city.
- 1845 – The Southern Baptist Convention was founded at a meeting held in Augusta.
- 1847 – The Augusta Canal was built.
- 1848
- The Young Men's Library Association was formed.
- The Signers Monument was dedicated.
- 1850 – The population grew to 9,448 people.
- 1854
- The Augusta and Savannah Railroad began operating.
- Another yellow fever epidemic occurred.
- 1858 – Fruitland Nurseries opened for business.
- 1860 – The population reached 12,493 people.
- 1861 – January 24: Confederate forces from Georgia took control of the U.S. arsenal.
- 1862
- The Confederate Powderworks began operating.
- St. Patrick's Church was built.
- 1863 – April: A new type of wanted poster with a photo was introduced.
- 1864 – January: A major flood hit the city.
- 1865
- The U.S. Army took control of the city.
- The Colored American newspaper began publication.
- 1866 – State Freedmen's Conventions were held in Augusta.
- 1867 – The Augusta Institute (which later became Morehouse College) was established.
- 1869
- An "iron works factory" opened.
- A synagogue was built.
- 1870 – The Cotton States Mechanics and Agricultural Fair was held in Augusta.
- 1877 – The Augusta Evening News began publication.
- 1878 – The Augusta Confederate Monument was dedicated.
- 1879 – The Augusta Institute moved from Augusta to Atlanta.
- 1880 – The population grew to 21,891 people.
- 1882 – The Paine Institute was established.
- 1886 – The Haines Normal and Industrial Institute was founded.
- 1890 – The Augusta Herald newspaper began publication.
- 1892 – The Negro Press Association of Georgia was formed during a meeting in Augusta.
- 1894 – The Buffalo kindergarten opened.
Augusta in the 1900s: Modern Times Begin
- 1900 – The population reached 39,441 people.
- 1908 – Another flood occurred.
- 1909 – The Church of the Immaculate Conception was established.
- 1910 – The Springfield Baptist Church was built.
- 1912
- Yet another flood hit the city.
- A "street railway strike" took place.
- Summerville became part of Augusta.
- 1916
- A major fire, known as the Augusta Fire, happened.
- A levee and the United States Post Office and Courthouse were built.
- 1917 – U.S. military camps, Camp Gordon and Camp Hancock, were established near Augusta.
- 1918 – The Imperial Theatre opened.
- 1919 – The city's "first paved four-lane highway" opened.
- 1926 – The Junior College of Augusta was established.
- 1933 – The Augusta Museum and the Augusta National Golf Club were established.
- 1934
- The C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School was established.
- WRDW radio began broadcasting.
- 1935 – The city celebrated its 200th anniversary.
- 1937 – August: A blood drive was organized.
- 1940 – The Augusta Drive-In cinema opened for business.
- 1945 – September 15: Future opera star Jessye Norman was born in Augusta.
- 1948 – The city adopted a city manager form of government.
- 1949 – Lucy Craft Laney High School was established.
- 1950 – Bush Field began operating as a civilian airport.
- 1953 – WJBF-TV (television) began broadcasting.
- 1954 – WRDW-TV (television) began broadcasting.
- 1961 – The Augusta Area Vocational-Technical School was founded.
- 1970 – May 11–13: There was racial unrest in the city.
- 1978 – The Augusta Mall opened for business.
- 1996 – The City of Augusta joined with Richmond County to form Augusta-Richmond County.
- 1997 – April 24: African-American golfer Tiger Woods, at age 21, won the 1997 Masters Tournament.
Augusta in the 2000s: The New Millennium
- 2005 – John Barrow became the U.S. representative for Georgia's 12th congressional district.
- 2010 – The population reached 195,844 people.
- 2014 – An ice storm hit the area.
- 2015
- Hardie Davis became the mayor of Augusta.
- Rick W. Allen became the U.S. representative for Georgia's 12th congressional district.
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