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Timeline of Augusta, Georgia facts for kids

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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
  • 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
  • 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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Timeline of Augusta, Georgia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.