state/local government

TIMELINE HISTORY OF GEORGIA CAPITALS
1777-1778 Savannah
1779-1780 Augusta*
1780-1781 Heard's Fort*
1781-1782 Augusta
1782 Ebenezer*
1782 Savannah
1783 Augusta
1784 Savannah
1784 Augusta
1785 Savannah
1786-1796 Augusta
1796-1806 Louisville
1807-1864 Milledgeville
1864-1865 Macon*
1865-1868 Milledgeville
1868-Present Atlanta
* Temporary meeting sites

In February 1733, James Oglethorpe arrived in Yamacraw Bluff, the area now known as Savannah. Oglethorpe named the area after the chief of the Yamacraws gave him approval for a settlement.

In 1743, when Oglethorpe returned to England, William Stevens of Savannah was appointed the “president” of the colony of Georgia. Savannah was deemed the area of the colony’s government.

Georgia became a royal colony in 1754, and the Board of Trade officially deemed Savannah to be Georgia’s capital. In 1755, Congress and the Commons House of Assembly met in Savannah, though by the end of the year, the Royal Government no longer had control of the colony due to the Revolutionary War.

At the end of 1778, Savannah was taken over by British forces and the government evacuated the city. They fled to Augusta and spent all of 1779 attempting to establish the town as the official place for legislature. British forces interrupted these attempts. At the top of 1780 the legislature was able to assemble in Augusta, and Heard’s Fort (in today’s Wilkes County) was designated as the alternative meeting place. Not soon after, British forces seized Augusta and the government moved to Heard’s Fort.

Augusta was recovered from the British in 1781 and the government reconvened there for nine months. By this time, the British were forced out of Savannah and Georgia state officials prepared to move back to the original capital. During the transition, a small city named Ebenezer (located 25 miles northwest of Savannah) served as the meeting site for Georgia’s council for only two days: July 3 and 4, 1782.

Between 1782 and 1786, Georgia’s capital rotated between Savannah and Augusta, due to the government’s preferences. January 4, 1785 marked the last day that Savannah served as Georgia’s capital.

Augusta was deemed the state capital due to a burgeoning population in the area. Court debacles and the like had to be handled through the state capital and its location in Augusta became convenient. Augusta remained as the capital for ten years. However, in 1786, just a few months into Augusta’s appointment as the capital, it was decided that a brand new capitol would be built within 20 miles of the Ogeechee River. A town was created sporadically over a ten year period and in March 1796, the legislature moved to the new capital – Louisville. Louisville remained the capital for ten years and was the first capital to have an actual capitol building.

Indian lands were added to the state of Georgia in 1802, prompting another move of the capital. On December 2, 1804, lawmakers approved the building of a new capital in Baldwin County, to be named Milledgeville.

Atlanta was birthed in December 1847, formerly called Marthasville. Due to the city’s rapid growth and position as a rail center, Atlanta was seen as a viable candidate for the capital. The idea was initially shot down by legislators, but in 1854 a general election was held to settle the debate. 60% of the vote kept the capital as Milledgeville, while 35% voted to move the government to Atlanta. 5% desired a move to Macon.

Milledgeville was evacuated in November 1864 due to Sherman’s March. The government took refuge in Macon and did not return to the capital until December 1865. Milledgeville remained the capital for two more years until a constitutional convention was to be held. Innkeepers in Milledgeville refused to let black delegates into their establishments, so the convention was held in Atlanta.

Atlanta city officials made another attempt to deem Atlanta as the new state capital during the convention, and with just a few promises and gifts, Atlanta was named Georgia’s new state capital in April 1868. 89,007 were for the move and 71,309 were against.

The first session took place on July 4, 1868, at the very site that is today’s state capitol.

source