Augusta, Georgia, a city steeped in rich history, was founded in 1736 on the western bank of the Savannah River, marking its place as the second significant settlement in the 13th British colony. This pivotal location was chosen by General James Edward Oglethorpe, the colony’s founder, with the strategic aim of establishing an interior trading post for furs and other goods, directly competing with New Savannah Town across the river in South Carolina.
From its very inception, Augusta quickly flourished as a vital trading hub, attracting numerous South Carolina traders who relocated their operations. This early prosperity laid the groundwork for the city’s enduring legacy.
Early Colonial Augusta: A Strategic Trading Post
General Oglethorpe’s Vision
General Oglethorpe’s foresight in selecting Augusta’s location at the head of navigation of the Savannah River proved instrumental. His vision centered on creating a robust interior trading post, fostering commerce with Native American communities and solidifying Georgia’s economic standing against neighboring settlements.
Growth and Early Infrastructure
By 1739, Fort Augusta was completed, providing defense and stability for the burgeoning settlement. Noble Jones, the colony’s official surveyor, meticulously laid out the town, designing a plan focused on a grand central square or plaza. This layout, though less elaborate than Savannah’s, established an organized urban core. Notable streets, including Reynolds Street and Ellis Street, were named after Georgia’s colonial governors, and these remain prominent features in Downtown Augusta’s historic districts today.
Religious and Social Development
As the trading post prospered, the growing population desired a more refined social structure. A church building was erected in 1749, and after Georgia petitioned the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, Reverend Jonathan Copp arrived in 1751 to conduct services for the Church of England. Following Georgia’s division into parishes in 1756, Augusta’s district became St. Paul’s Parish, and the church adopted the name St. Paul’s Church, becoming a cornerstone of the community.
Augusta Through Conflict and Revolution
French and Indian War Impact
During the French and Indian War, Augusta served as a refuge for people from the surrounding countryside, who sought shelter within the fort and church. The church building sustained damage and was subsequently replaced in the 1760s. The war also brought soldiers to Georgia, spreading word of available lands and attracting new settlers in the early 1770s, many of whom were former tobacco planters from Virginia and the Carolinas. Tobacco quickly became Georgia’s primary cash crop, influencing the economic landscape and leaving behind structures like the Ezekiel Harris House, a testament to this nearly forgotten era.
The American Revolution in Augusta
Augusta played a significant role in the American Revolution, standing as one of the westernmost outposts of the thirteen British colonies. The city witnessed two major conflicts: the Siege of the White House, which tragically resulted in the hanging of thirteen patriot soldiers by Tory forces, and the subsequent Siege of Augusta, where patriot forces under General “Light Horse” Harry Lee successfully retook the town. During the occupation, the British constructed Fort Cornwallis on the site of Fort Augusta, destroying St. Paul’s Church in the process. After the Revolution, a new church was built, serving all denominations until 1820, with the present fifth iteration dating from 1918, rebuilt after the devastating city-wide fire of 1916.
Post-Revolutionary Growth and State Capital
Temporary State Capital
Following the Revolution, Augusta briefly served as the capital of Georgia between 1786 and 1795, attracting many government leaders. Among them was George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who built his home, Meadow Garden, on the town’s outskirts. Walton’s influence is still recognized today through Walton Way, the main artery of the Summerville Historic District, a suburban village he originally planned in the 1790s.
Early Institutions and Infrastructure
The town’s growth continued under the governance of the Trustees of the Academy of Richmond County. A notable highlight of this period was President George Washington’s visit in 1791. Legend holds that a large ginkgo tree was planted in his honor at the proposed site of the Richmond County Courthouse, which was built in 1801 and is now known as the Old Government House. Further enhancing its educational foundation, the Trustees built a new school building in 1802, the old Academy of Richmond County. Early infrastructure improvements included Turknett Springs, providing Augusta’s first municipal drinking water through hollowed-out logs starting in the 1820s.
Cultural and Economic Evolution in the 19th Century
Diverse Communities and Religious Life
Augusta’s first suburb, Springfield, developed on confiscated Tory lands and became home to a large population of free African Americans displaced during the Revolution. By 1787, they established the Springfield Baptist Church, one of the oldest independent black congregations in the United States. As the city grew, various immigrant groups, including a significant Irish population, settled in areas like Dublin. These enclaves evolved, with areas like the Laney-Walker North and Bethlehem Historic Districts becoming predominantly black communities by the turn of the 20th century, shaped by Jim Crow laws.
Architectural endeavors also marked this period, with Robert Mills, America’s first native-born architect, designing the First Presbyterian Church (1809-1812). Nicholas Ware’s impressive Federal-style Ware’s Folly (now the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art), built in 1818, showcased the city’s growing affluence.
Economic Shifts: From Stagnation to Industrialization
Despite westward expansion drawing planters to Alabama and Mississippi, Augusta’s economy found new life. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 made Augusta a central hub for the inland cotton market. Cotton was shipped via the Savannah River or the South Carolina Railroad to Charleston. Henry Cumming’s vision for local cotton manufacturing led to the construction of the Augusta Canal in 1845, inspired by Lowell, Massachusetts. The canal powered flour mills, cotton mills, and ironworks, transforming Augusta into one of the few industrial centers in the South by the time of the Civil War. The Historic Augusta Canal and Industrial District remains a symbol of the city’s economic resilience.
Augusta During the Civil War Era
Pre-War Prosperity and Architecture
On the eve of the Civil War, Augusta experienced renewed prosperity, evident in the construction of significant buildings. Charles Blaney Cluskey designed the Old Medical College of Georgia (1835), the state’s first medical school. The Brahe House (1850), an example of the distinct Sand Hills Cottage style, later became the first house in town with electric lighting. Summerville became a favored summer retreat for wealthy Augustans, with homes like the Reid-Jones-Carpenter House (1849) and the Gould-Weed House (circa 1860) showcasing this suburban elegance. Dennis Redmond’s Fruitlands (1853), later famous as the Berckmans family nursery and eventually the Augusta National Golf Club, further highlighted the area’s agricultural and social significance.
Confederate Stronghold
During the Civil War, Augusta, Georgia, served as a crucial center for the Confederacy. The Confederate government established the Confederate States Powder Works on the Augusta Canal in 1862, manufacturing gunpowder that was then packed into munitions at the arsenal. These arsenal buildings now form the centerpiece of Augusta State University. The city also functioned as a religious hub, hosting meetings for the formation of the Protestant Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States. The parsonage of First Presbyterian Church was home to Reverend Joseph Ruggles Wilson, father of future President Woodrow Wilson, who grew up alongside future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Lamar, both sons of prominent Augusta pastors.
Reconstruction and Continued Development
Post-War Recovery and Industrial Expansion
Following the Civil War, Augusta’s economy, though initially struggling, rebounded with the significant enlargement and expansion of the Augusta Canal in 1875. This initiative spurred the construction of several large new cotton mills along its banks, revitalizing areas like Harrisburg, which grew into a thriving mill village. The city’s westward expansion continued, marked by its first major annexation in 1880, incorporating the Harrisburg-West End Historic District.
Evolving Neighborhoods and Social Dynamics
The 19th century also saw the development of distinct immigrant enclaves. The Irish community was centered in a section known as Dublin, and other streets became home to various groups, including African Americans. By the turn of the 20th century, due to Jim Crow laws, areas like the Laney-Walker North Historic District became predominantly black, as did the Bethlehem Historic District, developed exclusively by and for African Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Sand Hills Historic District, adjacent to Summerville, emerged as another historically black neighborhood developing in parallel with a predominantly white business and residential area.
Religious Expansion in a Growing City
As the old city expanded, many religious denominations recognized the imperative to establish additional congregations in Augusta’s western end and further into suburban areas. The Church of the Most Sacred Heart, founded in 1874, became the second Roman Catholic parish, with a magnificent new building constructed between 1898 and 1900. Greene Street Presbyterian Church (1875), Curtis Baptist Church (1870s), and Saint James Methodist Church (1850s) are further examples of efforts by established denominations to extend their evangelistic reach and serve the growing population.
Conclusion: Augusta’s Enduring Legacy
From its strategic inception as a trading post to its pivotal roles in the American Revolution and the Civil War, Augusta, Georgia, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. Its journey through economic shifts, industrialization, and significant social transformations has shaped a city rich in diverse cultural heritage and historical depth. Augusta continues to evolve, cherishing its past while embracing its future, a testament to its enduring spirit and strategic importance in the heart of Georgia.
