The oldest incorporated town in Georgia is Savannah, which was incorporated in 1789, followed closely by Augusta (1789) and Darien (1816). These three municipalities hold the earliest official incorporation dates in the state, though European settlement in Georgia began much earlier with the founding of the colony in 1733.
Why Incorporation Dates Matter
Incorporation is the legal process by which a town or city gains a formal charter from the state government, granting it powers of self-governance, taxation, and public services. In Georgia, the state legislature issued charters individually until the late 20th century, so the incorporation date is the official birth of the municipality as a legal entity. This is different from the date a settlement was first founded or settled, which is often decades earlier. For example, Savannah was founded in 1733 but not incorporated until 1789, when the state legislature granted it a charter after the American Revolution.
The Earliest Incorporated Towns
Georgia’s first municipal charters were issued in 1789, the same year the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The state legislature granted charters to Savannah and Augusta, making them the oldest incorporated towns in the state. Here is a list of the earliest incorporations:
- Savannah – incorporated 1789, founded 1733
- Augusta – incorporated 1789, founded 1736
- Darien – incorporated 1816, founded 1736
- Louisville – incorporated 1820, but served as state capital from 1796 to 1807
- Milledgeville – incorporated 1824, founded 1803 as the new state capital
Some sources list other towns with earlier incorporation dates, but these are the most widely accepted by the Georgia Historical Society and the state archives. For instance, the town of Hardwick (founded 1755) was never formally incorporated, and Ebenezer (founded 1734) faded before the Revolution.
Savannah: The First City
Savannah was the first city chartered in Georgia. Its incorporation in 1789 came after the Revolutionary War, when the new state government organized municipalities. The city’s layout, designed by James Oglethorpe in 1733, is famous for its grid of squares and has been preserved as a National Historic Landmark district. Savannah’s incorporation charter was typical for the era: it established a mayor, aldermen, and a common council, and gave the city the power to levy taxes, regulate markets, and maintain streets. Today, Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County and the state’s fifth-largest city.
Augusta: The Second Oldest
Augusta was also incorporated in 1789, making it tied with Savannah as the oldest. However, some historians argue that Augusta’s charter was actually approved a few months earlier than Savannah’s, though the exact order is unclear. Augusta was founded in 1736 as a trading post on the Savannah River and later became a major cotton market. Its incorporation charter gave it similar powers to Savannah’s. Augusta is the county seat of Richmond County and is known for the Masters Golf Tournament, which has been held at the Augusta National Golf Club since 1934.
Darien and Other Early Towns
Darien, located on the Georgia coast, was founded in 1736 by Scottish Highlanders. It was incorporated in 1816, making it the third-oldest incorporated town in the state. Darien was an important port for timber and cotton in the 19th century and was burned during the Civil War. Another early town, Louisville, was the state capital from 1796 to 1807 and was incorporated in 1820, after it had lost its capital status. Milledgeville, the capital from 1804 to 1868, was incorporated in 1824. These towns illustrate that incorporation often came decades after founding, as communities needed to grow enough to merit formal governance.
Common Misconceptions
One common misconception is that the oldest town in Georgia is the same as the oldest incorporated town. The oldest continuous settlement is actually Savannah, but the oldest town in terms of founding date is also Savannah, since it was the first colonial settlement. However, some people mistakenly believe that St. Marys (founded 1787) or Washington (founded 1780) are older, but they were not incorporated until later. St. Marys was incorporated in 1802, and Washington in 1805. Another misconception is that the city of Atlanta is one of the oldest, but Atlanta was founded in 1837 as a railroad terminus and incorporated in 1847, making it relatively young compared to coastal towns.
How to Verify an Incorporation Date
If you are researching a specific town’s incorporation date, the most reliable source is the Georgia Archives, which holds the original legislative charters. You can also check the official website of the Georgia Municipal Association, which lists the incorporation date for every city and town in the state. County histories and the New Georgia Encyclopedia are also good secondary sources. Be cautious with online sources that may confuse founding dates with incorporation dates. For example, a town’s historical marker might say “founded in 1800,” but its incorporation could be decades later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest town in Georgia by founding date?
Savannah is the oldest town by founding date, established in 1733 by James Oglethorpe. It was the first settlement of the Georgia colony and has been continuously inhabited since then.
Is Savannah the oldest incorporated city in Georgia?
Yes, Savannah is one of the two oldest incorporated cities in Georgia, along with Augusta, both chartered in 1789. The exact order of their charters is not clear, but they are the earliest.
Why were some towns incorporated much later than they were founded?
Incorporation required a formal act of the state legislature, and many early settlements operated under the colonial government without a city charter. After the Revolution, the new state government began granting charters to larger communities that needed local governance, but smaller towns often waited until they grew.
What was the first city in Georgia to have a mayor?
Savannah was the first city to have a mayor, as its 1789 charter established the office. The first mayor was a man named John Houstoun, who had also served as a governor of Georgia.
Are there any towns in Georgia that were incorporated before the American Revolution?
No. During the colonial period, Georgia did not have incorporated municipalities. The first charters were issued in 1789, after the state was formed. Some towns like Savannah and Augusta had local governments, but they were not legally incorporated until after the Revolution.
Why This Matters Today
Knowing the oldest incorporated towns in Georgia is more than a trivia point. It helps explain the state’s development, as the earliest cities were all located on the coast or along major rivers for trade. It also matters for legal reasons: older cities often have older infrastructure, historic districts, and zoning laws that affect residents and businesses. For example, Savannah’s historic district has strict preservation rules that homeowners must follow, while newer cities like Atlanta have more modern building codes. Understanding incorporation history can also help when researching property records, since deeds often reference the city’s incorporation date.
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