Discover 5 Of The Oldest Cities In Georgia

Written by Drew Wood
Updated: June 8, 2023
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Georgia is rich in history. It was founded as the southernmost of the original 13 British colonies and became an important agricultural state. Dependent on slavery to sustain its economy, it seceded along with other southern states during the Civil War. Due to this choice, it sustained devastating damage. Recovery was long and slow, but its capital and largest city, Atlanta, is now a symbol of the New South. Hotlanta is cosmopolitan, an international business center and travel hub, and a center of research and technology. Join us now for a look at the oldest cities in Georgia, how they got started, and how you can enjoy them today.

Georgia contains cities that are older than the country yet on the modern cutting edge of research and technology.

Definitions of “city” vary widely. We’ve chosen somewhat arbitrarily to only include places with a population of at least 1,500. Population information is based on the 2020 census. You won’t find any ghost towns here, just wonderful places ready to welcome you on your next trip.

Downtown Atlanta

Atlanta is considered by many to be the leading city of the “New South,” but, founded in 1847, it is not the oldest city in Georgia, by far.

©photo.ua/Shutterstock.com

Georgia’s Environment

What kind of natural ecosystem can you expect in Georgia? The climate is humid subtropical, which means hot summers and mild winters. You’ll find forests, wetlands, low mountains, coastal plains, and offshore islands. There’s a lot of wildlife in Georgia, including the white-tailed deer, black bear, coyote, red fox, and bobcat. Additionally, visitors may spot the American alligator, bald eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, brown pelican, eastern box turtle, and largemouth bass. This makes the state popular with hunters and photographers alike. Now, on to the oldest cities!

1. St. Marys, 1566

The English chartered St. Marys as part of their colony in 1787, but the Spanish actually founded it over 200 years earlier in 1566. In fact, it is the second oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the lower 48 United States, after St. Augustine, Florida. Spain ceded the area to Britain in a territorial exchange after the 7 Years’ War. It’s located on the St. Marys River, which today forms the eastern part of the Georgia/Florida border.

Visitors today can learn about all this history in visitor centers and museums, and there are also museums specializing in military history and natural history. Water parks, boat tours and rentals, dolphin and whale watching, and eco-tours are also popular. Golf courses, antique shops, and theaters round out a wide selection of entertainment in historic St. Marys.

St. Marys sits on the St Marys River, which meanders through marshlands near the Atlantic coast.

©Legohead, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons – License

2. Savannah, 1733

Savannah was established in 1733 as an Atlantic port at the mouth of the Savannah River. Its name comes from the Savannah River, which may be a variant of the name of the Shawnee tribe that lived in the area. Savannah was the capital of Georgia both in colonial days and for the first decades after independence. It is a major strategic port on the Atlantic, making it a valuable commercial and military location. It’s not surprising, then, that today Savannah is the state’s fifth-largest city, with a population of somewhere around 148,000 people.

Tourism is a big part of Savannah’s economy now. It has gained a reputation as a city brimming with Southern charm. Architecture enthusiasts love it. You can tour museums, churches, synagogues, forts, and plantations. When you tire, relax in restaurants and outdoor plazas or browse antique shops. It’s also the place where a lot of visitors launch off to Tybee Island, with its historic lighthouse, appealing beaches, and the best wedding venues ever.

Savannah, Georgia, USA at Forsyth Park Fountain.

Savannah is a city of extraordinary architecture and lushly forested parks.

©Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com

3. Augusta, 1736

Augusta was founded by British colonists in 1736. At the time, the colony feared attack from Spanish Florida to the south, or the French territories to the west. A fort at Augusta helped defend the British colony and became a trading center. As more people settled in the area, Augusta built an agricultural economy based on cotton and slavery. After the Civil War, however, it developed a diversified economy based on manufacturing, technology, and the military, with Fort Gordon, a U.S. Army base, located in the area. Today, with a population of over 202,000, it’s the second-biggest city in the state.

More than 200,000 a year visit Augusta for the exclusive Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club. Some other popular things to do and see in Augusta are the riverwalk with its Japanese gardens and events like the Candlelight Jazz Series, the Augusta Museum of History, the Morris Museum of Art, Sacred Heart Cultural Center, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, and the Historic Downtown District. You can enjoy nature at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, the Reed Creek Nature Park & Interpretive Center, or the Pendleton King Park, a 64-acre bird sanctuary. And Augusta has a fine selection of dining options for all budgets and tastes. Southern food never tasted so good!

Savannah River and Augusta, Georgia, USA Aerial.

Augusta, Georgia on the Savannah River.

©Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock.com

4.  Milledgeville, 1803 

Milledgeville was incorporated in 1803 and named after Georgia Governor John Milledge. The purpose of the city was to serve as a new centrally-located state capital, which it did from 1804-1868. You might be surprised to know that Milledgeville, not Atlanta (which is 94 miles to the northwest) was the capital of the state during the Civil War. The city economy thrived on cotton, slavery, and the business of government, all of which were lost in the Civil War and the move of the capital to Atlanta. Nothing quite so dramatic has happened in the town since then, and it’s safe to say the residents like it that way.

If you visit these days, have a look at the Bartram Educational Forest or the Lockerly Arboretum, take a historic walking tour, or explore nature trails in the forest and along the river. Lake Sinclair is just a 15-minute drive away with ample camping facilities, including RV hookups. If you can’t make it there for some reason Beach Bash will bring the beach to you on the first Friday in June, with 80 tons of sand dumped in the Post Office parking lot for an evening beach party and beach-themed movie showing. Finally, Comfort Farms holds a series of events for a very worthy cause. This organization provides therapy for veterans with disabilities, including PTSD. They raise livestock and vegetables and hold Saturday farmers’ markets, a Boucherie Festival in January, and an Amateur barbeque competition in September.

Lake Sinclair

Lake Sinclair is well-stocked with fish and has ample camping facilities.

©iStock.com/Ed Williams

5. Athens, 1806

Athens officially became a city in 1806. From the beginning, it was a college town, built at the same time as the University of Georgia. The name of the city was intended to associate it with Athens, Greece. In Western civilization, Athens is synonymous with classical education and culture. The city is located 70 miles northeast of Atlanta and is considered a satellite city of the capital. Approximately 127,000 people live there today. Many are affiliated with the University or provide supporting goods and services to its 47,000 students and employees.

The city is known for its college culture. It popularized alternative and new wave music with bands like R.E.M., The B-52s, Neutral Milk Hotel, and the Indigo Girls. If you’re into music, you’ll enjoy AthFest, a nonprofit music and arts festival that takes place every summer in Athens. As a college town, Athens has fun specialty shops, cafes, and coffee shops.

One of the quirkiest sites in the city is the “Son of the Tree That Owns Itself.” This white oak is allegedly declared the legal owner of itself and a circle of land 8 feet surround it. It’s probably not true and definitely not legal. The original tree died and was replaced with a sapling grown from its acorn. And there’s nothing to see but a tree with a sign in front of it. Nevertheless, it’s a nationally famous historic landmark and a fun conversation starter!

Historic steel archway on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA.

This famous gate stands at the entrance of the University of Georgia, Athens.

©Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com

Got Georgia on Your Mind?

Georgia is a state of contrasts, steeped in history. It contains cities that are older than the country yet on the modern cutting edge of research and technology. A land once ravaged by slave labor and war, is today a place of rest and relaxation. And in any part of the state you visit, you’ll see both highly developed cities and a natural environment. Lakes, wetlands, and forests provide ample habitats for wildlife. The good memories you make in Georgia will be on your mind for a long time.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Drew Wood is a writer at A-Z Animals focusing on mammals, geography, and world cultures. Drew has worked in research and writing for over 20 years and holds a Masters in Foreign Affairs (1992) and a Doctorate in Religion (2009). A resident of Nebraska, Drew enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu, movies, and being an emotional support human to four dogs.

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