47-504: Memory Hill Cemetery is an American cemetery in Milledgeville , Georgia . The cemetery opened in 1804. 33°04′30″N 83°13′44″W / 33.07504°N 83.22889°W / 33.07504; -83.22889 Milledgeville, Georgia Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia . It is northeast of Macon , bordered on
94-640: A micropolitan area that includes Baldwin and formerly Hancock county until 2023. It had a population of 43,799 at the 2020 census . The Old State Capitol is located here; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Much of the original city is contained within the boundaries of the Milledgeville Historic District , which was also added to the NRHP. Milledgeville, named after Georgia governor John Milledge (1802–1806),
141-496: A guardhouse, a storehouse, a chapel, and several huts for particular people." Darien was laid out in accordance with the now-famous Oglethorpe Plan . They showed similar progress in the construction of military forts: by March the Scottish settlers had begun work on two forts, Fort St. Andrews on Cumberland Island , and Fort St. George on the St. Johns River , 60 mi (100 km) to
188-448: A more diversified economic base, striving to wean the old capital from its dependence on government institutions such as Central State Hospital and state prisons. The state has recently closed some prisons and reduced jobs at Central State, due to tightening state budgets. Milledgeville is located at 33°5′16″N 83°14′0″W / 33.08778°N 83.23333°W / 33.08778; -83.23333 (33.087755, -83.233401) and
235-567: A noted trader with the Creek people , and Lachlan McIntosh , a leader during the American Revolutionary War . The Scots originated mainly from around Inverness and consisted of both Jacobite and Hanoverian supporting clans , the majority of whom spoke only Gaelic . When visited by Oglethorpe in February, the settlers had already constructed "a battery of four pieces of cannon, built
282-402: A small outlet mall. But downtown Darien has flourished with an emphasis on its historic heritage and the waterfront. Many new businesses have opened as the city has reclaimed its walking center. Darien is located on the southern edge of McIntosh County at 31°22′16″N 81°25′51″W / 31.37111°N 81.43083°W / 31.37111; -81.43083 (31.371134, −81.430742). It
329-550: Is 330 feet (100 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.3 km ), of which 20.4 square miles (52.9 km ) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km ), or 0.74%, is water. U.S. Route 441 is the main route through the city, leading north 21 mi (34 km) to Eatonton and south 22 mi (35 km) to Irwinton . Georgia State Routes 22 , 24 , and 49 also run through
376-567: Is a city in and the county seat of McIntosh County , Georgia , United States. It lies on Georgia's coast at the mouth of the Altamaha River , approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Savannah , and is part of the Brunswick, Georgia metropolitan statistical area . It is the second-oldest planned city in Georgia and was originally called New Inverness . The population of Darien was 1,460 at
423-664: Is bordered to the south by the Altamaha River , 10 miles (16 km) upstream (west) from its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean . The city is sited on a low bluff overlooking the Darien River, a tidal channel that reaches the Atlantic at Doboy Sound north of the Altamaha. U.S. Route 17 passes through the center of town, leading north 11 miles (18 km) to Eulonia and south 17 miles (27 km) to Brunswick . Interstate 95 passes through
470-529: Is located downtown. Georgia College & State University also has a library. The school system building facilities were revamped during the 1990s and first decade of the 21st century, with all new buildings, including a new Board of Education office. This required relocation and merging of older schools. The concept of a middle school was introduced, whereas previously 6th through 9th grades were housed in separate schools. Closed older schools include: Darien, Georgia Darien ( / d ɛər i ˈ ɛ n / )
517-734: The 2020 census , down from 1,975 in 2010 . The British built Fort King George in 1721, near what would become Darien. At the time it was the southernmost outpost of the British Empire in North America. The fort was abandoned in 1727 following attacks from the Spanish. Its remains constitute the oldest fort on the Georgia coast. The town of Darien (originally known as "New Inverness") was founded in January 1736 by Scottish Highlanders recruited by James Oglethorpe to act as settler-soldiers protecting
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#1732856091841564-474: The Altamaha River and then south to the Atlantic Ocean . Lake Sinclair , a man-made lake, is about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Milledgeville on the border of Baldwin , Putnam and Hancock counties. Milledgeville is composed of two main districts: a heavily commercialized area along the highway known to locals simply as " 441 ," extending from a few blocks north of Georgia College & State University to 4 miles (6 km) north of Milledgeville, and
611-490: The Battle of Fort Mose , resulting in the death or capture of 51 Darien settlers. After the battle, a number of the settlers abandoned Darien for South Carolina. By 1741 another shipload of 43 colonists had arrived. These colonists received land grants from the trustees which specified that the land was to pass to the male or female descendants of the original recipients, in "Tail General". The trustees were trying to keep settlers in
658-689: The Highland Independent Company of Foot , an infantry force, and the Highland Rangers , a mounted force. By 1737 the constant military activity of the Darien colony was taking its toll. An additional 44 Highland settlers arrived to expand the town. Initially the settlers' economy was based on the cultivation of crops; however, after the first year, they suffered a succession of poor harvests. They concentrated on rearing cattle and harvesting timber for sale in nearby Savannah . In 1739 eighteen of
705-468: The Oconee River . The white population of Georgia continued to press west and south in search of new farmland. The town of Milledgeville was developed in an area that had long been occupied by indigenous peoples. In December 1804 the state legislature declared Milledgeville the new capital of Georgia. The new planned town, modeled after Savannah and Washington, D.C. , stood on the edge of the frontier at
752-576: The Presbyterian church. Skilled black carpenters, masons, and laborers were forced to construct most of the handsome antebellum structures in Milledgeville. Two events epitomized Milledgeville's status as the political and social center of Georgia in this period: By 1854 Baldwin County had a total population of 8,148, of whom 3,566 were free (mostly white), and 4,602 were African American slaves. On January 19, 1861, Georgia convention delegates passed
799-409: The "Downtown" area, encompassing the college, buildings housing city government agencies, various bars and restaurants. This historic area was laid out in 1803, with streets named after other counties in Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 17,070 people, 5,895 households, and 2,852 families residing in the city. The Milledgeville City Council is the city's legislative body, with
846-519: The 21st century has shown signs of growth. With the formation of the Interstate Highway System , Interstate 95 was constructed and passes approximately 1 mi (2 km) west of the city. This drew off businesses from the city center as development ensued near the I-95 interchange with GA 251 . This has resulted in the building of several chain restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, as well as
893-534: The Atlantic fall line, where the Upper Coastal Plain meets the foothills and plateau of the Piedmont . The area was surveyed, and a town plat of 500 acres (2.0 km ) was divided into 84 4-acre (16,000 m ) squares. The survey also included four public squares of 20 acres (81,000 m ) each. After 1815 Milledgeville became increasingly prosperous and more respectable. Wealth and power gravitated toward
940-663: The November 2017 general election, incumbent Mayor Gary Thrower was defeated by Mary Parham-Copelan. She was sworn in as the city's first African American female mayor on December 29, 2017. Elected officials as of October 2023 : Milledgeville's public school system is governed by the Baldwin County School District . Milledgeville's public library system is part of the Middle Georgia Regional Library System . Mary Vinson Memorial Library
987-633: The Ordinance of Secession, and on February 4, 1861, the "Republic of Georgia" joined the Confederate States of America . In November 1864, Union General William T. Sherman and 30,000 Union troops marched into Milledgeville during his March to the Sea . Governor Joseph E. Brown had already packed up the rugs and curtains from the Governor's Mansion, and fled town with other political and military leaders, leaving
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#17328560918411034-462: The capital. Much of the surrounding countryside was developed by slave labor for cotton plantations, which was the major commodity crop of the South. Cotton bales regularly were set up to line the roads, waiting to be shipped downriver to Darien . Public-spirited citizens such as Mayor Tomlinson Fort (1847–1848) promoted better newspapers, learning academies, and banks. In 1842 Central State Hospital )
1081-553: The city as well. GA-22 leads northeast 24 mi (39 km) to Sparta and southwest 20 mi (32 km) to Gray . GA-24 leads east 29 mi (47 km) to Sandersville and north to Eatonton with U.S. 441. GA-49 leads southwest 30 mi (48 km) to Macon . Milledgeville is located on the Atlantic Seaboard fall line of the United States. The Oconee River flows a half mile east of downtown on its way south to
1128-548: The colony profitable. Conflicts continued with Spanish and Indian forces during this time. The War of Jenkins' Ear began in October 1739. In November, in response to two Scots garrisoned on Amelia Island being killed in an ambush by Spanish-allied Indians, the Darien settlers mobilized and, together with forces from South Carolina , captured the Spanish forts Picolata , San Francisco de Pupo , San Diego , and Mose , before attempting to lay siege to St. Augustine . The Spanish won
1175-488: The colony. Previously, all land grants in the American colonies had been granted in "Tail Male", descending to only the male children. The Highland settlers objected to the change, as it went against their traditional patrilineal landholding and inheritance practices. In the future, the majority of Georgia land grants were made in "Tail General". In January 1775, the city passed a resolution condemning slavery, saying: To show
1222-595: The command of a reluctant Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers under the command of Colonel James Montgomery . Colonel Montgomery ordered that the town be looted and burned. This was part of the Union strategy to damage the Confederate states' ability to supply food and materiel towards their war effort. Montgomery's troops allegedly broke ranks and looted freely, while Shaw ordered his troops to take only what would be useful at camp. (He later described
1269-528: The death of Police Chief Robert L. Freeman and the wounding of Deputy Collins and two other officers while trying to capture the two men after a robbery at the Darien Bank. The town was put under martial law by Colonel W.R. Neal of the Georgia militia in response to the mob. There are 32 markers of historic sites near Darien and 42 markers in McIntosh County. (See the external link for a list.) Darien in
1316-468: The destruction of it. Into the early 1900s, Darien was one of the largest Southeastern ports for shipping lumber. When the timber was depleted, Darien became a fishing village, known primarily for Georgia wild shrimp . It was once famous for its oysters . On September 8, 1930, two African American men, George Grant and Willie Bryan, were lynched by a mob of Darien's residents in the Darien Jail due to
1363-496: The east by the Oconee River . The rapid current of the river here made this an attractive location to build a city. It was the capital of Georgia from 1804 to 1868, including during the American Civil War . Milledgeville was preceded as the capital city by Louisville and was succeeded by Atlanta , the current capital. Today U.S. Highway 441 connects Milledgeville to Madison , Athens , and Dublin . As of April 1, 2020,
1410-747: The frontiers of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida , the French in the Alabama basin , and the Indian allies of each colonial enterprise. On January 10, 1736, 177 emigrants, including women and children, arrived on the Prince of Wales to establish Darien, which was named after the Darien scheme , a former Scottish colony in Panama . Among the initial settlers was Lachlan McGillivray , who became
1457-545: The homes of black residents, mostly slaves. This was not part of Sherman's March to the Sea , which occurred more than a year later. Confusion has arisen because the St. Simons Island troops were under the command of another General Sherman, stationed in the South Carolina Sea Islands. The destruction of the undefended city, which was of little strategic importance, was carried out by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers under
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1504-524: The local enslaved people. The troops surrounded the church, opened fire, and captured 23 men. These men were marched to a landing near Darien, put on ships, and taken to prisons in the North. Following the Civil War, Darien was rebuilt, with financial aid coming in small part from the family of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. He had been killed during the war but had written to his family of his shame in participating in
1551-400: The most prominent members of the Darien colony signed the first petition against the introduction of slavery into Georgia, in response to pleas to Oglethorpe and the trustees by inhabitants of Savannah to lift the prohibition of slavery. The Highlanders' petition was successful, but slavery was introduced ten years later in 1749 because the proprietors could not attract enough laborers to make
1598-478: The population of Milledgeville was 17,070, down from 17,715 at the 2010 U.S. census. Milledgeville is along the route of the Fall Line Freeway , which is under construction to link Milledgeville with Augusta , Macon , Columbus , and other Fall Line cities. They have long histories from the colonial era of Georgia . Milledgeville is the principal city of the Milledgeville micropolitan statistical area ,
1645-458: The port. The troops plundered residents and plantations of McIntosh County for food, as armies lived off the land to a great extent. The only defenders left in the county were a group of men too old for military service. On the night of August 3, 1864, the county's white defenders had met at the Ebenezer Church, 9 mi (14 km) north of Darien. Union troops found out about the meeting from
1692-592: The power to enact all ordinances and resolutions and controls the funding of all designated programs. Six council members are elected to represent their district, while the mayor is elected at-large, by city voters, for a four-year term. City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and televised locally on MBC TV-4 Milledgeville/Baldwin County Governmental/Educational Access Cable Channel on local Charter Communications. In
1739-416: The public unprotected. Sherman largely spared the town destruction, though burned some buildings with military uses. Sherman's troops are claimed to have poured sorghum and molasses down the pipes of the organ at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; the organ was replaced by New York Life Insurance Company. In 1868, during Reconstruction , the state legislature moved the capital to Atlanta—a city emerging as
1786-434: The raid as a "Satanic action.") The destruction of Darien was most famously depicted in the 1989 film Glory. The First African Baptist Church (claimed to be the oldest African American church in the county) was destroyed along with the rest of the town. It was rebuilt, and later some meetings of the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement were held there. After the U.S. Army destroyed Darien, gunboats were used to blockade
1833-633: The south of the territory claimed by the British government in the Georgia charter. In 1736, the British abandoned Fort St. George by agreement with the Spanish officials in Florida. In 1736 Darien settlers began work on Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island , a few miles south of Darien, between it and Cumberland Island. Scots settlers whose travel was paid for by the Trustees of the Colony were organized into two companies,
1880-656: The symbol of the New South as surely as Milledgeville symbolized the Old South . Milledgeville struggled to survive as a city after losing the business of the capital. The energetic efforts of local leaders established the Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural College (later Georgia Military College ) in 1879 on Statehouse Square. Where the crumbling remains of the old penitentiary stood, Georgia Normal and Industrial College (later Georgia College & State University )
1927-481: The town's social and economic identity. In the 1980s and 1990s Milledgeville began to capitalize on its heritage by revitalizing the downtown and historic district. It encouraged restoration of historic buildings and an urban design scheme on Main Street to emphasize its character. By 2000 the population of Milledgeville and Baldwin County combined had grown to 44,700. Community leaders have made concerted efforts to create
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1974-451: The virtue and morals of the rest; and is laying the basis of that liberty we contend for (and which we pray the Almighty to continue to the latest posterity) upon a very wrong foundation. We therefore resolve, at all times to use our utmost endevours for the manumission of Slaves... On June 11, 1863, Union troops stationed on St. Simons Island looted and destroyed most of the town, including
2021-424: The west side of the city limits, with access from Exit 49 ( State Route 250 ). I-95 leads north 62 miles (100 km) to Savannah and south 78 miles (126 km) to Jacksonville, Florida . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 24.0 square miles (62 km ), of which 21.2 square miles (55 km ) are land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km ), or 11.94%, are water. As of
2068-588: The world that we are not influenced by any contracted or interested motives, but a general philanthropy for all mankind, of whatever climate, language, or complexion, we hereby declare our disapprobation and abhorrence of the unnatural practice of Slavery in America , (however the uncultivated state of our country, or other specious arguments may plead for it,) a practice founded in injustice and cruelty, and highly dangerous to our liberties, (as well as our lives,) debasing part of our fellow-creatures below men, and corrupting
2115-412: Was built here. Oglethorpe University , where the poet Sidney Lanier was later educated, opened its doors in 1838. (The college, forced to close in 1862 during the war, was rechartered in 1913. It moved its campus to Atlanta.) The cotton boom in this upland area significantly increased the demand for slave labor . The town market, where slave auctions took place, was located on Capital Square, next to
2162-452: Was founded by European Americans at the start of the 19th century as the new centrally located capital of the state of Georgia . It served as the state capital from 1804 to 1868. In 1803 an act of the Georgia legislature called for the establishment and survey of a town to be named in honor of the current governor, John Milledge. The Treaty of Fort Wilkinson (1802) had recently forced Native American tribes to cede territory immediately west of
2209-487: Was founded in 1889. In part because of these institutions, as well as Central State Hospital , Milledgeville developed as a less provincial town than many of its neighbors. In the 1950s the Georgia Power Company completed a dam at Furman Shoals on the Oconee River , about 5 miles (8 km) north of town, creating a huge reservoir called Lake Sinclair . The lake community became an increasingly important part of
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