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In 1777, during the American Revolution, Georgia's first capital was Augusta. Located on the Savannah River, it was a strategic location for governing the newly established state amidst conflict. The advancement of the British military encouraged the Patriots to move the state capital upriver to Augusta. This was the beginning of the rotating capitals; war activities would cause the seat of government to move back and forth between Savannah and Augusta.

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Savannah served as the colonial “capital” of Georgia. Official power, however, was maintained by the Trustees who remained in England. When the Trustee period ended, Savannah was deemed the “seat of government” and the royal governor, legislative assembly and courts were headquartered there. Georgia’s first state constitution (1777) directed the legislature to meet there but gave the government some latitude in determining the assembly’s meeting places. Savannah, again, became Georgia's capital in 1786, re-establishing the seat of government in a thriving port city, vital for Georgia's economic development in its early years as a state.

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In 1796, Louisville was selected as Georgia's capital, symbolizing the westward movement as the state capital moved inland, reflecting the growing expansion and settlement patterns. Louisville, named after French King Louis XVI for his assistance during the American Revolution, was Georgia’s third state capital from 1796-1807. Located in Jefferson County, Louisville was selected as the capital because its location was the center of Georgia’s population. The state’s legislators hoped that the town would also serve as a trading center due to its location on the Ogeechee River. Once it was established, Louisville developed both socially and financially. However, Louisville’s time as capital ended in 1807 due several factors including the malaria outbreaks that occurred in the city every year, the difficulty of using the Ogeechee River as a trade route, and most importantly, the continual northwestern movement of Georgia’s population.

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1807: Milledgeville - Capital for a Century

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1807: Milledgeville - Capital for a Century

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Milledgeville became the capital in 1807, marking a significant shift westward and serving as Georgia's capital for over 60 years. This period was crucial in Georgia's development and its role in the antebellum South. Creek lands west of Louisville were ceded to the state in 1802, and, without delay, the push to move the state capital westward was underway. Milledgeville, named after the current governor John Milledge, served as the state capital for sixty years. The capital remained in Milledgeville during the Civil War, but it was abandoned as General Sherman made his way toward the city. Government documents were loaded onto trains to be evacuated to safety. After the war, the Union troops denied the meeting of the legislature, and took charge of Georgia’s government. A new constitution was adopted and elections were held and the legislature reconvened in Milledgeville.

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Georgia’s General Assembly approved the charter for the University of Georgia in January 1785, making it the first state created school of higher education in the United States. Abraham Baldwin (one of Georgia’s signers of the US Constitution) was appointed by Governor Lyman Hall (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) to pen the charter documents for the University. In the charter, he contended that an educated populace was necessary for a free government and that the government should make education available to all, not just the wealthy. He served as president of UGA from 1785 until 1801. The University, however, remained an institution on paper only for the next sixteen years as the state’s government was challenged by creating a functioning state. In 1801, the doors to the University finally welcomed students. This event marked the beginning of higher education in Georgia, laying the foundation for its role as an educational hub in the south.

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1868: Atlanta - A New Capital for a New Era

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1868: Atlanta - A New Capital for a New Era

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The final state capital was eventually located in Atlanta. The removal of the Cherokees in 1838 led state lawmakers to anticipate another westward move for the state capital. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that the state capital was officially moved to Atlanta. In 1868, a new constitutional convention was ordered to meet in Atlanta by General Pope. Better rail accessibility and a growing population were touted as reasons for moving the state capital to Atlanta. The move was ratified in 1868 and Atlanta became the final state capital. Atlanta was designated as Georgia's capital in 1868, aligning with the state's Reconstruction era. This move not only symbolized Georgia's recovery post-Civil War but also its future as a center for commerce and industry.