1802Government
Milledgeville, named for Georgia governor John Milledge (1802–1806), was established in 1804 as Georgia's new centrally located capital.
1803Military
Founded in 1803 along the Oconee River, it served as the state capital of Georgia from 1804 to 1868, including during the American Civil War.
1804Government
== History ==
Milledgeville served as Georgia's state capital from 1804 to 1868 and played a central role in shaping the state's early development.
1828Economy
By 1828, nearly half of Milledgeville's 1,599 residents were enslaved; only 27 identified as free Black residents.
1838Government
Taverns, hotels, shops, banks, and newspapers also emerged during this period, and in 1838, Oglethorpe University was founded as one of Georgia's earliest chartered colleges.
1860Government
Following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, a secession convention was held on January 16, 1861, with approximately 300 voting delegates in attendance.
1864Civil Rights
In November 1864, during the American Civil War campaign known as the March to the Sea, Union General William T.
1865Military
After the war's conclusion in 1865, Milledgeville faced major economic disruption.
1868Government
During its years as the capital, Milledgeville quickly became a hub of political activity and cotton-based commerce before facing significant economic changes after the capital ...
1897Economy
The continued operation of the asylum—renamed Georgia State Sanitarium in 1897—alongside these institutions helped sustain Milledgeville's recovery into the twentieth century.
1953Economy
The creation of Lake Sinclair in 1953 by the Georgia Power Company spurred recreational tourism, and subsequent historic preservation projects in the 1980s and 1990s revitalized...
2007Government
Bonner, Milledgeville, Georgia's Antebellum Capital, Old Capital Press, Milledgeville, Georgia, 2007.
2008Economy
In 2008, Rheem Manufacturing closed its Milledgeville operations, relocating production to Mexico and eliminating approximately 1,500 jobs.
2011Economy
Clark-Davis, Milledgeville, Images of America series, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, S.C., 2011.
2016Infrastructure
In 2016, tourism generated $88.7 million in direct spending in Baldwin County, supported 796 jobs, and contributed over $6 million in state and local tax revenue.
2017Government
Mary Parham-Copelan, elected in 2017, serves as mayor.
2023Education
As of the 2023–2024 school year, the district serves approximately 4,588 students with 348.90 full-time equivalent (FTE) classroom teachers, resulting in a student–teacher ratio...
2025Education
As of 2025, the leading sectors of Milledgeville's economy by employment numbers include healthcare and social services, education, retail, and public administration.