Richmond County

Richmond County is one of the original headright counties acquired from the Creek Indians by treaty in 1733 and organized as the colonial Parish of Saint Paul in 1758. There was a trading post established at the head of navigation on the Savannah River, Richmond County's eastern border, in 1735. The following year General James Oglethorpe built a fort to protect the post on the site of Augusta. At the time of the Revolution, the parish became Richmond County, named to honor the Duke of Richmond who had defended in Parliament the colonists' cause and who had earlier advocated their independence. Augusta, the county seat, was named for the wife of the Prince of Wales, the Princess Augusta. Augusta was the state capital from 1785 until 1795. Originally Richmond County included Glascock, Columbia, and McDuffie counties plus parts of Warren and Jefferson. Richmond became the seventh county in order of creation.

There was fighting in and around Augusta several times during the Revolutionary War. The city was captured by the British in the spring of 1780. A temporary stronghold known as Fort Grierson and commanded by British Light Colonel James Grierson was headquarters for the occupation. It was located at the present junction of Eleventh Street and Reynolds Street within the city.

The following September, Colonel Elijah Clarke and a band of Patriots tried to recapture the town. They drove British troops and their Indian allies into the White House, a large trading post built in 1758 and operated by Robert McKay. A four-day siege ensued, and, with the British troops on the point of surrender, reinforcements arrived to drive the Patriots away in haste. Twenty-nine of their wounded were left behind and thereafter denied the normal conventions of capture. To please the wounded British Colonel Thomas Brown, thirteen of the Americans were hanged in the stairwell of the White House so he "could watch their dying." The others were handed over to the Indians for torture and eventual death. Treatment given the captured Americans was apparently in the minds of Clark's Patriot forces the following summer when, together with General Andrew Pickens and Colonel "Light Horse" Harry Lee, they retook the town. British Colonel Grierson who was captured with his men was shot by an unknown Georgia rifleman while a prisoner.

In 1845 and 1846 the city constructed the Augusta Canal, running nine miles. It was early evidence of the community's interest in industrial development.

Augusta figured prominently in the development of the railroad industry, as the home of the Georgia railroad - chartered in the 1830's. The first railroad in Georgia, and only the third on the country, the Georgia railroad ran from Augusta to Athens and opened up commerce throughout the region.

Source: Foundations of Government - The Georgia Counties, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, 1976.

Latest News In This County

Barrow to Host "Congress on the Corner" in Richmond, Burke, and Jefferson Counties

February 11, 2010

On Saturday, February 20, 2010, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be hosting "Congress on the Corner" in Richmond, Burke, and Jefferson Counties.  "Congress on the Corner" is an opportunity for citizens to meet one-on-one with Congressman Barrow and to talk about what's going on in Washington. 

Barrow to Host Job Fair in Augusta

August 6, 2009

Unemployment has reached historic highs, and the Augusta area is getting hit especially hard. Congressman Barrow wants to do what he can to help folks locate work. That's why he's bringing together local businesses and employers to host a job fair in Augusta on Thursday, August 20, 2009. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Henry H. Brigham Community Center, located at 2463 Golden Camp Road in Augusta. This event is free and open to the public.

Barrow Announces 2009 Veterans Town Hall Tour Schedule

June 25, 2009

Meetings will be held in Savannah, Glennville, Statesboro, Augusta, and Milledgeville.

Washington, D.C. - It's time again for Congressman Barrow's annual Veterans Town Hall Tour. This is an opportunity for Congressman Barrow to meet with veterans and their families, thank them for their service, and listen to their concerns. He'll be hosting five meetings on July 1, July 2, and July 3 throughout Georgia's 12th District:

Barrow Announces $32,375,000 in Direct Allocations of Recovery Zone Bonds for Communities in Georgia’s 12th District

June 12, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that the U.S. Treasury Department has made $25 billion in bond authority available under the Recovery Zone Bonds program.  Of that money, $32,375,000 will be available to communities in Georgia's 12th District.  Recovery Zone Bonds were created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Congress passed and President Obama signed into law earlier this year.  Recovery Zone Bonds are targeted to areas particularly affected by job loss.  They will help local governments obtain financing for much needed economic development projects, such as public infrastructure development, at lower borrowing costs.

Barrow to Host “Congress on the Corner” and Augusta Office Open House

May 20, 2009

This Saturday, May 23, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be hosting "Congress on the Corner" and an Open House in his new Augusta office. "Congress on the Corner" is an opportunity for citizens to meet one-on-one with Congressman Barrow and to talk about what's going on in Washington. It's also an opportunity for everyone to come and see his new office, have something to eat, and just visit.

Barrow to Host Health Fair in Augusta

April 9, 2009

Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) has been all over the 12th District, and one thing everybody's worried about is health care.  He's working hard in Washington to fix health care, but he wants to do something here at home to help. 

GEORGIA’S 12TH DISTRICT AWARDED $266,319 IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM

April 9, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that $266,319 has been awarded to the 12th District of Georgia by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).  Federal funds totaling $100 million were made available to the EFSP, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to bring immediate relief to communities to address unemployment, poverty, and other needs during the economic crisis.

Barrow Announces 12th District Schools to Receive an Estimated $70.9 Million

April 1, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that an estimated $70,969,000 in emergency education funding has been released for schools in Georgia's 12th District to help save education-related jobs and maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities. Schools in the 12th District will receive an estimated $42,376,000 in Title I funds and $28,593,000 in IDEA funds. 

Barrow Announces $1,277,939 in Community Health Center Grants For Augusta, Savannah, Swainsboro, and Warrenton

March 27, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that community health centers in Augusta, Savannah, Swainsboro, and Warrenton will receive $1,277,939 in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services to expand their services. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Barrow Announces $2.4 million in Recovery Act Funding for Augusta VA/Payments to Veterans

March 23, 2009

Washington, DC - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that the Augusta VA Medical Center will be receiving $2.4 million in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds will be used to renovate and modernize inpatient wards ($1.4 million) and to renovate an area for a Position Electron Transformation/CAT Scanner ($1 million.) In addition, the VA will make a one-time payment of $250 dollars to eligible veterans and survivors to mitigate the effects of the current economy. The VA estimates that $700 million in payments will be made, with payments beginning in June 2009.

Barrow Announces $2.3 million in Recovery Act Funds for Crime Prevention Efforts

March 12, 2009

Washington, DC - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced that Georgia's 12th Congressional District will receive close to $2.3 million in Recovery Act 2009 funding for law enforcement assistance through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

Barrow Announces First Allocation of Recovery Funding for Augusta

February 27, 2009

Washington, DC - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be allocating $606,372 from the 2009 Recovery Act Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Formula Program, and $927,319 from the 2009 Recovery Act Homelessness Prevention Grant Program to the City of Augusta.  These funds will be directed toward programs that can begin in 120 days.

Barrow Nominates 12th District Students for U.S. Service Academies

December 31, 2008

Washington, DC - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today announced the names of the ten high school students from Georgia's 12th District he has nominated for admission to the service academies for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Merchant Marine.