Milledgeville, Ga (dec 12, 1804 – mar 1, 1868)

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Milledgeville was Georgia’s 4th state capital starting in 1804. Milledgeville was chosen as the capital city because of its central location as Georgia’s population continued moving west. Milledgeville was picked because it was in the middle of the state, and the town was planned out for being the capital, similar to Washington, D.C. For over 60 years, Milledgeville was the center of Georgia’s government. Lawmakers met there to pass laws, and many lived in the city during the government sessions. The city did have the state’s mental hospital, which was a major institution at the time, bringing in more opportunities and jobs for people.

One of the most important events that happened in Milledgeville was in 1861, when Georgia decided to join the Confederacy before the Civil War. Not everyone agreed with the decision, but it happened at the governor's mansion. In 1864, Union General William Sherman marched through the city during his “March to the Sea.” His soldiers took over the city and made fun of the Confederate government, which hurt Milledgeville’s image as a strong capital. After the Civil War, Milledgeville began to decline. Georgia needed a capital that was better for business and travel and moved to Atlanta due to its major innovations at the time with railroads.


Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Milledgeville
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/milledgeville/

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