Timeline of Savannah, Georgia

18th century

1733

Savannah founded in British Colony of Georgia by James Oglethorpe.

Ellis, Johnson, Percival, and St. James Squares laid out per Oglethorpe Plan.

1734 - Solomon's Lodge (Masonic lodge) founded.

1735 - Congregation Mickve Israel formed.

1739 - Creek leader Tomochichi buried in Percival Square.

1740 - Bethesda Orphanage founded near town.

1750

Christ Church built.

Savannah Female Asylum founded.

1754

Savannah becomes capital of British Province of Georgia.

Pirates' House Inn in business.

1755

January 1: Georgia legislature convenes.

Independent Presbyterian Church founded.

1775

January: Provincial Congress held.

June: Committee of Safety organized at the liberty pole.

1778

December 29: Battle of Savannah; British in power.

Georgia state capital relocated from Savannah to Augusta.

1779 - Town Hall built.

1782

British occupation ends.

Georgia state capital relocated to Savannah from Augusta.

1786

Georgia state capital relocated again from Savannah to Augusta.

Chatham Artillery established.

1788

Town becomes part of the U.S. state of Georgia.

African Baptist Church, and Chatham Academy established.

1789 - Savannah chartered as a city.

1790 - John Houstoun becomes mayor.

1796 - November 26: Fire.

19th century

1800 - Population: 5,146.

1802 - Savannah Volunteer Guards established.

1809 - Savannah Society Library founded.

1810 - Population: 5,315.

1812 - Hibernian Society organized.

1817 - Savannah Steamboat Company in business.

1818 - Savannah theatre established.

1819

May: Steamboat Savannah travels to Liverpool, England.

May: U.S. president Monroe visits town.

William Scarbrough House (residence) built.

1820 - January: Fire.

1824 - Savannah Fire Company formed.

1825 - March: Lafayette visits town.

1830 - Population: 7,303.

1831 - Savannah–Ogeechee Canal constructed.

1833 - First Baptist Church built.

1834 - Oglethorpe Barracks built (approximate date).

1837 - Central Railroad begins operating.

1839 - Georgia Historical Society organized.

1840 - Population: 11,214.

1842 - Convent of St. Vincent de Paul founded.

1844 - Savannah Institution for Savings instituted.

1846 - Bonaventure Cemetery established near town.

1847 - Fort Pulaski built near town.

1848 - Population: 13,573.

1850

Daily Morning News begins publication.

Custom House built.

1853

Forsyth Place (park) laid out.

Catholic Diocese of Savannah and Laurel Grove Cemetery established.

St. John's Church consecrated.

1854

Yellow fever outbreak.

Augusta and Savannah Railroad in operation (approximate date).

1855 - Young Men's Literary Association organized.

1858 - Old Harbor Light erected.

1859 - First African Baptist Church rebuilt.

1860 - Central of Georgia Depot built.

1861

Port blockaded by U.S. government.

Green House (residence) built.

1864 - December 22: Savannah taken by Union forces.

1867 - Beach Institute established.

1868 - Mercer House (residence) built (approximate date).

1870 - McCarthy's Business College established.

1871 - Abend Zeitung newspaper begins publication.

1873 - First Bryan Baptist Church rebuilt.

1874 - Youth's Historical Society founded.

1875

Colored Tribune newspaper begins publication.

Savannah Rifle Association established.

1876 - Cathedral of St. John the Baptist dedicated.

1878 - Congregation Mickve Israel synagogue built.

1879 - City boundaries expanded.

1880

Confederate memorial built in Forsyth Park.

Population: 30,709.

1882 - Ford Dramatic Association incorporated.

1883 - City boundaries expanded.

1886 - Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences opens.

1887 - Tybee-Savannah railway built.

1890 – Population: 43,189.

1891 - Georgia Industrial College established.

1893 - August: Sea Islands hurricane.

20th century

1900

Population: 54,244.

Great Dane Trailers founded as the Savannah Blowpipe Company

1901 - City boundaries expanded.

1902 - Benedictine College founded.

1906 - City Hall rebuilt.

1908 - Savannah, Augusta and Northern Railway in operation (approximate date).

1910 - Population: 65,064.

1912 - Girl Guides of America founded.

1919 - April: Savannah Centennial Pageant performed.

1920 – Population: 83,252.

1925 - Savannah Economic Development Authority established.

1926 - Municipal Stadium built.

1929

Savannah Municipal Airport begins operating.

Savannah Technical College established.

1935

Armstrong Junior College founded.

Union Bag and Paper opens mill.

1942 - U.S. Army Chatham Field (airfield) active.

1950 - Little Theatre of Savannah founded.

1951 - Palm Drive-In movie theatre opens.

1953 - Talmadge Memorial Bridge built to Hutchinson Island (Georgia).

1954 - Council–manager form of government adopted.

1955 - Historic Savannah Foundation organized.

1956 - Juliette Gordon Low house museum opens.

1960

Travis Field airport terminal built.

Population: 147,537.

1967 - Grumman Aircraft Engineering Co. opens Savannah office.

1968 - Abercorn Plaza shopping centre in business.

1969 - Oglethorpe Mall in business.

1970

John Rousakis becomes mayor.

Population: 118,349.

1974 - Savannah Civic Center opens.

1976 - Abercorn Cinema opens.

1977 - City Records Committee established.

1978 - Savannah College of Art and Design founded.

1979 - September: Hurricane David.

1981 - Coastal State Prison built.

1986 - Chatham Area Transit established.

1988 - Savannah Music Festival founded.

1990

Savannah Mall (the city's second shopping mall) in business.

Talmadge Memorial Bridge rebuilt.

1991

Vietnam Veterans Memorial built in Emmet Park.

Lady & Sons restaurant in business.

1994

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport terminal built.

Bestseller book about Savannah Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil published.

1998 - Savannah Dance Theatre established.

1999

Georgia Tech Savannah established.

City website online (approximate date).

21st century

2000 - Lucas Theatre renovated.

2002 - Islamic Center of Savannah established.

2004 - Otis Johnson becomes mayor.

2005

Abercorn Walk shopping centre in business.

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police established.

2009 - The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra is established.

2010 - Population: 136,286.

2012 - Edna Jackson becomes mayor.

2012 - Savannah Law School established.