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USA

Augusta–Richmond County US /ə.ˈɡʌs.tə/ is a consolidated city-county in the U.S. state of Georgia, located at the fall line of the Savannah River, at the head of its navigable portion.

The city was named after Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (1719-1772), wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales. She was the mother of King George III of the United Kingdom.

According to 2012 US Census estimates, the Augusta-Richmond County population was 197,872, not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.

Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area, which as of 2012 had an estimated population of 580,270, making it the third-largest city and the second-largest metro area in the state after Atlanta. It is the 116th-largest city in the United States. Internationally, Augusta is best known for hosting The Masters golf tournament each spring.

History
Main article: History of Augusta, Georgia

The area along the river was long inhabited by varying cultures of indigenous peoples, who relied on the river for fish, water and transportation. The site of Augusta was used by Native Americans as a place to cross the Savannah River, because of its location on the fall line.

In 1735, two years after James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, he sent a detachment of troops to explore up the Savannah River. He gave them an order to build at the head of the navigable part of the river. The expedition was led by Noble Jones, who created the settlement to provide a first line of defense for coastal areas against potential Spanish or French invasion from the interior. Oglethorpe named the town Augusta, in honor of Princess Augusta, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales and mother of the future King George III of the United Kingdom. Oglethorpe visited Augusta only once, which was in September, 1739. He did so while returning to Savannah from a perilous visit to Coweta Town where he had met with a convention of seven thousand Native American soldiers and obtained peaceful relations with several Native American groups in what is today the northern and western part of Georgia.[9] Augusta was the second state capital of Georgia from 1785 until 1795 (alternating for a period with Savannah, the first).

Augusta developed rapidly as a market town along with the development of the Black Belt in the Piedmont of Georgia; large cotton plantations for short-staple cotton were developed and generated great revenue from slave labor after the invention of the cotton gin made cultivation of short-staple cotton more profitable. Many of the slaves were brought from the Lowcountry, where their Gullah culture had developed on the large Sea Island cotton and rice plantations.

A riot in 1970 involving 500 people began when a mentally disabled teenager, Charles Oatman, was killed by his cellmates in an Augusta jail. Six black men were killed by police,[10] each shot in the back.[11] James Brown was called in to quell lingering tensions, was misquoted, but still succeeded where the mayor did not.[10]
Geography
The Augusta skyline, as seen from North Augusta, South Carolina

Augusta is located on the Georgia/South Carolina border, about 150 miles (240 km) east of Atlanta and 70 miles (110 km) west of Columbia. The city is located at 33°28′12″N 81°58′30″W (33.470, −81.975).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Augusta-Richmond County balance has a total area of 306.5 square miles (793.8 km2). 302.1 square miles (782.4 km2) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.1 km2) of it (1.42%) is water.
Savannah River and the Augusta Canal, with River Watch Parkway and residential areas in foreground

Augusta is located about halfway up the Savannah River on the fall line, which creates a number of small falls on the river. The city marks the end of a navigable waterway for the river and the entry to the Georgia Piedmont area.

The Clarks Hill Dam is built on the fall line near Augusta, forming Clarks Hill Lake. Further downstream, near the border of Columbia County, is the Stevens Creek Dam, which generates hydroelectric power. Further downstream is the Augusta Diversion Dam, which marks the beginning of the Augusta Canal and channels Savannah River waters into the canal.[13]
Climate

As with the rest of the state, Augusta has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with short, mild winters, very hot, humid summers, and a wide diurnal temperature variation throughout much of the year. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 45.4 °F (7.4 °C) in January to 81.6 °F (27.6 °C) in July; there are 53 nights with the low reaching the freezing mark, 82 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, and 5.5 days of 100 °F (38 °C)+ annually. Extreme temperatures range from −1 °F (−18 °C) on January 21, 1985 up to 108 °F (42 °C) on August 10, 2007 and August 21, 1983. Snowfall is not nearly as common as in Atlanta, due largely to Augusta's elevation, with downtown Augusta being about 900 ft (270 m) lower than downtown Atlanta. Freezing rain is also a threat in wintertime.

Climate data for Augusta, Georgia (1981−2010 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high, °F (°C)	84 (29)	86 (30)	93 (34)	96 (36)	100 (38)	106 (41)	107 (42)	108 (42)	106 (41)	97 (36)	90 (32)	82 (28)	108 (42)
Average high, °F (°C)	57.9 (14.4)	62.3 (16.8)	69.9 (21.1)	77.3 (25.2)	85.0 (29.4)	91.0 (32.8)	93.4 (34.1)	91.8 (33.2)	86.7 (30.4)	77.7 (25.4)	69.1 (20.6)	60.0 (15.6)	76.8 (24.9)
Average low, °F (°C)	32.8 (0.4)	35.9 (2.2)	42.0 (5.6)	48.1 (8.9)	57.3 (14.1)	66.2 (19)	69.8 (21)	69.3 (20.7)	62.6 (17)	51.0 (10.6)	41.4 (5.2)	34.5 (1.4)	50.9 (10.5)
Record low, °F (°C)	−1 (−18)	3 (−16)	12 (−11)	26 (−3)	35 (2)	46 (8)	54 (12)	52 (11)	36 (2)	22 (−6)	11 (−12)	5 (−15)	−1 (−18)
Average precipitation, inches (mm)	3.91 (99.3)	3.92 (99.6)	4.18 (106.2)	2.84 (72.1)	2.65 (67.3)	4.72 (119.9)	4.33 (110)	4.32 (109.7)	3.22 (81.8)	3.26 (82.8)	2.81 (71.4)	3.39 (86.1)	43.55 (1,106.2)
Average snowfall, inches (cm)	0.4 (1)	0.4 (1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.1 (0.3)	0.9 (2.3)
Average precipitation (≥ 0.01 in) days	9.8	8.8	8.6	7.5	8.1	11.0	11.0	10.3	7.1	6.5	6.9	9.2	104.8
Average snowy (≥ 0.1 in) days	0.2	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.1	0.5
Source: NOAA (extremes 1874−present)^[14]

Historic districts
Main article: Augusta Downtown Historic District
Sacred Heart Cultural Center

Augusta Downtown Historic District is a historic district that encompasses most of downtown Augusta and its pre-Civil War area. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[15]

Augusta also includes the:

Summerville Historic District
Greene Street Historic District
Broad Street Historic District
Sands Hill Historic District
Pinched Gut Historic District
Laney-Walker North Historic District
Bethlehem Historic District
Harrisburg-West End Historic District

Demographics
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 2,215 —
1810 2,476 11.8%
1830 6,710 —
1840 6,403 −4.6%
1850 9,448 47.6%
1860 12,493 32.2%
1870 15,389 23.2%
1880 21,891 42.3%
1890 33,300 52.1%
1900 39,441 18.4%
1910 41,040 4.1%
1920 52,548 28.0%
1930 60,342 14.8%
1940 65,919 9.2%
1950 71,508 8.5%
1960 70,626 −1.2%
1970 59,864 −15.2%
1980 47,532 −20.6%
1990 44,639 −6.1%
2000 195,182 337.2%
2010 195,844 0.3%
Est. 2014 196,741 [16] 0.5%
Population 1800–2010.[17][18]

According to 2013 US Census estimates, the Augusta-Richmond County population was 197,350[19] not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe. In the 2010 census, Augusta–Richmond County had 195,844 residents. The population density was 647.5 people per square mile (250/km²).[20] There were 84,427 housing units at an average density of 279.5 per square mile (782/km²). The racial makeup of the city-county area was 54.7% Black or African American, 39.1% White, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.3% some other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.[21]

There were 75,208 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were headed by married couples living together, 22.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.09.[21]

In the city-county consolidated area the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.0 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.[21]

As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city-county area was $37,231, and the median income for a family was $45,372. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $23,988 for females. The per capita income for the balance was $19,558. About 13.2% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
Religion

The most-attended church is the Southern Baptist Convention with 221 congregations with 114,351 members. The Catholic Church has 13 congregations and 31,687 members, while the United Methodist Church has 83 churches and 30,722 members. The National Baptist Convention had 26,671 members. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has 14 congregations and 4,500 members, the Presbyterian Church in America has 4,396 members in 14 churches.[22]
Economy

Augusta is a regional center of medicine, biotechnology, and military. Georgia Regents University, the state's only public health sciences graduate university, employs over 7,000 people. Along with University Hospital, the Medical District of Augusta employs over 25,000 people and has an economic impact of over $1.8 billion.[23] Within the next few years, the city is expected to have rapid population growth of 10,000+ residents due to the announcement of the United States Army Cyber Command that will be located in Fort Gordon.

Along with Georgia Regents University, the city's three largest employers include the Savannah River Site (a Department of Energy nuclear facility) and the U.S. Army Signal Center at Fort Gordon. Despite layoffs from several companies during the U.S. economic recession and a relatively high state unemployment rate,[24] the Augusta community has experienced a decrease in bankruptcy filings[25] and saw a slight decrease in the unemployment rate from late 2009 to March 2011. However, these unemployment numbers are misleading as spring brings lower unemployment rates due to the Augusta Masters. While unemployment fell to a two-year low of 8.3% in April 2011, unemployment rates have since risen to 9.9% as of July 2011.[26]

Companies that have facilities, headquarters or distribution centers in Augusta include CareSouth, T-Mobile, Covidien, Solo Cup Company, Automatic Data Processing, International Paper, NutraSweet, Teleperformance, Sitel, E-Z-GO, Elanco, Club Car (Worldwide Headquarters), John Deere, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg's and Delta Air Lines baggage call center.[27]
Top employers

According to the Augusta Economic Development Authority,[28] the top manufacturing employers in the city are:
# Employer # of Employees
1 Textron Specialized Vehicles 1,277
2 Covidien 850
3 International Paper 820
4 Kellogg's 535
5 FPL Food 500
6 Procter & Gamble 450
7 Thermal Ceramics 444
8 Resolute Forest Products 374
9 Boral Brick 363
10 PotashCorp 350

The top public sector employers are:
# Employer # of Employees
1 Fort Gordon 19,884
2 Georgia Regents University 4,656
3 Richmond County School System 4,418
4 University Hospital 3,200
5 Georgia Regents Health System 3,054
6 Augusta-Richmond County 4,418
7 Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center 2,082
8 East Central Regional Hospital 1,488
9 Doctors Hospital 1,210
Sports
Teams

Augusta is home to the Augusta Greenjackets minor league baseball club. The team began play in 1988 as the Augusta Pirates, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Later affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, the Greenjackets are with the San Francisco Giants.[29] The team is owned by Cal Ripken Jr.[30]

The Augusta Rugby Football Club (ARFC) is a division 2 men's club competing in the Palmetto Rugby Union, part of the USA Rugby South Conference.

Augusta also has its own all female flat track roller derby team, The Soul City Sirens. Founded in 2008, this league is all volunteer and skater owned. [31]
Club Sport League Venue
Augusta GreenJackets Baseball South Atlantic League Lake Olmstead Stadium
Augusta Mad Dogs Rugby Palmetto Rugby Union Larry Bray Memorial
Soul City Sirens Roller Derby WFTDA Red Wing Rollerway
Tournaments
Tiger Woods at the practice rounds for the 2006 Masters Tournament

The city’s famous golf course, the Augusta National Golf Club, hosts the first major golf tournament of each year, The Masters. This tournament is one of the most prestigious in the sport[32] and is one of the four major championships. The best professional and amateur golfers in the world come to Augusta during the first full week of April every year. The grounds of Augusta National are known for being pristine, and the course was ranked in 2009 as the 3rd best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine.[33] Augusta is also home to Augusta Golf Instruction created by Master swing & mental coach B. J. Hathaway.

The city also has disc golf facilities. The Augusta Top Gun Series is a series of tournaments sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association. These tournaments are held at various venues in Augusta, including Pendleton King Park and Lake Olmstead.[34] Also, Augusta hosted the 2006 Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Along with Pendleton King and Lake Olmstead, two courses in N. Augusta, SC were used for the tournament. 299 disc golfers from around the world attended the event, with Ken Climo winning the tournament and his 12th world championship.

Augusta is the host of the World's Richest Drag Boat Race, held on the Savannah River (Augusta Southern Nationals). The race is part of the IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series and is sanctioned by the International Hot Boat Association (held on July 18–20). The event benefits the Augusta Chapter of the Georgia Special Olympics. Over 100 racing teams from 25 states will compete for $140,000 in purse and prizes as they try to beat the record of 252.94 MPH in the ‘World’s Richest Drag Boat Race".
Parks and recreation

Riverwalk Augusta — riverfront park along and on top of city's levee
Augusta Common — green space linking Broad St. to Reynolds St., with statue of James Oglethorpe
Augusta Canal — historic canal with bike/pedestrian path
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park — wetlands park with pedestrian/bike paths and boardwalks
Diamond Lakes Regional Park — park in south Richmond County
Brookfield Park — public park featuring a playground, putting green, pedestrian/bike path, and a fountain in which children can play
Pendleton King - public park featuring a disc golf course, dog park, amphitheater, bike/running paths, and beautiful gardens.
Patriots Park (Columbia county)- public featuring a disc golf course, football, soccer, baseball, softball, and tennis court. also a play ground.

Government

In 1995, citizens of Augusta and unincorporated Richmond County voted to consolidate their city and county governments. Citizens of Hephzibah and Blythe, also located in Richmond County, voted against joining in the consolidation of Augusta and Richmond County. Augusta and Richmond County's consolidation took effect January 1, 1996. The consolidated government consists of a mayor and 10 commissioners. Eight commissioners represent specific districts, while the other two represent super districts that represent half of the county's population respectively.[35]
Education
Allgood Hall at Georgia Regents University
Colleges and universities

Main campuses

Augusta Technical College (state technical college)
Georgia Regents University (state university), formerly Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University
Paine College (private, Methodist historically black college)

Satellite campuses

East Georgia State College (state four-year college), main campus located in Swainsboro
Georgia Military College (state funded military college), main campus located in Milledgeville

K–12 schools
Richmond County Board of Education central office

Public K–12 schools in Augusta are managed by the Richmond County School System. The school system contains 36 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and the following eight high schools: Glenn Hills, Butler, Westside, Hephzibah, Aquinas, T.W. Josey, A.R.C.(Academy of Richmond County) and Cross Creek. There are four magnet schools, — C. T. Walker Traditional Magnet School, A. R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School, and Davidson Fine Arts.

Private schools in Augusta include Aquinas High School, Episcopal Day School, St. Mary on the Hill School, Immaculate Conception School, Hillcrest Baptist Church School, Curtis Baptist High School, Gracewood Baptist First Academy, Alleluia Community School, New Life Christian Academy, and Westminster Schools of Augusta. Augusta Christian School, Augusta First Seventh-day Adventist School, and Augusta Preparatory Day School serve Augusta, but are located in neighboring Martinez, Georgia.
Infrastructure
Transportation

Augusta is linked to Atlanta to the west and Columbia, South Carolina, to the east by Interstate 20. Interstate 520 (Bobby Jones Expressway) runs from I-20 Exit 196 through Augusta's western and southern suburban areas, eventually crossing the Savannah River to South Carolina where it becomes the Palmetto Parkway.

U.S. and state routes:

I‑20
I-520 (Bobby Jones Expressway / Deputy James D. Paugh Memorial Highway)
US 1 (Deans Bridge Road (from Jefferson County line to Gordon Highway), Gordon Highway (from Deans Bridge Road to South Carolina state line))
US 25 (Peach Orchard Road (entire length), Gordon Highway (from Peach Orchard Road to South Carolina state line))
US 78 / US 278 / SR 10 (Gordon Highway)
SR 4 (follows U.S. Highway 1 from Jefferson County line to Gordon Highway, leaves Georgia at 13th Street bridge)
SR 28 (various roads, including John C. Calhoun Expressway and Washington Road)
SR 56 (Mike Padgett Highway)
SR 88 in south Richmond County
SR 104 (River Watch Parkway)
SR 104 Conn. (Washington Road)
SR 232 (Columbia Road/Bobby Jones Expressway)
SR 383 (Jimmie Dyess Parkway)
SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway) (Deans Bridge Road from Jefferson County line to I-520)[36]
SR 555 / SR 565 (Savannah River Parkway) (Peach Orchard Road from Burke County line to I-520)

Parts of Augusta are served by city transit service Augusta Public Transit (APT), but the main mode of transportation within the city is by car. The city has two airports: Augusta Regional Airport and Daniel Field. Augusta is also served by a number of taxi companies.
Notable people

List of people from Augusta, Georgia

Quinton Aaron, actor, The Blind Side
Ben Bernanke, economist
Emerson Boozer, former NFL running back
James Brown, singer-songwriter
Casper, German/American rapper
Ty Cobb, baseball Hall of Famer
Anthony Conway, artist, lived in Augusta while in Medical School
Michael Dease, jazz trombonist
Amanda America Dickson (1849-1893), mixed-race daughter and heir of planter and reformer David Dickson; became richest woman of color in the US; lived in Augusta[37]
Aquilla J. Dyess, only American to receive both Carnegie Medal for civilian heroism and Medal of Honor
Laurence Fishburne, actor
Effie Germon, 19th Century actress
Wycliffe Gordon, jazz composer, educator
Amy Grant, singer
Forrest Griffin, MMA fighter
Dave Haywood, singer-songwriter
Tony Hill, NFL player
Hulk Hogan, professional wrestler
Charles Howell III, professional golfer
Beau Jack, professional boxer
Jasper Johns, artist
Charles Kelley, singer-songwriter
Josh Kelley, singer-songwriter
Lady Antebellum, Grammy Award-winning country group
Butterfly McQueen, actress, known for Gone With the Wind
Larry Mize, golfer, winner of 1987 Masters
Jessye Norman, opera singer
C.J. Pearson, political activist and pundit
Carl E. Sanders, governor of Georgia, 1963-1967
Dub Taylor, actor, raised in Augusta but born in Richmond, Virginia
Ken Whisenhunt, head coach of NFL's Tennessee Titans
Woodrow Wilson, former President of the United States, lived in Augusta as a child
Judy Woodruff, television journalist, former Miss Augusta Junior Miss
Frank Yerby, author, educator

Sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United States

Augusta is twinned with:

France Biarritz, France[38]
Japan Takarazuka, Japan