If you believe that where you have been helps you determine where you are going to go, then listen to our story and glimpse into our future.
Courage is a word synonymous with the founding of Bulloch County, named for revolutionary leader Archibald Bulloch who came to Georgia from South Carolina in the late 1750’s. At that time, the Province of Georgia was divided into eight parishes on March 17, 1758, by an act passed by the colonial Georgia Legislature. These eight parishes were St. Paul 's, St. George's , St. Matthew's, Christ Church 's, St. Philip's, St. John's , St. Andrew's and St. James. Mr. Bulloch acquired a plantation along the Savannah River. He was a prominent figure in the resistance to the authoritative rule of the British Parliament. Under the threat of his demise by British hands and sympathizers, he signed his name to an editorial written in The Georgia Gazette on July 14, 1774. The editorial was a call for all Savannah inhabitants to resist and fight the oppression of Great Britain . Due to his bravery and selfless acts, on January 20, 1776, Archibald Bulloch was elected President of the Executive Council of Georgia and immediately thereafter he was elected to the esteemed position of Provincial Governor.
In February of 1776, the Georgia Legislature created a county from St. Philip's parish. The appellation which the Legislature chose for St. Philip's Parish was called Bulloch County . On August 10, 1776, seven months after being elected Governor, Archibald Bulloch read a copy of the Declaration of Independence to the council members of Savannah, Georgia . Afterward, he read the Declaration to an audience at the public square. After reading it for a third time at the Liberty Pole, the Declaration of Independence was praised for its importance by thirteen thunderous rounds from a canon. Every since that historic event, residents of Bulloch County have celebrated "Archibald Bulloch Day" on August 10th.
The very first commissioner's court was held May 6, 1873. The purpose of the commissioners' court was to appoint different people to the Road Commission for their respected districts in Bulloch County. The first commissioners were Chairman John L. Denmark, Algeverre Scarborough and Solomon Hagin. On August 11, 1924, an Act created the Board of Commissioners for Bulloch County . The Act created a seven member commission, one being the chairperson, and one being the vice chairperson. Each member including the Chairmen would be directly elected from the citizenry but the vice chairperson would be selected by the commissioners.
The Origin of Statesboro
George Sibbald, whose last name eventually became to be spelled "Siebald", gave the community the land on which Statesboro now stands. Mr. Siebald was a man of wealth from Augusta , Georgia who possessed large land holdings in Bulloch County . Nobody knows the reason for his generosity, but on November 7, 1801, Mr. Siebald presented a 200-acre tract of land to the administrative officials of Bulloch County . On December 19, 1803, an Act of the Georgia Legislature was signed by then Governor John Milledge and the small town of "Statesborough" became an official reality.
It's uncertain to how the town came to be called "Statesborough". J.A. Brannen orated the leading theory was due to the acts of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson made a great argument in Virginia standing up for states' rights and the rights of people for local self-governance. Elected to the Presidency in 1801, Jefferson entered office when local and state rights were a popular topic. It is assumed, "Statesborough" was originated in honor of states' rights.
In the original charter, granted in 1866, "Statesborough" officially became spelled as it is known today, Statesboro.
Statesboro has been home to several famous citizens including Emma Kelly, the “lady of 6,000 songs”, blues artist “Blind Willie” McTell and the late great national championship winning college football coach, Erskine “Erk” Russell.
With thanks and based on www.bullochcourtesy.net/history.htm, the Statesboro CVB and Bulloch County Historical Society.
History of Statesboro
