LOOKING BACK
Feb. 5, 1777
Georgia’s first constitution was adopted on this date, transforming the existing colonial parishes into seven counties, with Indian ceded lands forming an eighth county. Effingham County, which was fourth on the list and thus is considered Georgia’s fourth county, consisted of all of Saint Matthew Parish and part of Saint Philip Parish north of the Canoochee River. The county was named for Lord Effingham, an English nobleman who championed the rights of the American colonies.
Feb. 7, 1799
The Georgia Legislature, meeting on this date in Louisville, appointed five Commissioners to lay out a new County Site, which became the town of Effingham. The Site was later moved to Springfield and incorporated in 1838. The first County Site was located at Tuckasee-King near the Screven County line. From 1787 to 1796, the County Site was at Elberton on the north side of the Ogeechee River near Indian Bluff.
Feb. 7, 1799
The General Assembly directed that Effingham’s new county seat be named Springfield (though it is not clear why that name was chosen). The legislation also authorized the selling of the courthouse and jail at Ebenezer, with the proceeds to go toward construction of a new courthouse and jail at Springfield.
Feb. 15, 1990
Effingham County’s 1990 Census committee launched its campaign on this date in which they hope will result in an accurate count. The campaign included slogans such as “Count Me In” and “The Census Makes Cents.” The committee was chaired by Ginger Jarvis. The 1980 Census counted 18,327 people in Effingham County. Estimates for 1990 range from 23,000 to 27,000.
Feb. 16, 1796
Ebenezer was made the county seat of Effingham on this date. In 1799, the county seat was moved to Springfield. Ebenezer was laid off in 1736, after the plan of Savannah, covering an area of a quarter of a mile square. Besides the homes, the plan included a church, parsonage, an academy, orphan house, public storehouse and market places. It remained a thriving town until the beginning of the Revolution. Ebenezer was fortified by the Continentals in 1776. On Jan. 2, 1779, it was captured by the British, and remained in their hands until early 1782.