Richmond County was formed in 1777 and named for the Duke of Richmond, a British defender of the colonists' cause.
Until 1996, the city and outlying county were separate governmental entities. In January of that year, the city and county governments consolidated forming Augusta-Richmond County.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census the consolidated government area now has an estimated 199,775 residents, encompassing a land area of 324 square miles.
This year, Augusta was expected to grow to more than 203,000 residents, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce reports.
Augusta-Richmond County has a wide variety of recreational activities, with more than 50 parks and playgrounds, eight swimming pools, 33 tennis courts, plus an 18-court tennis center and seven public golf courses. There also are eight private country clubs and golf courses.
Scenic attractions include downtown's Riverwalk Augusta, the Augusta Canal, which offers riverboat tours and the National Science Center's Fort Discovery.
The city and county have a 3 percent sales tax, in addition to a 4 percent state sales tax.
Fire and police protection, along with citywide garbage service also are provided by the local government.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office is manned by more than 200 sworn officers.
Violent crime in the Garden City has continued to decrease since 1996, according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics.
The 2002 crime rate per 100,000 residents for violent crimes was at 316 and the property crime rate clocked in at 4,090 per 100,000 residents.
The Augusta-Richmond Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency service from 19 stations around the city.
The department is staffed by hundreds of full-time firefighters and handled more than 15,000 calls in 2002.
Augusta-Richmond emergency transport system provides advanced life support services with state-of-the-art emergency medical equipment and professional paramedic staffing.
IT'S A FACT:
The recreational activities available in Augusta-Richmond County include more than 50 parks and playgrounds, eight swimming pools, 33 tennis courts plus an 18-court tennis center and seven public golf courses.
CONTACTS
County Commission 821-1820
Mayor's Office 821-1831
Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field 798-3236
Daniel Field Airport 733-1647
Animal Control 790-6836
Board of Elections 821-2340
Department of Family and Children Services 721-3000
Emergency Management Agency 821-1155
Equal Opportunity Officer 821-2403
Fire Department, Nonemergency 821-1210, Emergency 911
Health Department 667-4326
Housing and Neighborhood Development 821-1797
License and Inspection Department 312-5050
Planning and Zoning Commission 821-1796
Utilities 796-5000
Facilities Management (Public Works) 821-2426
Recreation Department 796-5025
Riverwalk Special Events 821-1754
Transit Department Bus Schedule Information 821-1719
Sheriff's Office Information 821-1000; Dispatcher 821-1080; Emergency 911
Solicitor General's Office 821-1220
Tag Office 821-2476
Tax Assessor's Office 821-2310
Tax Commissioner's Office 821-2391
Voter Registration 821-2340
Water and Sewage Utilities 312-4154
Landfill, 4330 Deans Bridge Road, Blythe, Ga. 30805
Parks and Recreation
Augusta Municipal Golf Course, 2023 Highland Avenue, 731-9344
Belle Terrace Center, 2456 Golden Camp Road, 771-2654
Belle Terrace Senior Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road, 772-5455
Belle Terrace Swim Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road, 772-5453
Blythe Area Recreation Center, 3129 Hwy 88, 592-4988
Boxing Club, 1929 Walton Way, 733-7533
Chafee Park 736-3423
Diamond Lakes Baseball and Softball Facility, 2314 Tobacco Road, 771-2980; Game Schedule and Cancellation hot line, 771-2996
Doughty Park, 1200 Nellieville Road, 724-2044
Dyess Park, 902 9th Street, 821-2877
Eastview Park, 644 Aiken Street, 722-2302
Eisenhower Athletic Office, 1488 Eisenhower Drive, 821-2800
Fleming Complex, 1915 Lumpkin Road, 798-4862
Flemming Pool, 1941 Lumpkin Road, 790-3758
Fleming Tennis Center, Chester Avenue, 796-5046
Garrett Community Center, 1110 Eisenhower Drive, 821-1776
Gracewood Center, 817 Tobacco Road, 790-6602
Hephzibah/Carroll Community Center, 4977 Windsor Spring Road, 592-2216
Hickman Park, 965 Hickman Road, 738-2031
Jamestown Park, New Karleen Road, Hephzibah, 790-1805
Julian Smith BBQ Pit, 87 Milledge Road, 821-2859
Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Street, 821-2804
May Park, 622 4th Street, 724-0504
McBean, 5106 Old Savannah Road, 798-1191
McDuffie Woods, 771-2656
Merry Street Craft Center, 821-2598
Minnick Park, 1850 Kissingbower Road, 737-3079
Newman Tennis Center, 3103 Wrightsboro Road, 821-1600
Old Government House, 432 Telfair Street, 821-1812
Pendleton King Park 736-0715
Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam 793-9403
Savannah Place, 1014 11th Avenue, 821-2827
Soccer Park, 3200 Maddox Road, 854-0149
Sue Reynolds, Buck Road, 860-9881
W.T. Johnson, 1610 Hunter Street, 821-2866
Warren Road, 300 Warren Road, 860-0986
