19th Century Brunswick

A Period of Slow Growth

The years from 1834 to 1839 were ones of prosperity and growth. In 1835, the General Assembly authorized the sale of  additional Commons, with all the area known as New Town being north of "F" Street and east of Wolfe Street. In 1836, the town was officially chartered, however this growth did not last long as a decline began requiring the City to return the charter to the state with only 400 residents remaining.

A New City & Wartime

By the 1850s another building boom began and Brunswick was reincorporated on February 22, 1856 becoming the "City of Brunswick". The following decade (1860) Brunswick had a population of nearly 500, a weekly newspaper, bank, and saw mill. However, nearly 100 years after the breakout of the Revolutionary War, history was repeated with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Brunswick was hit hard as our community was blockaded and residents were forced to evacuate fleeing largely to Wayne and Ware Counties. By 1865, the war ended leaving behind a post-war depression and combination Cholera / Yellow Fever Outbreak. Luckily, naval stores and timber mills created yet again, another building boom during reconstruction.

Reconstruction

During reconstruction, the City Council had to reconcile the needs of a newly freed population and those apprehensive to an integrated society. This included housing, education, voting, places of worship, and burial. Due to record loss - a complete legislative history following the Civil War is lost. However, some actions taken by the City Council included (1) the leasing of public housing to freedmen, with the first known being August Hall and Tibbie Dart in 1868; (2) the creation of the Sexton Colored Cemetery and appointed overseers in 1870; and (3) the approval of churches and educational facilities, such as the Risley Colored School, petitioned and approved in 1867.

Trying Times

Towards the end of reconstruction, Yellow Fever would reemerge in 1876 causing a period of economic hardship. By 1878 the City fully recovered, boasting two new railroads and a population of 3,000. However, Yellow Fever would once again present itself in 1893, this time leading to decade-long depression. To make matters worse a Category-3 hurricane hit Brunswick, leaving the City under 6-feet of water. A few years later in 1898, a Category-4 hurricane hit Cumberland Island resulting in a 16-foot storm surge that resulted in nearly 200 deaths. With time Brunswick slowly recovered.