The city of Macon, GA was founded in 1823 along the Ocmulgee River, stemming from the Fort Hawkins frontier. However, the area was originally the stomping ground for the Native American tribes that resided in the area, and the Native American history dates back over 10,000 years. Today, this history is harvested in the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. In Macon today, there are also 14 historic districts and over 6,00 historic homes and buildings that are registered with the National Register of Historic Places.
After WWI, the city began to grow exponentially, and families from all over began to settle in the small, central Georgia town. Several years later, in the ‘50s, Macon’s African American population grew, bringing in some of the world’s best musicians., including James Brown, Little Richard, and the Allman Brothers. During this decade, Macon’s own Neva Jane Langely won the Miss American pageant in 1953.
In 1994, when hurricane Alberto came through Georgia, it flooded the Ocmulgee River, which contaminated the city’s water supply. This resulted in a water shortage for the 160,000 Macon citizens for over 19 days.