History
Hephzibah was originally named Brothersville, in honor of three brothers settled near one another where the city of Hephzibah would eventually grow. In October 1860, a Baptist seminary was established in Brothersville by a group of Appling residents, which then led to the establishment of the Hephzibah Baptist Church in 1862. The prominence of these new religious institutions in the area swayed the state of Georgia to rename the town Hephzibah in 1870. In 1909, a book authored by Walter A. Clark named "A Lost Arcadia - The Story of My Old Community" was published detailing the earliest days of the formation of Hephzibah.In 1996 the governments of the city of Augusta and Richmond County combined to form a single governing body. The residents of Hephzibah and nearby Blythe had voted to maintain separate city governments prior to this action. Some municipal services in Hephzibah continue to be provided by the consolidated Augusta-Richmond County, while water, fire, and police services are maintained by the city.
After years of slow decline, the retail economy in Hephzibah has increased substantially since 2010, marked by the openings of an IGA grocery store,, CrossFit gym, and a branch of the local chain Southern food restaurant Wife Saver.
Notable locations
- Augusta International Raceway
- Diamond Lakes Recreation Center
- Jessie Carroll Park and Recreation Center
- Blythe Recreation Center
Notable people from Hephzibah
This list includes people who were born in Hephzibah or who spent a significant amount of time living in the town.| Photo | Name | Date of Birth | Notes | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wesley Gilbert | 1864 | First student and black professor of Paine College, one of the first black American archaeologists | ||||
| George Kitchens | 1983 | Track and field athlete | ||||
| Vaughn Taylor | 1976 | PGA Tour golfer | ||||
| Itoro Umoh-Coleman | 1977 | WNBA basketball player and Clemson assistant coach | ||||
| Tami Tesch | Miss Georgia USA 1986 |
Photos
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Sunset view in HDR from Fulcher Road in Hephzibah.
