Douglas County Starts 150th Birthday Celebration Early

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga - Douglas County turns 150 this October, but local officials want to celebrate all year.

The county commissioners are hosting a kickoff event at 11:30 a.m., Jan. 16, at the Douglasville Conference Center, 6700 Church St.

“This is a big party and celebration that is free and open to the public,” said Tiffany Stewart, Director of External Affairs.

“We are having food and entertainment for all guests.”

The purpose for the celebration is to share in the success and growth of Douglas County, said Commission Chair, Dr. Romona Jackson Jones.

Multiple events during the year, both existing events and new events will occur celebrating the 150th birthday of Douglas County.

“The actual birthday date is October 17th, and that day we plan on celebrating all day and end the evening with fireworks,” said Rick Martin, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Douglas County.

Douglas County was created in 1870 from Campbell County and Carroll County. The county is named in honor of Stephen Arnold Douglas (1813-1861), an Illinois Democratic Congressman who ran against Abraham Lincoln in the United States presidential election, 1860, and lost, according to ereferencedesk.com.

During the celebration this year, residents can be on the lookout for a calendar on line at www.celebratedouglascounty.com with a list of events for the year. It will be updated throughout the year to alert people of what, where and when events will be happening.

Here are some of the signature events that have been approved so far:

* “Our Past” Douglas County Sesquicentennial Exhibit Reception, 4 p.m. Feb. 25, at the Douglas County Museum of History & Art downtown.

* Douglas County Black History Program: Honoring R.L. Cousins and Hutcheson High School, 6 p.m. Feb. 19, at the Douglas County Courthouse.

* Douglas County Historic Site Trail Opening March 17.

* Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., March 21, in partnership with the Cultural Arts Council. For children.

* Douglas County Women’s History Month Reception, March 24.