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AHistory
History · Darien

Darien dates to 1736, and 14% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 94% of U.S. towns. What drives it

4 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 182 buildings between them. Below: 22 old photos and papers, maps from 1921 on, and the census since 1850.

1736founded
4on the National Register
14%homes built before 1940
22old photos & papers
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Darien’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Darien began

When was Darien founded?

1736

Darien dates its founding to 1736 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 550 in 18502020 census: 1,460290 years

How historic is Darien?

A

More historic than 94% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1800.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Darien’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Darien is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Darien’s overall grade.
Founding era1736, from Wikidata: founded before 1776, an older era than 96% of U.S. townsA+Homes built before 194013.7% of homes (±6.0) · typical GA town 3.8% · U.S. 8.4%BNational Register4 listings, 187 historic buildings, 1,288 per 10,000 residents · typical GA town 10.0 · U.S. 2.4A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 94%
NewerOlder

Georgia towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Georgia town has 10.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Darien’s 1,288 sits above most of its state (97% of Georgia towns have fewer) while its 187 historic buildings outnumber those of 93% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1736.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.0 points).

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Darien’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A historic districtThe West Darien Historic District takes in 143 historic buildings.A town in old photos22 old photos, postcards and papers, 1890–1979.Boom and bustPeaked at 1,975 in 2010; 1,460 people lived here in 2020.Older than the countryEstablished in 1736, 40 years before the Declaration of Independence.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

4 listings protect 187 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
4
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
187
each building in a district counts
first listed
1971
Fort King George
Fort King George, built 1721Vernon Square-Columbus Square Historic DistrictWest Darien Historic DistrictAshantilly, built 1937
BuildingsDistrictsSites

Architectural styles listings

Colonial Revival2
Gothic Revival2
Vernacular Cottage1
Greek Revival1
Victorian Eclectic1
Craftsman/Bungalow1
Fort King GeorgeBuilt 1721
Vernon Square-Columbus Square Historic DistrictVernacular Cottage
West Darien Historic DistrictGothic Revival
AshantillyBuilt 1937

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

By decade

Darien, decade by decade

5 decades in the archive, from the 1890s to the 1970s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1890s–1900s6 items
US 1893 Georgia Darien Bank to Savannah Used Stationery Cover front1890sUS 1893 Georgia Darien Bank to Savannah Used Statione…The Georgia Negro1900The Georgia Negro[The Georgia Negro] Darien, McIntosh Co., Ga. Distribution of 1000 Negro inhabitants1900[The Georgia Negro] Darien, McIntosh Co., Ga. Distrib…[A series of statistical charts illustrating the condition of the descendants of former African slaves now in residence…1900[A series of statistical charts illustrating the cond…[A series of statistical charts illustrating the condition of the descendants of former African slaves now in residence…1900[A series of statistical charts illustrating the cond…A series of statistical charts illustrating the condition of the descendants of former African slaves now in residence …1900A series of statistical charts illustrating the condi…
1930s12 items
Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 DETAIL OF COLUMN BASE - Ashantilly Plantati…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 DETAIL OF COLUMN CAP - Ashantilly Plantatio…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 EXTERIOR WOODWORK CONNECTING RIGHT WING - A…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 FRONT ELEVATION OF CENTRAL BLOCK - Ashantil…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 GENERAL VIEW OF FRONT - Ashantilly Plantati…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 GENERAL VIEW OF HOUSE - Cabin1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 GENERAL VIEW SHOWING CENTER AND NORTH EAST …1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 GENERAL VIEW SHOWING FRONT AND NORTH EAST S…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 GENERAL VIEW SHOWING GRAPE ARBORS - Cabin, …1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 GENERAL VIEW SHOWING NORTH END AND FRONT - …1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST THROUGH DOO…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 REAR ELEVATION - Ashantilly Plantation, Dar…1936Historic American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Phot…
1940s–1970s4 items
Georgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (part)1940Georgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (par…Georgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (part)1940Georgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (par…Georgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (part)1940Georgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (par…Welcome Center, Route 171979Welcome Center, Route 17
1980s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
People over time

Darien, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0001850190019502000Peak: 1,975

Peaked at 1,975 in 2010; 1,460 people lived here in 2020.

18 censuses, 1850–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Darien’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Darien came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Darien.

Read it all →

The British built Fort King George in 1721, near what would become Darien. At the time it was the southernmost outpost of the British Empire in North America. The fort was abandoned in 1727 following attacks from the Spanish. Its remains constitute the oldest fort on the Georgia coast.

ChaptersColonial periodCivil War and afterSquares

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Darien, 1721 to 2010

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1721BuiltFort King George is built
  3. 1736
    FoundingDarien is established
  4. 1797Born hereCharles Rinaldo Floyd is born here
  5. 19th century
  6. 1800Post officeThe Darien post office opens
  7. 1822Born hereMcQueen McIntosh is born here
  8. 1849Born hereCharles S. Thomas is born here
  9. 1890In the archiveUS 1893 Georgia Darien Bank to Savannah Used Stationery Cover front
  10. 20th century
  11. 1900In the archiveThe Georgia Negro
  12. 1921On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  13. 1936In the archiveHistoric American Buildings Survey L. D. Andrew, Photographer Dec. 30, 1936 DETAIL OF COL…
  14. 1937BuiltAshantilly is built
  15. 1940In the archiveGeorgia [Effingham County (part) - Newton County (part)
  16. 1979In the archiveWelcome Center, Route 17
  17. 21st century
  18. 2010CensusPopulation peaks at 1,975
On the map

Darien on the map, 1921 to 1993

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Darien. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Darien on the 1921 USGS mapDarien on the 1956 USGS mapDarien on the 1979 USGS mapDarien on the 1993 USGS map1921Darien sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Darien.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

US 1893 Georgia Darien Bank to Savannah Used Stationery Cover front
Retake this viewUS 1893 Georgia Darien Bank to Savannah Used Stationery Cover front, 1890s

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Darien’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

3 famous people were born in Darien

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Charles S. ThomasAmerican politician · b. 1849
M
McQueen McIntoshUnited States federal judge · b. 1822
C
Charles Rinaldo FloydAmerican military leader · b. 1797
Places that used to be

Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Darien’s post office has been open since 1800.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Bel-AirDarien HeightsFairview
Gone or out of use
Eden Field AirportairportJefferson Squarepark
2cemeteries and burying grounds inside Darien
ButlerUpper Mill

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Darien’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
4 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewUS 1893 Georgia Darien Bank to Savannah…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Questions about Darien’s history

What year was Darien founded?

In 1736, according to Wikidata. Darien’s post office opened in 1800, and the census of 1850 counted 550 people here.

How does Darien rank for history?

Darien is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Darien?

4 listings: 1 building, 2 historic districts, the Vernon Square-Columbus Square Historic District and the West Darien Historic District, with 182 contributing buildings, and 1 site. 187 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Darien?

14% of Darien’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.0 points), against a typical 3.8% for a Georgia town; the median home was built in 1990.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (18), the Library of Congress (4), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.