Duluth Details:

The origin of the name of the city, was named after Daniel Greysolon Du Luth (1636-1710), and was a French captain and explorer. He was born in Saint Germain Laval (Loire - France), a small village about fifty miles from Lyons. He negotiated and signed peace between Saulters and Sioux nations in the area of the city of Duluth September 15th, in 1679. The city was called Duluth in his memory. He died in Montréal in 1710.

Duluth has been an important crossroads to the area since the Cherokee Indians first settled here. In 1821, Evan Howell, Duluth's forefather, developed the town of Howell Crossing which later evolved into a major artery for the railroad. With the visionary acumen of his grandson, Evan P. Howell, changes were on the horizon in 1873. The opportunity to build and link a railway system from North to South was about to unfold. Representative J. Proctor Knott delivered a speech to the United States House of Representatives entitled, "The Glory of Duluth." The pitch of his presentation weighed heavily with Congress and consequently a bill to finance the building of the railroad from Howell Crossing to Duluth, Minnesota was enacted. Grateful for the opportunity to build on a vision, Howell deemed it appropriate to rename of city to Duluth.

In the early 1800's there were no known white settlers in the area known as the town of Duluth. This was then a part of the Cherokee Indian territory. In 1818 Gwinnett County was created by an act of the General Assembly of Georgia and the area was opened to settlers.

At the time that Evan Howell came to the area, there was only one road opened in the section. This was the Peachtree Road, an offshoot of an old Indian trail that ran along the bridge south of the Chattahoochee River. It had been surveyed and constructed during the War of 1812 and connected Ft. Daniel with the fort at Standing Peachtree, 30 miles down river. Peachtree Road is still the most famous road in Georgia.

He realized that more roads were needed in order for the area to develop, so he obtained permission in February 1833 to construct a road from the Chattahoochee River across his land to intersect Peachtree Road. This intersection became known as Howell's Cross Roads and was know by this name for 40 years.

Howell ran his own plantation and cotton gin by ferry, and became the town's first merchant. There are no descendants with the Howell name currently in Duluth, however, he was the great-grandfather of the late Jack and Calvin Parsons and other descendants became publishers of the Atlanta Constitution.

During this time, the Stricklands, Knoxes, Summerours, Joneses, Paynes, Findleys, Pittards, Littles, Herringtons, Corleys and others also moved into the area.

There are three dates shown on the seal representing milestones in the history of the City.

• 1821 The Cherokee Indian Territory was settled by Evan Howell, the first successful farmer and merchant of Duluth. He moved here from Cabarrus County, North Carolina and settled near the Chattahoochee River on the northern boundary of the new County. He built his home and began working to bring his people into this part of the county.
• 1871 The railroad came to Duluth which boosted the economy. With it came new prosperity and growth. The Methodist church formed in Duluth.
• 1873 The town name was changed to Duluth following completion of the railroad. Duluth was named as a joke after Duluth, Minnesota when Congressman J. Proctor Knott of Kentucky made fun of the name. Today there is a Proctor Square and a Knott Street.
• 1876 The official Charter of Duluth was approved by the Georgia General Assembly.
• 1886 The Baptist church formed in Duluth.
• 1870 Around this time, the first public school was built in Duluth. The first brick school was built in 1907 then destroyed by fire in 1935.
• 1880 First Mayor elected in Duluth, John Knox, Served until 1885.
• 1904 First bank built in Duluth, The Bank of Duluth.
• 1906 The title was officially incorporated as the City of Duluth.
• 1922 Georgia's First Female Mayor Elected, Alice Harrell Strickland, Mayor of Duluth.
• 1943 First Hospital built in Duluth, Joan Glancy Hospital.

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