Greenville in Meriwether County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Richmond D. Hill: Georgia’s First Black Mayor

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, October 5, 2023

1. Richmond D. Hill: Georgia’s First Black Mayor Marker

Inscription. In 1973, Richmond D. Hill became the first African American to be elected mayor of a municipality in Georgia. Following, the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the NAACP began a campaign to educate, organize, and register rural African American voters. Hill, a local member of the NAACP, was instrumental in leading Black voter participation efforts in Meriwether County. This grassroots effort resulted in him becoming the county's and the city of Greenville's first Black councilman in 1968. His subsequent successful campaign for the mayor's office in Greenville illustrated the impact of the Civil Rights Movement and voter registration efforts in the rural communities of Georgla. Elections across the country in 1973 resulted in a wave of Black elected officials. Mayor Hill served the city for nearly a decade and died in 1992.

Erected 2023 by The Georgia Historical Society, Odessadale Preservation Committee and the City of Greenville. (Marker Number 99-4.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1973.

Location. 33° 1.757′ N, 84°

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42.819′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Georgia, in Meriwether County. It is on North Depot Street (Georgia Route 100) south of Lagrange Street ( Route 109), on the right when traveling north. The marker stands next to Greenville City Hall at Greenville Memorial City Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 North Depot Street, Greenville GA 30222, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Our Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); Brigadier General David Meriwether (within shouting distance of this marker); Men of Meriwether Who Gave Their All (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Noted Indian Trail (about 400 feet away); Meriwether County (about 400 feet away); Union Cemetery (approx. 7½ miles away); a different marker also named Noted Indian Trail (approx. 8.7 miles away); Mountville Community (approx. 9.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Trinity United Methodist Church (was approx. 8.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. This marker is included in the Georgia Civil Rights Trail (CRT).

Also see . . . Georgia Historical Society to Dedicate New Civil Rights Trail Historical Marker…. (Submitted on October 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Richmond D. Hill Marker next to Greenville City Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2025

2. Richmond D. Hill Marker next to Greenville City Hall

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, October 5, 2023

3. Richmond D. Hill: Georgia’s First Black Mayor Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 466 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on October 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 2. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 3. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.