Case Notes

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Town file

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia (Walker County, Georgia) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 278, "He's Dead... Where's My Beer?" (29 April 2022).

Town
Fort Oglethorpe
County
Walker County
State
Georgia
Country
USA
Episodes
278
Approximate location
34.932, -85.246
N ↑Public placePublic placePublic placePublic placePublic placeTown centre (approximate places)
Static locations; no street basemap. OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap.

Episode 278 / 29 April 2022 / 61 min / express

He's Dead... Where's My Beer?

"James says the town he believes this happened in, an educated guess, is Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Walker County." about 0:03:20

The case: Murder of Randall Owens (May 17, 1997). Read the case file.

The figures, as told in 2022

Population
9,973

History, in brief

  • The US Army established a cavalry post at the site. about 0:03:42
  • It sits next to the Chickamauga National Battlefield, an especially bloody Civil War battle. about 0:03:45
  • The settlement was called Hargrave, after William Hamilton Hargrave, a Confederate soldier who owned most of the land with his wife. about 0:03:59
  • In 1902 the Army bought all the land and turned it into the base for the Sixth Cavalry. about 0:04:16
  • The post was later named Fort Oglethorpe after James Oglethorpe, founder of the Colony of Georgia. about 0:04:32
  • During the First and Second World Wars the area was a wartime induction and processing centre and held German prisoners of war. about 0:04:49
  • It was also a major training centre for the Women's Army Corps during the Second World War. about 0:04:57
  • The land was declared surplus in 1947 and returned to civilian hands; the town was incorporated in 1949. about 0:05:05

The reviews read out

5 stars

"So diverse you can find anything here; there are many shopping and food opportunities and the jobs are incredible, Little Caesars specifically."
about 0:08:41

5 stars

"Went to Lowe's for a washing machine and dryer; the salesman Bo was very nice and knowledgeable, showed several options and gave an approximate delivery time; great store and employees."
about 0:08:41

1 star

"After an accident near Golden Corral the car had to be towed; the officer chose Guy Yates, the bill was $1,060 for a tow of no more than 30 miles plus 19 days of storage, and the town gives the business a licence to steal."
about 0:10:11

Open the episode file

Nearest Small Town Murder towns

Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.