The United States Army established a cavalry post at the site of Hargrave, Georgia in 1902. This facility later became known as Fort Oglethorpe after James Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia.
During World War I, the fort served between 1917 and 1920 as a detention camp for civilian internees and prisoners of war. The facility housed both civilians and military detainees under strict military control while the world fought overseas.
Fort Oglethorpe became a major training center for the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Thousands of women trained there before being deployed or assigned elsewhere, transforming the site into a hub for female service members.
The post land was declared surplus in 1947 and returned to civilian hands. This action formed the nucleus for a town that was incorporated in 1949.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,423 people residing in the city. Racial composition showed 8,619 White non-Hispanic individuals making up 82.69% of the population.