1. Georgia officially became a royal colony on August 1, 1752. The colony was initially founded by James Oglethorpe in 1732 as a haven for debtors and a buffer against Spanish expansion in Florida.

2. On August 1, 1863, the Battle of Mobile Bay began in Alabama during the American Civil War. Georgia soldiers were among those who fought in the battle, including the 3rd Georgia Infantry Regiment.

3. In 1907, Atlanta's first public library opened on August 1. The library was housed in the Carnegie building on Forsyth Street and was later renamed the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library.

4. The federal government seized the assets of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) on August 1, 1991. The bank had been accused of money laundering and other illegal activities, and had a branch in Atlanta.

5. On August 1, 2007, a tornado struck downtown Atlanta, causing damage to several buildings including the Georgia Dome and the CNN Center. The tornado was classified as an EF2 and injured at least 27 people.