The publication began around 1890,[3] and the newspaper cites 1893 as its beginning date.
[1] In 1948 Ben Ezzell acquired the newspaper.
He opposed the Vietnam War and supported the Civil rights movement.
In 2023 Brown, citing stress from the constant work, decided to put the publication up for sale and to end making print copies.
[2] The paper's last days are depicted in the documentary film For The Record.