Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, was born in 1921 in Eatonton, Georgia. His early years were spent helping his family and selling newspapers to support them.

In 1946, S. Truett Cathy and his brother Ben opened a small 24-hour diner called the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia. The diner later became known as the Dwarf House.

In 1949, Ben Cathy, one of the founders of Chick-fil-A, tragically died in a plane crash along with his brother, Horace.

In 1951, Truett Cathy opened the second Chick-fil-A restaurant in Forest Park after running Dwarf House on his own.

After 15 years in the fast-food business, Cathy found a pressure-fryer that could cook the chicken sandwich in the same time it took to cook a hamburger. This led to the creation of the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich.

In 1964, Chick-fil-A introduced its iconic signature chicken sandwich, which became a staple item on the menu.

Chick-fil-A sandwiches were sold at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, when it opened in 1965.

Chick-fil-A sandwiches were sold at the Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium) when it opened in 1966.

The first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall on November 24, 1967. It was the first location where Truett Cathy's chicken sandwich was sold directly to customers.

Since 1973, Chick-fil-A has provided over $35 million in college scholarships to its team members, supporting higher education.

In 1977, Chick-fil-A added lemonade to its menu offerings, providing customers with a refreshing beverage option.

In 1982, Chick-fil-A faced a potential crisis as other fast-food restaurants entered the chicken sandwich business, leading to diminished sales and increased costs. The company's leaders developed a corporate purpose to overcome this challenge.

Following the development of a corporate purpose in 1982, Chick-fil-A saw a significant recovery in sales the next year with a 36 percent increase. This marked the beginning of consecutive years of sales gains for the company.

On April 16, 1986, the first freestanding Chick-fil-A location was opened on North Druid Hills Road in Atlanta, Georgia, signaling a shift towards standalone units rather than food courts.

Chick-fil-A opened its first drive-thru-only restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina in 1993. This innovative concept catered to customers looking for quick service.

In September 1994, Chick-fil-A expanded outside of the United States by opening its first international location at the University of Alberta in Canada, which unfortunately did not perform well and was eventually closed.

Chick-fil-A launched its iconic 'Eat Mor Chikin' campaign featuring cows on Atlanta billboards in 1995, which became the most successful marketing effort in the company's history.

In August 1996, Chick-fil-A made its first move outside of North America by opening a restaurant in Durban, South Africa, although the venture was not successful and eventually closed.

Since 1997, Chick-fil-A has sponsored the Peach Bowl, an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta on New Year's Eve, showcasing the company's commitment to sports and community involvement.

In 2003, a second location of the 1950s-style diner, Truett's Grill, was opened in McDonough, continuing the legacy of founder Truett Cathy.

In response to a mad cow disease scare, Chick-fil-A temporarily stopped the 'Eat Mor Chikin' ad campaign on January 1, 2004, to avoid appearing insensitive or capitalizing on the situation.

In 2005, there was an entry about Chick-fil-A in the New Georgia Encyclopedia by C. Starrs.

In 2006, the third Truett's Grill location was opened in Griffin, Georgia. These restaurants provide sit-down dining and expanded menu options.

In 2008, Chick-fil-A became one of the first fast-food restaurants to become completely free of trans fats, demonstrating a proactive approach towards health and nutrition.

Chick-fil-A sent cease and desist letters to protect its intellectual property, objecting to the use of 'eat more' phrases by others to prevent confusion and maintain the distinctiveness of their trademarks.

On July 12, 2023, Georgia-based insurance company Aflac became the new sponsor of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

Chick-fil-A released a statement emphasizing their focus on food and service, stating their intention to stay out of the political debate over same-sex marriage.

By December 2013, Chick-fil-A announced that it was removing high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes from its products, showing a response to the public concerns raised by activists like Vani Hari.

Vermont artist Bo Muller-Moore won a trademark battle against Chick-fil-A for his 'Eat More Kale' phrase, with the U.S. Patent Office granting him the trademark on December 11, 2014.

In October 2015, Chick-fil-A opened its largest restaurant, a three-story 5,000 square feet (460 m2) establishment in Manhattan, showcasing the company's growth and expansion.

After 22 years with The Richards Group, Chick-fil-A changed its advertising agency to McCann New York in 2016, introducing a new campaign featuring historical figures and the slogan 'Chicken for Breakfast. It's not as crazy as you think.'

The article about Chick-fil-A was last modified on June 6, 2017, in the New Georgia Encyclopedia by Chris Starrs.

On December 17, 2017, Chick-fil-A broke their tradition and opened on a Sunday to prepare meals for passengers left stranded during a power outage at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, demonstrating their commitment to serving the community in times of need.

During Spring 2018, Chick-fil-A had a presence in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In April 2018, Chick-fil-A reportedly continued to donate to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization that opposes gay marriage.

In July 2018, Chick-fil-A declared its upcoming debut in Hawaii, with the first location set to open in Kahului in early 2022, followed by additional stores in Honolulu and Kapoleo.

On January 13, 2019, a Chick-fil-A franchise in Mobile, Alabama, opened on Sunday to honor a birthday wish of a 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and autism, exemplifying the company's dedication to making a positive impact on individuals' lives.

On September 6, 2019, Chick-fil-A opened a restaurant in Toronto, facing protests due to concerns about animal rights and the company's stance on LGBTQ issues.

On October 10, 2019, Chick-fil-A returned to Europe by opening a store at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading, UK.

Chick-fil-A president Tim Tassopoulos announced in a November 18, 2019 interview that the company would cease donations to The Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In January 2020, Chick-fil-A opened its second location in Toronto at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, expanding its presence in the city despite previous controversies.

In March 2020, the Chick-fil-A store at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading, UK, closed after the location decided not to extend the lease due to ongoing protests against the chain's stance on LGBTQ issues.

In August 2021, Chick-fil-A continued its expansion in Ontario by opening a standalone location with a drive-through restaurant in Kitchener, showcasing its growth in the region.

On March 3, 2022, the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Puerto Rico commenced operations in Bayamón.

On February 13, 2023, Chick-fil-A began offering their first non-meat sandwich, a breaded cauliflower sandwich.

Chick-fil-A's menu remained relatively unchanged until recently, unlike other fast food chains like Taco Bell, Wendy's, and KFC which frequently update their menus.

In March 2024, Chick-fil-A announced it would depart from the company's previous commitment of using only 'antibiotic-free' chicken.