Allatoona, Georgia facts for kids
Allatoona is a small place in Bartow County, Georgia, in the United States. It sits near Allatoona Creek, about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Cartersville. Allatoona used to be a mining town. But a big dam was built on the Etowah River, and the town of Allatoona was completely covered by water. Today, Allatoona is most famous for the Battle of Allatoona, a major event during the American Civil War.
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History of Allatoona
Allatoona began in 1838. It was a farming community and an important spot for travel. It was located along Allatoona Creek, at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. One of the first buildings was a small post office, which was open until 1918.
Before the Civil War, more people started moving to Allatoona. They came looking for gold and other valuable resources. There was also a silver mine nearby, which brought many miners to the small town. Allatoona also had a blacksmith shop, a small train station, and a store selling everyday goods.
In 1910, a small church was built. It also served as a schoolhouse for the children. Later, a new school was built about half a mile southeast of the railroad tracks. John Clayton was one of the first people to settle in Allatoona. He owned several large farms in the area. Many of the early settlers, including John Clayton, are buried in the cemetery next to the church. You can still visit their graves today.
The Battle of Allatoona
After the Battle of Atlanta, Southern Confederate soldiers wanted to stop General Sherman and his Northern Union army. General Sherman was trying to complete his March to the Sea, planning to take control of every town his army met.
The leader of the Confederate army, General Hood, ordered his soldiers to destroy the railroad in Allatoona. This would make it harder for the Union army to take control of other Southern towns. On the morning of October 5, 1864, the Battle of Allatoona began.
As Confederate troops neared Allatoona Pass, they were slightly outnumbered by Union troops. There were 2,000 Union soldiers against 1,944 Confederates. To fight the larger Union force, Confederate soldiers even used rocks and fought hand-to-hand. They tried hard to secure Allatoona for the South.
John Clayton's old plantation home, called the Clayton-Mooney house, was used by the Union army. It served as their headquarters and a temporary hospital during the battle. During the fight, the Confederate Army received a message that Union backup was on the way. General Hood decided to pull his troops out of the battle. This led to their defeat. The Confederate army lost because of this false information. The Battle of Allatoona is known as one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.
The Clayton-Mooney home, built around 1836, is the only building from that time still standing. You can still see bloodstains and bullet holes there today. They serve as a powerful reminder of the events that happened in Allatoona.
Allatoona Dam and Lake
The Allatoona Dam is located on the Etowah River, about a mile off Interstate 75. It's roughly 30 miles (48 km) from downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Experts first noticed this spot was perfect for a hydropower project in 1910. This was written in a report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Building the dam was approved by laws in 1941 and 1946. The original town of Allatoona was planned to be flooded to make way for the dam. Construction started before World War II. When the U.S. joined the war, work on the dam had to stop.
After the war ended, work on the dam restarted on February 8, 1946. Instead of the Army Corps finishing the project, they hired other workers. Lake Allatoona began to fill up just after Christmas in 1949. By May 1950, the lake was full. It had 12,010 acres (4,860 ha) of water and 270 miles (435 km) of shoreline. The power plant started making electricity on January 31, 1950.
The dam has many important jobs. It helps control floods, makes electricity, provides water, and offers places for fun activities. It also helps manage fish and wildlife, keeps water clean, and aids navigation. Before the dam was built, Allatoona and nearby areas often flooded, causing a lot of damage. The Allatoona Dam has prevented almost $80 million in flood damage since 1950. The total cost to build the dam and prepare the land was about $31.5 million in 1950. That's like $300 million today! The dam is about 1,250 feet (381 m) long and 190 feet (58 m) tall above the riverbed. There's also an 18-foot (5.5 m) wide road across the top of the dam.
Fun at Lake Allatoona
With the dam built and the town of Allatoona now a lake, the areas around it were turned into places for recreation. You can find several beaches, campgrounds, and cabins around the lake. Along the shores of Lake Allatoona, there are 25 parks, 8 marinas (places for boats), and 10 campgrounds.
Many parks around Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River are great for day trips. The land around the lake is perfect for families and gets many visitors every year. Out of dozens of parks at Allatoona, two are made to be accessible for people with disabilities. This means everyone can enjoy the lake activities.
In 1998, Lake Allatoona had more visitors than any of the other 450 projects managed by the Corps of Engineers in the United States! In the 1980s, during a time of very little rain, the lake's water level became very low. During this dry period, people could see old roads, parts of houses, and tree stumps that were usually underwater. Today, Red Top Mountain State Park manages and maintains the area.
Images for kids
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Map of Allatoona
