Atco, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atco
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Mayflower Street
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 Atco
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Country | USA |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Bartow County |
| Founded | 1904 |
Atco is a small community in Bartow County, Georgia, in the United States. It is located on the northwestern side of Cartersville. The area has many baseball and soccer fields. This makes it a popular spot for new neighborhoods. Atco got its name from the American Textile Company. This company built a large factory in the community.
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Where is Atco Located?
Atco is found at 34°10′50″N 84°49′12″W / 34.18056°N 84.82000°W. It is about 728 feet (222 meters) above sea level. The community is actually inside the city limits of Cartersville. Pettit Creek flows to the east of Atco. Nancy Creek is on the west side.
The Story of Atco
How Atco Began
In 1903, a man named Edward McClain bought 600 acres of land. He was from the American Textile Company. He wanted to build a textile factory north of Cartersville. The factory was finished in 1904. It was built to make horse collars.
The American Textile Company also built about 40 homes for its workers. This is how the community got its name, "Atco." A post office opened in Atco in 1907. It stayed open until 1965.
Changes Over Time
Over time, fewer people used horse collars because of cars. So, the ATCO Mill started making other products. In 1929, the mill was bought by Goodyear.
Goodyear used the mill to make fabric for tires. They also made the community bigger. Goodyear built hundreds more homes. They also built a school for the children. The streets were given their current names during this time.
In 1934, the mill workers took part in strikes. These were common in textile factories back then.
Atco Joins Cartersville
Atco became part of Cartersville in 1957. After this, Goodyear started selling the homes it owned. Atco's school closed in 1963.
In 2003, Goodyear closed the Atco Mill. This meant 319 employees lost their jobs. Most of the factory buildings were torn down in 2009 and 2010. In 2005, the Atco Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Famous People from Atco
- Lee Roy Abernathy, a gospel music artist.
- Joe Frank Harris, who was the Governor of Georgia.
- Rudy York, a famous MLB baseball player and manager.
