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Chattooga County, Georgia facts for kids

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Chattooga County
Chattooga County Courthouse
Chattooga County Courthouse
Official seal of Chattooga County
Seal
Official logo of Chattooga County
Logo
Map of Georgia highlighting Chattooga County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Georgia
Founded 1838; 187 years ago (1838)
Named for Chattooga River (Alabama-Georgia)
Seat Summerville
Largest city Summerville
Area
 • Total 314 sq mi (810 km2)
 • Land 313 sq mi (810 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.07%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 24,965
 • Estimate 
(2023)
25,222 Increase
 • Density 79.51/sq mi (30.70/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 14th

Chattooga County is a county in the Northwest part of the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2020, about 24,965 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Summerville.

The county was created on December 28, 1838. Chattooga County is part of the Summerville, GA area, which is linked to the larger Rome-Summerville area. Summerville is also where you'll find the Chattooga County Courthouse. Many places in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places because they are important to history.

History of Chattooga County

Chattooga County gets its name from the Chattooga River, which flows through it. Long ago, people known as "mound builders" lived here. They built small mounds, and you can still find a few in the Alpine and Menlo areas.

Later, Native American tribes like the Creek and then the Cherokee lived in the county. Important Cherokee towns were Rivertown (now Trion) and Broomtown.

The Trail of Tears

In the early 1830s, after gold was found in northern Georgia, the U.S. government forced the Cherokees to leave their homes. They had to move far away to Oklahoma. This sad journey is known as "the Trail of Tears." Many Native Americans died from sickness, hunger, and harsh conditions during this time.

After the Cherokees left, the land was given to white settlers in the Cherokee Land Lottery of 1832. This made Chattooga a busy farming area before the American Civil War.

The Civil War Years

During the American Civil War, people in Chattooga County had different ideas. Some supported the Union (the North), and others supported the Confederacy (the South). Five groups of soldiers from Chattooga joined the Confederate army.

Some battles were fought in the county before the big Battle of Chickamauga. General Nathan Bedford Forrest fought near Alpine, pushing back Union soldiers. The biggest fight in Chattooga was the "Battle of Trion Factory" on September 15, 1863. Confederate forces won this battle against Union troops. Many soldiers from both sides who died in this battle are buried in unmarked graves at the Old Trion Cemetery.

In 2009, local groups put up a monument to remember the "First Battle of Trion Factory" and the soldiers buried there. An interesting fact is that Confederate General Benjamin Hardin Helm, who fought in the battle, was the brother-in-law of Mary Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln's wife.

General Sherman's Visit

After the city of Atlanta fell to Union forces, Confederate General John Bell Hood tried to lead his army away from Georgia. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman followed him. In September 1864, Sherman's army passed through Chattooga County.

It's said that when General Sherman first saw the Chattooga Valley, he thought it was a "good fertile valley suitable for agriculture." When he reached Summerville, he heard about a Confederate training camp nearby. He went north and fired some shots at the retreating Confederate soldiers.

From Summerville, Sherman sent a message to President Abraham Lincoln. In this message, he shared his plan for the "March to the Sea." This means Chattooga County is known as the starting point for this famous march.

Geography

Chattooga County covers about 314 square miles. Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.

The eastern part of the county is in the Oostanaula River area. The western part is in the Upper Coosa River area. Both are part of the larger ACT River Basin.

Main Roads

  • US 27.svg U.S. Route 27
  • Georgia 1.svg State Route 1
  • Georgia 48.svg State Route 48
  • Georgia 100.svg State Route 100
  • Georgia 114.svg State Route 114
  • Georgia 157.svg State Route 157
  • Georgia 337.svg State Route 337

Neighboring Counties

Protected Natural Areas

  • Chattahoochee National Forest (part of it is in Chattooga County)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 3,438
1850 6,815 98.2%
1860 7,165 5.1%
1870 6,902 −3.7%
1880 10,021 45.2%
1890 11,202 11.8%
1900 12,952 15.6%
1910 13,608 5.1%
1920 14,312 5.2%
1930 15,407 7.7%
1940 18,532 20.3%
1950 21,197 14.4%
1960 19,954 −5.9%
1970 20,541 2.9%
1980 21,856 6.4%
1990 22,242 1.8%
2000 25,470 14.5%
2010 26,015 2.1%
2020 24,965 −4.0%
2023 (est.) 25,222 −3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1880 1890-1910
1920-1930 1930-1940
1940-1950 1960-1980
1980-2000 2010 2020

Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 24,965 people living in Chattooga County. Most people were White (about 80%), followed by Black or African American (about 9.5%). About 5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Many people also identified as being of mixed race.

Population in 2010

In 2010, the county had 26,015 people. The population density was about 83 people per square mile. Most residents were white (83.9%), and 11.1% were Black or African American. About 4% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.

The average household had about 2.5 people, and the average family had about 3 people. The median age was 39.3 years old. The median income for a household was $32,419. About 19.2% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Education

Recreation

  • Sloppy Floyd Lake Park
  • Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest
  • Chattooga River

Cities and Communities

Cities

Other Communities

Notable People

  • Howard Finster, a famous Christian folk artist
  • Rick Camp, a former baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
  • Bobby Lee Cook, a well-known defense attorney
  • Edna Cain Daniel, a journalist and publisher
  • Barbara Massey Reece, a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives
  • Senorise Perry, an NFL football player
  • Brody Malone, a U.S. Olympic Gymnast

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Chattooga para niños

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