Dawson County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawson County
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Dawson County Courthouse in Dawsonville
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Georgia |
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| Founded | 1857 | ||
| Named for | William Crosby Dawson | ||
| Seat | Dawsonville | ||
| Largest city | Dawsonville | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 214 sq mi (550 km2) | ||
| • Land | 211 sq mi (550 km2) | ||
| • Water | 3.6 sq mi (9 km2) 1.7%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 26,798 | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 6th | ||
Dawson County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. A county is like a smaller region within a state. In 2020, about 26,798 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Dawsonville.
Dawson County is part of the larger Atlanta area. It is known for its beautiful natural spots. One famous place is Amicalola Falls, which is actually just outside the county in Lumpkin County. It is the tallest waterfall in Georgia and one of the state's Seven Natural Wonders.
Contents
History
Dawson County was created on December 3, 1857. It was formed from parts of Gilmer and Lumpkin Counties. The county was named after William Crosby Dawson. He was a important person who served as a U.S. Senator for Georgia.
The American Civil War Years
The 1860s were a tough time for people in Dawson County. Many men from the county went to fight in the Civil War. They joined different groups to serve in the Confederate forces. Some local units included the "Concord Rangers" and the "Dawson County Independents." A few men also joined the Union Army.
From Early Racing to Today
Dawson County is famous for its long history with auto racing. Many of the first NASCAR racers came from this area. Because of this, Dawsonville is often called one of the "birthplaces of stock car racing."
Local racing skills grew from a unique past. People used to drive fast to deliver homemade spirits, known as "moonshine," to Atlanta. This route was sometimes called Thunder Road. Today, Dawson County celebrates this history every October with the Moonshine Festival. It's a fun event that looks back at the county's past.
Many locals call Dawson County the "Moonshine Capital of the World." While other places claim this title too, people here strongly believe it. It's said that during the time when alcohol was illegal in the U.S. (Prohibition), people in Dawson County used its quiet location to make and move a lot of moonshine to bigger cities.
Education
Dawson County has schools for all ages, from kindergarten to 12th grade. There is one school for pre-kindergarten. Four schools serve students in grades K-5. There is one school for grades 6-7 and another for grades 8-9. Older students attend Dawson County High School for grades 10-12.
Geography
Dawson County covers about 214 square miles. Most of this area, 211 square miles, is land. The remaining 3.6 square miles, or 1.7%, is covered by water.
The county is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. These mountains are part of a larger chain. Some parts of the mountains reach into the northern and western areas of the county. Here, the land can be as high as 3,500 feet.
A part of Lake Lanier is in the southeastern area of the county. The county borders with other counties often run through the lake. The impressive Amicalola Falls are also located near the county. These falls drop 729 feet. They are the highest waterfalls in Georgia. They are also the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The highest point in Dawson County is Black Mountain, which is about 3,600 feet high. The Chestatee and Etowah Rivers also flow through Dawson County.
Most of Dawson County is in the Etowah River area. This river is part of the larger ACT River Basin. A small part of the county in the southeast is in the Upper Chattahoochee River area. A tiny section in the north is in the Coosawattee River area.
Neighboring Counties
- Fannin County - to the north
- Lumpkin County - to the northeast
- Hall County - to the east
- Forsyth County - to the south
- Cherokee County - to the southwest
- Pickens County - to the west
- Gilmer County - to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
- Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest is in Dawson County.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller towns or areas that are not officially cities.
- Juno
- Afton
Private Communities
Some large, private communities in the county work like small towns. They offer many services to their residents.
People of Dawson County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 3,856 | — | |
| 1870 | 4,369 | 13.3% | |
| 1880 | 5,837 | 33.6% | |
| 1890 | 5,612 | −3.9% | |
| 1900 | 5,442 | −3.0% | |
| 1910 | 4,686 | −13.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,204 | −10.3% | |
| 1930 | 3,502 | −16.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,479 | 27.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,712 | −17.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,590 | −3.3% | |
| 1970 | 3,639 | 1.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,774 | 31.2% | |
| 1990 | 9,429 | 97.5% | |
| 2000 | 15,999 | 69.7% | |
| 2010 | 22,330 | 39.6% | |
| 2020 | 26,798 | 20.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 31,732 | 42.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 2020 |
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| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 23,544 | 87.86% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 200 | 0.75% |
| Native American | 63 | 0.24% |
| Asian | 235 | 0.88% |
| Pacific Islander | 14 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,137 | 4.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,605 | 5.99% |
In 2020, there were 26,798 people living in Dawson County. There were 9,041 households and 6,491 families. Between 2021 and 2022, Dawson County grew quickly. It was the fourth fastest-growing county in the entire country!
In 2010, the average income for a household was about $51,128. For families, the average income was around $60,236. About 12% of the people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included 16% of those under 18 years old.
Transportation
Main Roads
U.S. Route 19
State Route 9
State Route 52
State Route 53
State Route 136
State Route 183
State Route 400
Walking and Biking Paths
- Springer Mountain Trail
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Dawson County:
- Bill Elliott - A famous NASCAR racer. He won the Cup Series in 1988 and is in the Hall of Fame.
- Chase Elliott - Also a NASCAR racer, following in his father Bill's footsteps. He won the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2014 and the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020.
- Goober Sosebee - A stock-car racer who won three Daytona championships.
- Jerry Glanville - A head coach in the National Football League and also a NASCAR driver.
- Bill Goldberg - A professional wrestler and actor who used to live in Dawson County.
- Kevin Tanner - A politician who is now a Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
- Will Wade - A politician who is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Dawson (Georgia) para niños
