Elberton, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elberton, Georgia
City
A home along Elberton's Heard Street
Seal
Nickname(s):  Granite Capital of the World
Location in Elbert County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Elbert
Area
• Total	4.57 sq mi (11.85 km2)
• Land	4.54 sq mi (11.76 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation	702 ft (214 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,640
• Density	1,022.03/sq mi (394.64/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP Code	30635
Area code(s)	706
FIPS code	13-26616
GNIS feature ID	0355658

Elberton is a city in Georgia, United States. It is the largest city in Elbert County and serves as its main town. Elberton is famous for its granite industry. People often call it the "Granite Capital of the World."

In 2020, about 4,640 people lived in Elberton.

Discovering Elberton's Past

Elberton was first settled in the 1780s. In 1790, it became the main town for the newly formed Elbert County. The town was officially recognized in 1803 and became a city in 1896. Both Elberton and Elbert County are named after Samuel Elbert, an important figure in Georgia's history.

Elberton's Location and Size

Elberton is located close to the center of Elbert County. The city covers about 11.85 square kilometers (4.57 square miles) in total. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Who Lives in Elberton?

The city's population has changed over the years. In 2020, there were 4,640 people living in Elberton. These people lived in about 1,754 households.

Elberton's Economy and Industries

The historic Elbert Theatre, a local landmark.

Elberton is well-known for its strong granite industry. This industry has been very important to the city since the late 1800s. Nathaniel Long opened the first commercial granite quarry and factory in 1889. As the granite business grew, Elberton became a busy stop for trains. This brought many travelers and business people to the city.

You can find several granite monuments in or near Elberton. One famous example was the Georgia Guidestones, which were made of granite. The city also has the Elberton Granite Museum and Exhibit. Here, you can learn all about the history of granite in the area. A notable exhibit is "Dutchy", a granite statue.

Elberton is also home to the Granite Bowl. This large stadium can seat 20,000 people.

Southeastern Power Administration

Since 1950, Elberton has been the main office for the Southeastern Power Administration. This group is part of the United States Department of Energy. They sell power that is made by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to different parts of the southern United States.

Learning in Elberton

Elbert County School District

Students in Elberton attend schools within the Elbert County School District. The district has several schools in the city. These include a learning center, a primary school, an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The school system is one of the biggest employers in the county. It has many teachers and serves over 3,079 students.

Colleges and Universities

Athens Technical College has a campus in Elberton. This campus offers various programs and courses for students.

News and Entertainment

Elberton has its own newspaper, The Elberton Star. This newspaper has been published since 1887. You can also find other newspapers that cover the Elberton area.

The city has four local radio stations. WSGC-AM 1400 plays oldies music and has been on the air since 1947. WSGC-FM 92.1 and WXKT-FM 100.1 play country music. WLVX-FM 105.1 plays R&B music.

Getting Around Elberton

The historic Seaboard Airline Depot in Elberton.

Highways

Several highways pass through Elberton. These include Georgia State Route 17, Georgia State Route 72, Georgia State Route 77, and Interstate 85.

Airports

The Elbert County-Patz Field Airport serves Elberton and Elbert County. It is located just east of the city.

Railroad

For many years, Elberton was an important stop for both passenger and freight trains. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad used to run through the city. Today, the line is operated by CSX Transportation and is still used for moving goods. Another train line connects Elberton to the Norfolk Southern Railway.

Healthcare Services

Elbert Memorial Hospital provides healthcare for the community. It was founded in 1950. It is a 25-bed hospital that offers emergency care, surgeries, and rehabilitation services.

Famous People from Elberton

Many notable people have connections to Elberton:

• Brent Adams – An NFL player for the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams.
• Amos T. Akerman – A U.S. Attorney General who worked to stop corruption.
• William Wyatt Bibb – The first governor of Alabama and a U.S. senator.
• Paul Brown – A U.S. congressman for many terms.
• Clark Gaines – An NFL player for the New York Jets.
• George Rockingham Gilmer – A two-term governor of Georgia and U.S. congressman.
• Derek Harper – A 16-year NBA player.
• Corra May Harris – An author from the early 1900s.
• Nancy Hart – A heroine from the American Revolutionary War.
• Stephen Heard – A governor of Georgia.
• William H. Heard – A former slave, clergyman, and U.S. ambassador to Liberia.
• Joseph Rucker Lamar – A former United States Supreme Court justice.
• Meriwether Lewis – From the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, he lived in Elbert County.
• Juanita Marsh – The third female judge in Georgia.
• Arnall Patz – Discovered a cause of blindness in babies and helped develop laser treatment for eye diseases.
• Charles Tait – A U.S. senator.
• Wiley Thompson – A U.S. congressman and Indian agent.
• Daniel Tucker – A preacher, possibly the subject of the song "Old Dan Tucker".
• Chester Willis – A former NFL player.

Elberton's Sister City

Elberton has a sister city relationship with Mure, Kagawa, Japan. This connection helps build friendships between people from different countries.

See also

In Spanish: Elberton para niños