Ellijay, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ellijay, Georgia
City
Downtown Ellijay looking toward Walnut Mt.
Seal Logo
Location in Gilmer County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Gilmer
Area
• Total	3.54 sq mi (9.18 km2)
• Land	3.54 sq mi (9.18 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,280 ft (390 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,862
• Density	525.40/sq mi (202.83/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30540
Area code(s)	706/762
FIPS code	13-27092
GNIS feature ID	0331651

Ellijay, occasionally spelled Elijay, is a city in Gilmer County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 1,862 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Gilmer County.

Agriculture is important in Gilmer County, known as the "Apple Capital of Georgia." The city holds an annual Georgia Apple Festival in October.

Former President Jimmy Carter owned a pine-cabin second home in Ellijay. Other tourists are attracted to the mountains and whitewater kayaking.

History

This area was long settled by cultures of indigenous peoples. It was known as part of the historic homeland of the Cherokee people until the US government's policy of ethnic cleansing of Native Americans from the Southern States saw them forcibly displaced to Oklahoma in 1838. They had a village here, at the confluence of the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers, which together form the Coosawattee River. About 4,000 Cherokees died in the ensuing trek to Oklahoma.

Ellijay (sometimes formerly spelled "Elejoy") is the anglicized form or transliteration of the Cherokee name Elatseyi, meaning "new ground". Other sources say it means "green place".

Gilmer County was organized by territory cut from Cherokee County in 1832, and Ellijay was designated as its county seat in 1834. It was a fairly isolated and remote mountain community until the late 19th century. After the Marietta and Northern Georgia Railroad (later the Louisville and Nashville Railroad) was constructed through here in 1884, the railroad stimulated a boom in the timber industry by providing a profitable way to get lumber to markets. Many timber companies came into the area with their workers.

More than a century later, another major transportation improvement was construction of the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway (Georgia 515, named for Georgia governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller), which was completed in 1991.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²), all land. It is situated at the confluence of the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers, which together form the Coosawattee River. The Coosawattee flows west as part of the Oostanaula/Coosa/Alabama River watershed. The county seat is bordered to the east and south by the city of East Ellijay.

Climate

Ellijay lies within the Humid subtropical climate zone along with the majority of the rest of the Southeastern United States. The highest elevations in the surrounding region reside in the oceanic climate. Ellijay enjoys cool winters and warm summers, but neither would be considered extreme due to its slightly higher elevation than other areas in the south. Winter snowfall is common, but generally on the lighter side. A few exceptions exist, one being the 1993 Storm of the Century, which dropped 17 inches of snow in Ellijay. Summers are warm, though mild for southern standards, with temperatures topping out in the mid 80s during the summer. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year, averaging 57.97 inches per year, as reported from the nearest NOAA reporting station in Jasper, Georgia.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census, 1,862 people, 844 households, and 520 families were residing in the city.

Education

Gilmer County School District

The Gilmer County School District holds preschool to grade 12, and consists of three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There is also Crossroads, which is the alternative school in Ellijay.

• Ellijay Elementary School
• Mountain View Elementary School
• Clear Creek Elementary School
• Oakland Elementary School (closed in 2011, due to county budget constraints)
• Clear Creek Middle School
• Gilmer High School
• Mountain Innovation Program

Private Schools

• North Georgia Christian Academy
• Pleasant Hills Montessori School
• Grace Christian School
• Josephine Edwards Christian School
• Mountain Academy
• First Baptist Church Preschool
• Children's First Preschool

Higher Education

Dalton State College Gilmer County Center

Higher education

The Dalton State College Appalachian Campus - Gilmer County Center is a satellite campus of Dalton State College.

Notable people

• Johnny Quarles (1946–2008), a Western author, wrote over a dozen novels and television screenplays, including the iconic titles Brack and Fool's Gold, many of them featuring Ellijay settings.
• Jay Allen Sanford (1960–present), author and cartoonist, is best known as the co-creator of Rock 'N' Roll Comics, and for his work with Revolutionary Comics, Carnal Comics, and the San Diego Reader.
• C. Thomas Howell (1966–present), actor, is known for films such as Soul Man, The Hitcher, Grandview U.S.A., Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, and The Outsiders.
• Col. Oscar Poole (1930–2020) was a longtime Methodist minister and radio personality whose Uncle Sam suit became a fixture at Republican events, where he promoted his Ellijay BBQ restaurant.
• John Davis (1965–present) was a starting offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills and an All-American guard for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

See also

In Spanish: Ellijay para niños