Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
City
Fort Oglethorpe, GA, viewed from the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Seal Logo
Location in Catoosa County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Counties	Catoosa, Walker
Incorporated (city)	1949
Area
• Total	13.90 sq mi (36.00 km2)
• Land	13.90 sq mi (36.00 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	732 ft (223 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,423
• Density	749.91/sq mi (289.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30742
Area code(s)	706/762
FIPS code	13-30956
GNIS feature ID	0331756

Fort Oglethorpe is a city in the state of Georgia, United States. Most of the city is in Catoosa County, with a smaller part in Walker County. In 2020, about 10,423 people lived there.

Fort Oglethorpe is part of the larger Chattanooga, Tennessee-Georgia area. It is also home to Lakeview – Fort Oglethorpe High School.

History of Fort Oglethorpe

The United States Army built a special cavalry post in this area. It was near the Chickamauga National Battlefield. The land was originally owned by William Hamilton Hargrave and his wife. They were well-known to travelers in the 1800s.

The Army bought their land to create a base for the 6th Cavalry. This new post, started in 1902, was first called Chickamauga Post. Later, it was renamed Fort Oglethorpe. It got its name from James Oglethorpe, who founded the Colony of Georgia.

Fort Oglethorpe in World Wars

During and after World War I (1917-1920), Fort Oglethorpe was used as a detention camp. It held civilians and prisoners of war.

In World War II, the fort became a place where new soldiers joined the army. It also held prisoners of war again. Fort Oglethorpe was very important for training women soldiers in the Women's Army Corps.

After World War II, in 1947, the Army no longer needed the land. It was given back to civilians. This land then became the main part of the town, which officially became a city in 1949.

Geography of Fort Oglethorpe

Fort Oglethorpe is located in the western part of Catoosa County and the northeastern part of Walker County. Its exact location is 34°56′44″N 85°14′44″W / 34.94556°N 85.24556°W / 34.94556; -85.24556.

The city is about 9 miles (14 km) south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. You can reach it using U.S. Route 27. This road also goes south for 18 miles (29 km) to LaFayette, Georgia. A large part of the city, especially the southern two-thirds, is taken up by the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

The United States Census Bureau says that Fort Oglethorpe covers a total area of 36.0 square kilometers (13.9 square miles). All of this area is land.

Population and People

The city's population has grown over the years. Here's how many people have lived in Fort Oglethorpe at different times:

2020 Census Information

In the 2020 United States census, there were 10,423 people living in Fort Oglethorpe. These people made up 3,994 households and 2,240 families.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Fort Oglethorpe in 2020:

As of 2024, most residents (9,013) lived in Catoosa County, while 250 lived in Walker County.

Education in Fort Oglethorpe

The schools in Fort Oglethorpe are managed by different school districts, depending on which county a student lives in.

• If you live in the Catoosa County part of Fort Oglethorpe, you attend schools in the Catoosa County School District. Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School is part of this district.
• If you live in the Walker County part of Fort Oglethorpe, you attend schools in the Walker County School District.

See also

• In Spanish: Fort Oglethorpe para niños