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Nelson, Georgia
Nelson city hall
Nelson city hall
Official seal of Nelson, Georgia
Seal
Official logo of Nelson, Georgia
Logo
Location in Pickens County and the state of Georgia
Location in Pickens County and the state of Georgia
Country United States
State Georgia
Counties Pickens, Cherokee
Area
 • Total 1.53 sq mi (3.97 km2)
 • Land 1.52 sq mi (3.95 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
1,237 ft (377 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,145
 • Density 751.31/sq mi (290.11/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30151
Area code(s) 770
FIPS code 13-54572
GNIS feature ID 0319244

Nelson is a city in the state of Georgia, United States. It is located in two counties: Pickens and Cherokee. In 2020, about 1,145 people lived there. Nelson is also part of the larger Atlanta metropolitan area.

History of Nelson

How Nelson Got Its Name

The city of Nelson is named after an early settler, John Nelson. He was a landowner, a farmer, and even made rifles. The state of Georgia officially made Nelson a town in 1891.

Marble and Railways

The area around Nelson has a lot of marble. This special rock is found deep in the ground. In 1883, a railway was built through the town. This made it possible to dig up large amounts of marble. The high quality of Nelson's marble has made it a popular choice for important buildings and monuments across the country.

Family Protection Ordinance

In 2013, the city council of Nelson passed a rule called the "Family Protection Ordinance." This rule suggests that every main person in a household should own a gun and ammunition. The idea was to help protect the city and its people in emergencies. However, the rule does not force anyone to buy a gun if they don't have one. Also, there are no penalties if someone chooses not to follow this suggestion. People who have been convicted of serious crimes are not included in this rule.

Geography of Nelson

Where is Nelson Located?

Nelson is located right on the border between Pickens and Cherokee Counties. Its exact spot is 34°22′54″N 84°22′17″W / 34.38167°N 84.37139°W / 34.38167; -84.37139. The very first part of the city was in Pickens County. But over time, Nelson has grown southward. Now, more of the city is in Cherokee County.

Land and Water Area

The United States Census Bureau says that Nelson covers about 1.5 square miles (3.8 km2) of land and water. Only a very small part of this area, about 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2), is covered by water. This means most of Nelson is dry land.

Transportation and Roads

Nelson has a railway line that runs through its downtown area. This line is operated by the Georgia Northeastern Railroad. The main street in Nelson is Canton Road. This road used to be part of Georgia State Route 5. If you travel south on this old road, you will reach Ball Ground. If you go north, you will find Tate.

Just west of Nelson, at the county line, you can find the start of Interstate 575. This highway goes south for about 52 miles (84 km) to Atlanta. Also at this spot is the beginning of State Route 515. This road goes north for about 26 miles (42 km) to Ellijay.

Population and People

How Many People Live in Nelson?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 266
1900 254 −4.5%
1910 550 116.5%
1920 511 −7.1%
1930 798 56.2%
1940 679 −14.9%
1950 645 −5.0%
1960 658 2.0%
1970 613 −6.8%
1980 562 −8.3%
1990 486 −13.5%
2000 626 28.8%
2010 1,314 109.9%
2020 1,145 −12.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Nelson has changed over many years. The chart above shows how many people lived in the city during different census years. In 2020, there were 1,145 people living in Nelson. There were 523 households and 383 families in the city at that time.

Diversity in Nelson

Nelson racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 1,018 88.91%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 28 2.45%
Native American 3 0.26%
Asian 2 0.17%
Other/Mixed 46 4.02%
Hispanic or Latino 48 4.19%

This table shows the different groups of people who lived in Nelson in 2020. Most residents identified as White. There were also people who identified as Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and other or mixed races. Some residents also identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Notable Person

See also

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