Pickens County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pickens County
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Pickens County Courthouse, Jasper
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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 | December 5, 1853 | ||
| Named for | Andrew Pickens | ||
| Seat | Jasper | ||
| Largest city | Jasper | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 233 sq mi (600 km2) | ||
| • Land | 232 sq mi (600 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) 0.3%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 33,216 | ||
| • Density | 143/sq mi (55/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional districts | 9th, 14th | ||
Pickens County is a county located in the Northwest part of the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2020, about 33,216 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Jasper. Pickens County is also part of the larger Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia metropolitan statistical area.
Contents
History of Pickens County
The Georgia General Assembly created Pickens County on December 5, 1853. It was formed from parts of Cherokee and Gilmer Counties. Over the years, Pickens County gained more land from Cherokee and Gilmer Counties. However, some parts of Pickens County were also given to other counties like Dawson, Gordon, and Cherokee.
Pickens County is named after Andrew Pickens. He was a brave American Revolutionary War General.
Pickens County During the Civil War
During the Civil War, a group of soldiers from Pickens County joined the Union Army. They were known as Company D of the 1st Georgia Infantry Battalion.
Marble Industry in Pickens County
In its early days, much of Pickens County's economy was based on marble. The Georgia Marble Company is a famous business located in Marble Hill, near Tate. The local elementary school in Tate is even built from marble!
This special marble was also used to create the large statue of Abraham Lincoln inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Most of the marble found here is white. But Pickens County is one of the few places in the world where you can find beautiful pink marble. This marble is also used to make tombstones for the United States military.
Growth and Development in Pickens County
Pickens County has grown very quickly. This growth happened especially after Georgia State Route 515 was built. Locals often call it the "four-lane." Many new businesses and people continue to move to Pickens County because of this easy access.
Pickens County is also home to the exciting Georgia Marble Festival. This event celebrates the county's rich history with marble.
Geography and Natural Features
Pickens County covers a total area of about 233 square miles. Most of this area, about 232 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 0.7 square miles, is covered by water.
Mountains and Peaks
The county is located within the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The highest point in Pickens County is Mount Oglethorpe. It stands tall at 3,288 feet. For many years, Mount Oglethorpe was the starting point of the famous Appalachian Trail. Other important mountains in Pickens County include Sharp Top Mountain and Sharp Mountain. You can get a great view of Sharp Top Mountain from Grandview Lake Dam.
Rivers and Waterways
The eastern part of Pickens County is in the Etowah River area. This river flows into the larger ACT River Basin. The western part of the county is in the Coosawattee River area, which is also part of the same big river basin.
Neighboring Counties
Pickens County shares borders with several other counties:
- Gilmer County - to the north
- Dawson County - to the east
- Cherokee County - to the south
- Bartow County - to the southwest
- Gordon County - to the west
Communities in Pickens County
Cities
- Jasper
- Nelson (partially in Cherokee County)
Town
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller towns or areas that are not officially organized as cities or towns:
- Tate
- Marble Hill
- Blaine
- Hinton
Private Communities
Many people in Pickens County live in special private communities. These are often gated and carefully planned. They have their own homeowner associations (HOAs). These HOAs collect fees to provide services that are similar to what a city government would offer.
- Bent Tree
- Big Canoe (partially in Dawson County)
- The Preserve at Sharp Mountain
Population and Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 4,951 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,317 | 7.4% | |
| 1880 | 6,790 | 27.7% | |
| 1890 | 8,182 | 20.5% | |
| 1900 | 8,641 | 5.6% | |
| 1910 | 9,041 | 4.6% | |
| 1920 | 8,222 | −9.1% | |
| 1930 | 9,687 | 17.8% | |
| 1940 | 9,136 | −5.7% | |
| 1950 | 8,855 | −3.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,903 | 0.5% | |
| 1970 | 9,620 | 8.1% | |
| 1980 | 11,652 | 21.1% | |
| 1990 | 14,432 | 23.9% | |
| 2000 | 22,983 | 59.3% | |
| 2010 | 29,431 | 28.1% | |
| 2020 | 33,216 | 12.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 37,113 | 26.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 31,468 | 94.11% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 176 | 0.53% |
| Native American | 65 | 0.19% |
| Asian | 103 | 0.31% |
| Pacific Islander | 20 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,521 | 4.55% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,198 | 3.61% |
In 2020, there were 33,216 people living in Pickens County. There were also 11,868 households and 8,539 families.
Transportation Routes
Major Highways
Interstate 575
State Route 5
State Route 53
State Route 53 Business
State Route 108
State Route 136
State Route 136 Connector
State Route 372
State Route 417 (also known as I-575)
State Route 515
Education in Pickens County
To learn more about schools in the area, see:
Notable People from Pickens County
- Farish Carter Tate, a U.S. congressman
- John Bozeman, a frontiersman who helped start Bozeman, Montana
- Chandler Smith, a professional racecar driver
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pickens (Georgia) para niños
