Resaca, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Resaca, Georgia
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Resaca in 2022
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Location in Gordon County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Gordon |
| Incorporated (town) | January 1, 1981 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.83 sq mi (7.33 km2) |
| • Land | 2.77 sq mi (7.18 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,142 |
| • Density | 411.98/sq mi (159.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
30735, 30701
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| Area code(s) | 706/762 |
| FIPS code | 13-64736 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0356494 |
Resaca is a small town in Gordon County, Georgia, USA. A small part of the town also reaches into Whitfield County. Resaca is located along the Oostanaula River. In 2020, about 1,142 people lived there.
Resaca is known for the Resaca Confederate Cemetery, which remembers a big Civil War battle. It also has the only Orthodox Christian monastery in Georgia.
Contents
Exploring Resaca's Location
Resaca is found at coordinates 34.579116 degrees North and -84.943989 degrees West.
How Big is Resaca?
The United States Census Bureau says that Resaca covers a total area of about 2.9 square miles (7.33 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.8 square miles (7.18 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.15 square kilometers), is water.
The Story of Resaca: A Look at Its Past
Resaca was first called Dublin when it was founded in 1848. This happened when the Western and Atlantic Railroad arrived in the area.
How Resaca Got Its Name
In 1854, Dublin was officially made a town and renamed Resacca (with two 'C's). Later, in 1871, the name was shortened to its current spelling, Resaca.
The town was named by soldiers returning from the Mexican–American War. They had fought in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma in Brownsville, Texas. "Resaca de la Palma" means "Dry River Bed of the Palms" in Spanish.
There's also a funny story about the name. It says that settlers captured an Indian maiden and brought her to the town in a sack. When they opened the sack, people thought she was not pretty and started shouting "Re-sack-'er!" This story is just an anecdote and not the real reason for the name.
Resaca During the Civil War
The Civil War Battle of Resaca was fought in and around Resaca in May 1864. This was the first major battle of the Atlanta Campaign.
Every year, on the third weekend of May, people hold a re-enactment of the Battle of Resaca. This helps everyone remember the important events that happened here.
The First Confederate Cemetery
Resaca is also home to the first Confederate cemetery in Georgia. The story behind this cemetery is very touching.
A woman named Mary J. Green and her family returned to their home after the battle. They found many Confederate soldiers buried where they had fallen. Mary and her daughters decided to gather all the bodies and re-bury them in a special plot of land. This land would become a cemetery for the Confederate dead.
They didn't have much money, but Mary wrote to friends across the state. People, even though they were poor, sent what they could. Mary's father, Col. Green, gave his daughters 2.5 acres of land for the cemetery.
The first Memorial Day at Resaca was on October 25, 1866. Mary Green wrote about that day, saying it was "bright and beautiful." She described the quiet, with only the sound of falling leaves, which fit their sad thoughts. This cemetery and one in Winchester, Virginia, were dedicated on the same day. Both groups believed theirs was the very first Confederate Cemetery.
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Famous photographer Mathew Brady took several pictures of the battlefield. Other artists, like Adolph Metzner, also drew scenes from the battle and its aftermath.
Resaca in the 20th Century
The town of Resaca was officially made a town again and given a new charter by the State of Georgia in 1981.
The Monastery of the Glorious Ascension
Since 1977, the Resaca area has been home to the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension. This monastery is located in a former hilltop house. It is the only Orthodox Christian monastery in the state of Georgia.
The monastery has a cemetery for Orthodox Christians. It is currently part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The leader of the monastery is Archimandrite Maximos Weimar.
The Resaca Beach Poster Girl Contest
The Resaca Beach Poster Girl Contest was a swimsuit pageant once famous in the South. It started in 1983 in the nearby city of Dalton. The name is a bit of a joke because there's no ocean near Resaca. However, it refers to a popular swimming spot on the Oostanaula River that people called "Resaca Beach."
Local people would even say, "Resaca Beach – North Georgia's Gateway to the Gulf!" The pageant helped start the career of Marla Maples, who is from Whitfield County. She later married Donald Trump. The contest has been held off and on since the mid-1980s, with the most recent one in 2008.
Population Changes in Resaca
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 191 | — | |
| 1890 | 197 | 3.1% | |
| 1900 | 128 | −35.0% | |
| 1910 | 112 | −12.5% | |
| 1990 | 410 | — | |
| 2000 | 815 | 98.8% | |
| 2010 | 544 | −33.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,142 | 109.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 815 people living in Resaca. About 263 households and 189 families lived in the town. The population density was about 295 people per square mile.
About 37.3% of households had children under 18. Also, 43.7% were married couples living together. About 23.2% of all households were people living alone.
The average age in the city was 34 years old. About 26.3% of the people were under 18, and 17.3% were 65 or older.
Schools in Resaca
Resaca has one elementary school:
- Tolbert Elementary School
See also
In Spanish: Resaca (Georgia) para niños
