Tallapoosa, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tallapoosa, Georgia
Talwa Posa
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Downtown Tallapoosa
|
|||
|
|||
Location in Haralson County and the state of Georgia
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Georgia | ||
| County | Haralson | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 10.05 sq mi (26.04 km2) | ||
| • Land | 10.03 sq mi (25.97 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,138 ft (347 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 3,227 | ||
| • Density | 321.80/sq mi (124.25/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
30176
|
||
| Area code(s) | 770 | ||
| FIPS code | 13-75300 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0323891 | ||
Tallapoosa /tæləˈpuːsə/ is a city in Haralson County, Georgia. The population was 3,170 at the 2010 census, up from 2,789 at the 2000 census.
History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Tallapoosa as a town in 1860. The community lends its name to the Tallapoosa River.
The name Tallapoosa means "Grandmother town" or "Town of the Grandmother". The name is derived from the Creek words "Talwa" (town) pronounced as "Tahl-wah" and the word "Puse" (grandmother) pronounced as "Poo-see or Poo-say".
The name first appearing on Georgia maps in the 19th century, notably around the 1820's, the name "Tallapoosee" was used to refer to the Tallapoosa River and surrounding regions.
The spelling reflects documentation and naming conventions of the time, prior to the more standardized spelling "Tallapoosa" that became common later.
The name shows respect, reverence and origin of the grandmother as the native Creek and nearby Cherokee practiced a matrilineal system of decent. Clan membership, inheritance, social structure and descent were traced through the mothers line and passed down through the maternal side.
The Tallapoosa branch of the Muskogee (Creek) tribe is one of the oldest groups in the Southeast.
The Grandmother was seen as a central figure in community life. They held a significant role in council meetings and were regarded as the bearers of wisdom, tradition and cultural knowledge having a key role in mediating disputes and conflicts preserving traditions and guiding future generations. They often led social and ceremonial events.
Tallapoosa was a location of tribal meetings held by the Creek Indians, its location being a central point of trade between the Creek territory located in the lower flatlands to the south and the northern Cherokee territory located in the upper Appalachian mountains.
A historic marker marks this meeting location in Tallapoosa titled "Seven Chestnuts" where Creek Indians held their council meetings under seven chestnut trees. Another nearby historical marker titled "Sandtown Trail" marks the location of the Sandtown Trail a route taken by Creek Indians which later became a stage coach route traveled by white settlers.
Tallapoosa was once referred to as "Opossum Snout" (circa 1891) a painting titled by artist Lyell E. Carr depicting the area
Today the town hosts an annual New Year's Eve Possum Drop, one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in Georgia.
Geography
Tallapoosa is located in the western part of Haralson County in northwest Georgia. Its geographic coordinates are 33°45′N 85°17′W / 33.750°N 85.283°W (33.7437, -85.2879).
U.S. Route 78 and Georgia State Route 100 are the main highways through the city. U.S. 78 runs through the city from east to west as Atlanta Street, leading southeast 7 mi (11 km) to Waco and west 9 mi (14 km) to Fruithurst, Alabama. GA-100 runs north–south through the city concurrent with U.S. 78, leading north 21 mi (34 km) to Cedartown and south 16 mi (26 km) to Bowdon. Interstate 20 passes about 5 mi (8.0 km) south of the city center, with access from exit 5 (GA-100). I-20 leads east 58 mi (93 km) to Atlanta and west 99 mi (159 km) to Birmingham, Alabama.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (26.0 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 0.27%, are water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 52 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,699 | 3,167.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,128 | 25.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,117 | −0.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,719 | 28.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,417 | −11.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,338 | −3.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,826 | 20.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,744 | −2.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,896 | 5.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,647 | −8.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,805 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,789 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,170 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,227 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,895 | 89.71% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 159 | 4.93% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 18 | 0.56% |
| Other/Mixed | 112 | 3.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 1.12% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,227 people, 1,368 households, and 789 families residing in the city.
Popular culture
Tallapoosa is mentioned in these works:
The 1933 pre-code movie Baby Face, starring Barbara Stanwyck.
The song I've Been Everywhere, a performance of which was recorded by Johnny Cash in 1996.
The poem "Stars at Tallapoosa" by Wallace Stevens, published in his collection Harmonium (1923).
TLC filmed the New Year's special of their show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo at The Possum Drop in Tallapoosa.
See also
In Spanish: Tallapoosa (Georgia) para niños
