Walker County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walker County
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Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette
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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 18, 1833 | |
| Named for | Freeman Walker | |
| Seat | LaFayette | |
| Largest city | LaFayette | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 447 sq mi (1,160 km2) | |
| • Land | 446 sq mi (1,160 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (2 km2) 0.1%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 67,654 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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69,489  |
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| • Density | 151.35/sq mi (58.44/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 14th | |
Walker County is a place in the northwest part of Georgia. It is one of the many counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2020, about 67,654 people lived there. Its main town, called the county seat, is LaFayette. The county was started on December 18, 1833. It was formed from land that once belonged to the Cherokee Indian Nation. Walker County is part of the larger Chattanooga TN/GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Exploring the History of Walker County
Walker County was named after Freeman Walker, who was a U.S. Senator from Georgia. He lived from 1780 to 1827.
Civil War Battles in Walker County
During the American Civil War, some important battles happened in Walker County. These battles were part of the Chickamauga Campaign. This campaign took place between August 21 and September 20, 1863. Key battles included:
- Second Battle of Chattanooga, fought on August 21.
- Battle of Davis's Cross Roads, which happened on September 10–11.
- Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 19–20.
Understanding Walker County's Geography
Walker County covers a total area of about 447 square miles. Most of this area, about 446 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 0.6 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties of Walker County
Walker County shares its borders with several other counties:
- To the north: Hamilton County, Tennessee
- To the northeast: Catoosa County
- To the east: Whitfield County
- To the southeast: Gordon County
- To the south: Floyd County and Chattooga County
- To the southwest: DeKalb County, Alabama
- To the west: Dade County
Natural Wonders and Features in Walker County
Walker County is home to many beautiful natural places:
- Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest is here.
- A section of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is also in the county.
- Ellison's Cave is found here. It is the 12th deepest cave in the United States.
- Part of Lookout Mountain is within the county's borders.
- McLemore Cove is a scenic valley.
- Petty John's Cave is another interesting cave.
- Pigeon Mountain offers great views.
- Rocktown is known for its unique rock formations.
- Rock City is a famous roadside attraction.
- Lula Lake Land Trust protects natural areas.
Transportation in Walker County
Getting around Walker County is made easy by several major roads and railways.
Major Highways Crossing Walker County
Many important highways pass through Walker County:
U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 27 Business
State Route 1
State Route 1 Business
State Route 2
State Route 95
State Route 136
State Route 151
State Route 157
State Route 189
State Route 193
State Route 201
State Route 337
State Route 341
Railroads in Walker County
Current Railways
- The Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway operates here.
- The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum sometimes offers fun train rides for tourists.
Past Railways
Many railway lines used to run through Walker County but are no longer active:
- The Chattanooga Southern Railway later became the Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway.
- The Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway eventually joined the Southern Railway and was then closed.
- The Chickamauga and Durham Railroad joined with the Chattanooga & Durham.
- The Chattanooga and Durham Railroad was later merged by the Chattanooga, Rome and Southern.
- The Chattanooga, Rome and Southern Railroad joined the Central of GA Railway.
- The Central of Georgia Railway became part of the Southern Railway.
- The Southern Railway later merged into Norfolk Southern. The line in Walker County was given to the State of Georgia and is now leased to the Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway.
People and Population of Walker County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 6,572 | — | |
| 1850 | 13,109 | 99.5% | |
| 1860 | 10,082 | −23.1% | |
| 1870 | 9,925 | −1.6% | |
| 1880 | 11,056 | 11.4% | |
| 1890 | 13,282 | 20.1% | |
| 1900 | 15,661 | 17.9% | |
| 1910 | 18,692 | 19.4% | |
| 1920 | 23,370 | 25.0% | |
| 1930 | 26,206 | 12.1% | |
| 1940 | 31,024 | 18.4% | |
| 1950 | 38,198 | 23.1% | |
| 1960 | 45,264 | 18.5% | |
| 1970 | 50,691 | 12.0% | |
| 1980 | 56,470 | 11.4% | |
| 1990 | 58,340 | 3.3% | |
| 2000 | 61,053 | 4.7% | |
| 2010 | 68,756 | 12.6% | |
| 2020 | 67,654 | −1.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 69,489 | 1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
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Population Details from the 2020 Census
In 2020, the U.S. census counted 67,654 people living in Walker County. There were 26,760 households and 17,810 families.
Population Details from the 2010 Census
According to the 2010 U.S. census, there were 68,756 people living in the county. The population density was about 154 people per square mile. Most people, 93.0%, were white. About 4.1% were Black or African American.
About 33.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.54 people. The average age of people in the county was 39.7 years old. About 23.6% of the population was under 18 years old.
Communities in Walker County
Walker County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities in Walker County
- Chickamauga
- Fort Oglethorpe (only a small part of this city is in Walker County)
- LaFayette (This is the county seat, the main town)
- Lookout Mountain
- Rossville
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities:
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not part of any city:
Media in Walker County
The local newspaper for Walker County is the Walker County Messenger.
Education in Walker County
Most of the schools in Walker County are part of the Walker County School District. However, areas within the city limits of Chickamauga are served by the Chickamauga City School District.
Images for kids
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Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Walker (Georgia) para niños
