- Cherokee County, Georgia
-
Cherokee County, Georgia 
Location in the state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.Founded 1831 Seat Canton Largest city Woodstock Area
- Total
- Land
- Water
433.99 sq mi (1,124 km²)
423.68 sq mi (1,097 km²)
10.31 sq mi (27 km²), 2.38%PopulationEst.
- (2009)
- Density
215,084
335/sq mi (129/km²)Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4 Website www.cherokeega.com Cherokee County is a county located in the US state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 214,346. The county seat is Canton.[1]
Cherokee County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Original territory
1822 map of Cherokee lands in Georgia
Originally, Cherokee County was more like a territory than a county, covering everything northwest of the Chattahoochee River and Chestatee River except for Carroll County. This county was created December 26, 1831 by the state legislature. It was named after the Cherokee Indians who lived in the area at that time. Several other counties were carved out of these Cherokee lands as part of the Cherokee Land Lottery of 1832.[2]
1834 map of counties created from Cherokee landAn act of the Georgia General Assembly passed on December 3 of that year created the counties of Forsyth, Lumpkin, Union, Cobb, Gilmer, Murray, Cass (now Bartow), Floyd, and Paulding.[3] The forcible (sometimes at gunpoint) removal of the Cherokee people, leading up to the notorious Trail of Tears, began in this area the year before, later accelerated by the discovery of gold in local streams.
The first county seat was at Harnageville, originally called Marble Works. Since 1880 that town has been called Tate, and it is now (since 1853) in Pickens County. Part of that county was taken directly from Cherokee, the other via Gilmer (itself earlier taken from Cherokee).
Remaining county
In 1857, part of the southeastern corner of the county was ceded by the General Assembly to form Milton County (now the city of Milton in the county of Fulton. In the 1890s, The Atlanta & Knoxville Railroad (later renamed the Marietta & North Georgia Railroad when it could not be completed to Knoxville) built a branch line up through the middle of the county. When this line was bought by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad the following decade, the L&N built train depots at Woodstock and other towns.
Development
Cherokee County is a part of the Atlanta metro area. It is bisected by Interstate 575, which runs from Marietta north through Woodstock, Lebanon, Holly Springs, Canton, the county seat, and Ball Ground, ending at the Pickens County line into Georgia 515, the Appalachian Parkway developmental highway. The Georgia Northeastern Railroad also operates freight service on the former L&N tracks, roughly parallel to this route. Population growth follows the same general pattern as well, with new suburbs in the south following the highway toward exurbs further north.The county is expected to have a huge population growth in the next few years. The county has more development coming to the county seat, Canton. Some of the development is a new Northside Hospital-Cherokee in the Canton Place mixed-use development which will have apartments, office, commercial, medical, and many other amenities.
Retail
Each of Cherokee County's 2 major cities have at least one shopping district. Canton has Riverstone which has many various parts and shopping centers inside of it. Canton also has the new Canton Marketplace, which, in the next 5–15 years, will continue growth into Canton Place.
Medical
The county seat, Canton is home to the only hospital in the county. The hospital is going to move to a new location in the near future, which is going to be in Canton Marketplace on Northside Parkway, close to the IHOP and Suntrust Bank.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 433.99 square miles (1,124.0 km2), of which 423.68 square miles (1,097.3 km2) (or 97.62%) is land and 10.31 square miles (26.7 km2) (or 2.38%) is water,[4] much of which is Lake Allatoona in the southwest. The lake is fed by the Etowah and Little rivers (the county's primary waterways), and other large streams such as Noonday Creek. Much of the northern part of the county begins to rise toward the foothills, and most of it is in the Coosa River watershed.
Mountains
There are nine summits listed by the USGS GNIS as being in the county. From tallest to lowest, they are:
- Bear Mountain – 2,297 feet (700 m) – 34°18'48N, 84°38'53"W
- Pine Log Mountain – 2,260 feet (689 m) – 34°19'15"N, 84°38'29"W
- Oakey Mountain – 1,686 feet (514 m) – 34°22'56"N, 84°33'51"W
- Dry Pond Mountain – 1,644 feet (501 m) – 34°22'29"N, 84°33'23"W
- Hickory Log Mountain – 1,545 feet (471 m) – 34°17'05"N, 84°30'10"W
- Polecat Mountain – 1,503 feet (458 m) – 34°16'27"N, 84°31'31"W
- Byrd Mountain – 1,358 feet (414 m) – 34°17'16"N, 84°31'04"W
- Garland Mountain – 1,348 feet (411 m) – 34°21'48"N, 84°35'52"W
- Posey Mountain – 1,306 feet (398 m) – 34°24'35"N, 084°36'40"
These mountains are in the still-rural northern and western parts of the county. However, if considered part of metro Atlanta, Bear Mountain is the tallest in the metro area.
Highways
Interstate 75
Interstate 575
State Route 5
State Route 5 Business
State Route 5 Connector
State Route 20
State Route 92
State Route 108
State Route 140
State Route 369
State Route 372
Major roads
- Bells Ferry Road (Old SR 205)
- East Cherokee Drive
- Towne Lake Parkway
- Arnold Mill Road
- Yellow Creek Road
- Upper and Lower Burris Road
- Alabama Road (SR 92)
- Wade Green Road
- Kellogg Creek Road (Old SR 92)
- Canton Highway (Old SR 5)
- Marietta Highway (Old SR 5)
- Ball Ground Highway (Old SR 5)
- Old Marietta Road (Old SR 20)
- Hickory Flat Road (SR 140)
Adjacent counties
- Pickens – north
- Dawson – northeast
- Forsyth – east
- Fulton (former Milton part) – southeast
- Cobb – south
- Bartow – west
- Gordon – extreme northwest
Demographics
Historical populations Census Pop. %± 1840 5,895 — 1850 12,800 117.1% 1860 11,291 −11.8% 1870 10,399 −7.9% 1880 14,325 37.8% 1890 15,412 7.6% 1900 15,243 −1.1% 1910 16,661 9.3% 1920 18,569 11.5% 1930 20,003 7.7% 1940 20,126 0.6% 1950 20,750 3.1% 1960 23,001 10.8% 1970 31,059 35.0% 1980 51,699 66.5% 1990 90,204 74.5% 2000 141,903 57.3% 2010 214,346 51.1% As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 141,903 people, 49,495 households, and 39,200 families residing in the county. The population density was 335 people per square mile (129/km²). There were 51,937 housing units at an average density of 123 per square mile (47/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.29% White, 5.44% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 9.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 49,495 households out of which 41.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.20% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.80% were non-families. 16.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.30% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 35.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 6.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,896, and the median income for a family was $66,419. Males had a median income of $44,374 versus $31,036 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,871. About 3.50% of families and 5.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Main article: Canton, Georgia#EducationPublic schools
The number of students in the Cherokee County School District has increased from 2000 from 28,000 to 38,828 adding hundreds of students each year. The faculty number has risen to over 4000
Private schools
Private schools in Cherokee County include:
- Lyndon Academy (Southeast Cherokee County)
- Cherokee Christian Schools (Woodstock)
- Cherokee Christian Academy (Woodstock)
- American Heritage Academy " Canton "
Higher education
- Reinhardt University is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Waleska, Georgia.
Transportation
The Cherokee County Airport (FAA LOC ID: 47A) is located adjacent to I-575 about six miles (10 km) northeast of downtown Canton, GA.
A redevelopment project currently underway includes:
– an already completed 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) terminal;
– the ongoing lengthening of the runway from its current 3,414 feet (1,041 m) to 5,000 feet (1,500 m);
– a new parallel taxiway;
– instrument landing equipment;
– new hangars.
The new facilities will accommodate 200 hangared corporate aircraft and provide 100 tie-downs for smaller aircraft.
Public transportation
The Cherokee Area Transit Service (CATS) serves all of the Cherokee County area rural and surburban
Incorporated cities
- Ball Ground (north-northeast) – site of old gold mines along the Etowah River
- Canton (central; county seat) – Interstate 575 intersects with Georgia 140/20/5 here.
- Holly Springs (just south of Canton) – east of Interstate 575
- Mountain Park (southeast) – mostly (about 80%) in Fulton County
- Nelson (far north-northeastern) – mostly (about 60%) in Pickens County
- Waleska (western) – home to Reinhardt College
- Woodstock (south-central) – east of Interstate 575.
Unincorporated communities
- Avery (eastern Cherokee)
- Batesville (southeast Cherokee)
- Buffington (east of Canton)
- Clayton (north of Canton)
- Creighton (northeast Cherokee)
- Free Home (eastern Cherokee)
- Gober (southwest of Ball Ground)
- Gold Ridge (southwest of Canton)
- Greeley (northwest Cherokee)
- Hickory Flat (east of Holly Springs)
- Holbrook (eastern Cherokee)
- Keithsburg (northeast of Canton)
- Lake Arrowhead (southwest of Waleska)
- Lathemtown (eastern Cherokee)
- Lebanon / Toonigh (south of Holly Springs)
- Macedonia (eastern Cherokee)
- Mica (northeast Cherokee)
- Oak Grove (southwest Cherokee)
- Ophir (eastern Cherokee)
- Orange (east Cherokee)
- Salacoa (northwest Cherokee)
- Sharp Top (northern Cherokee)
- Sixes (west of Holly Springs)
- Sutallee (western Cherokee)
- Towne Lake (west of Woodstock)
- Union Hill (eastern Cherokee)
- Univeter (south of Canton)
- Victoria (southwest Cherokee)
Notable residents
- Joseph E. Brown, who was elected governor of Georgia in 1857 and later served as U.S. Senator from Georgia. Brown's primary residence and law practice were in Canton, and he owned a farm believed to be near the Sutallee community.
- Dean Rusk, U.S. Secretary of State was born in Cherokee County.
- Robert Rechsteiner, also known as Rick Steiner, ex-professional wrestler who is now a part of the school board for the county. He also sells homes in the county as a real estate agent.
- Josh Holloway, actor and model, most famous for his role as James "Sawyer" Ford on Lost. He attended Free Home Elementary in Free Home and Cherokee High School in Canton
- Blair Redford, is an actor known for his acting on soap operas such as Days Of Our Lives.
See also
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "GeorgiaInfo has moved :: Carl Vinson Institute of Government". Cviog.uga.edu. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/countyboundaries/cherokeeboundaries2.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-22.[dead link]
- ^ "GeorgiaInfo has moved :: Carl Vinson Institute of Government". Cviog.uga.edu. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/coundate.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-22.[dead link]
- ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
- Cherokee TV
- Cherokee County government
- Cherokee County School District School District
- Cherokee County Airport – FAA Airport Master Record
Local Newspapers
- TheCherokeeConnection.com – Cherokee County Ga News, Events, & Community Publication
- The Cherokee Ledger-News
- HomeTownCherokee.com – Cherokee's Online News & Community Publication
- Cherokee Tribune
- Cherokee Today
Gordon County Pickens County Dawson County Bartow County 
Forsyth County 
Cherokee County, Georgia 
Cobb County Fulton County Municipalities and communities of Cherokee County, Georgia County seat: Canton Cities Ball Ground | Canton | Holly Springs | Mountain Park‡ | Nelson‡ | Waleska | Woodstock
Unincorporated
communitiesBuffington | Free Home | Gold Ridge | Hickory Flat | Keithsburg | Macedonia | Lathemtown | Oak Grove | Sixes | Sutallee | Towne Lake | Univeter
Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Metro Atlanta Counties 
Major city Municipalities & communities 100k-250k 25k-100k Alpharetta • Brookhaven • Candler-McAfee • Duluth • Dunwoody • East Point • Gainesville • Johns Creek • Lawrenceville • Mableton • Marietta • Milton • Newnan • Peachtree City • Peachtree Corners • Redan • Smyrna • Tucker10k-25k Acworth • Belvedere Park • Buford • Carrollton • Cartersville • Chamblee • College Park • Conyers • Covington • Decatur • Doraville • Druid Hills • Douglasville • Fayetteville • Forest Park • Griffin • Kennesaw • Suwanee • Lilburn • Monroe • Mountain Park • North Decatur • North Druid Hills • Panthersville • Powder Springs • Riverdale • Snellville • Stockbridge • Sugar Hill • Union City • Vinings • Winder • WoodstockTopics Architecture • Culture • History • Media • Neighborhoods • People • Tourism • Transportation Georgia · 
United StatesCategories:- Georgia (U.S. state) counties
- Atlanta metropolitan area
- Cherokee County, Georgia
- 1831 establishments in the United States
- Populated places established in 1831
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