Gilmer County, Georgia
Gilmer County | |
---|---|
UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 9th |
Website | www |
Gilmer County is a
History
This was long inhabited by cultures of indigenous peoples. It was part of the homeland of the Cherokee. They had a village, Elatseyi, meaning "new ground".[5] Other sources say it means "green place".[6] It was sometimes spelled "Elejoy" on 18th century colonial maps. It was located at the confluence of the Ellijay and Cartecay rivers, which create the Coosawattee River. The later European-American town of Ellijay developed at this site.
In 1832, Gilmer County was organized as Georgia started to encroach on Cherokee territory.[7] Ellijay was designated as the county seat in 1834.
On January 12, 1854, parts of Gilmer County as well as parts of neighboring Union County were taken to form the newly created Fannin County, Georgia.[8]
This is still a primarily rural county, with agriculture and forests supporting the economy. It also has a growing tourist sector, some based on whitewater kayaking and canoeing on the rivers in the area.
Economy
Farming is still important, although, by 2002, the amount of land in the county devoted to agriculture had declined to 24.7 thousand acres. Most farms are sized at 10-49 acres, or 50-179 acres. Poultry raising and processing make up the largest portion of the agricultural economy. Agriculture and directly related businesses, such as landscape services, generate $565.1 million, or 33.2% of the county's economic output. Manufacturing generates $351.4 million, or 20.6%.[9]
Geography
According to the
The vast majority of Gilmer County is located in the
Adjacent counties
- Fannin County (north)
- Dawson County (southeast)
- Pickens County (south)
- Gordon County (southwest)
- Murray County (west)
National protected area
- Chattahoochee National Forest(part)
Transportation
Major highways
Secondary highways
- Old S.R. 5
- Yukon Road
- Burnt Mountain Road (Old S.R. 108)
- Boardtown Road
- Big Creek Road
- Doublehead Gap Road
- Whitestone Road
- Conasauga Road
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 2,536 | — | |
1850 | 8,440 | 232.8% | |
1860 | 6,724 | −20.3% | |
1870 | 6,644 | −1.2% | |
1880 | 8,386 | 26.2% | |
1890 | 9,074 | 8.2% | |
1900 | 10,198 | 12.4% | |
1910 | 9,237 | −9.4% | |
1920 | 8,406 | −9.0% | |
1930 | 7,344 | −12.6% | |
1940 | 9,001 | 22.6% | |
1950 | 9,963 | 10.7% | |
1960 | 8,922 | −10.4% | |
1970 | 8,956 | 0.4% | |
1980 | 11,110 | 24.1% | |
1990 | 13,368 | 20.3% | |
2000 | 23,456 | 75.5% | |
2010 | 28,292 | 20.6% | |
2020 | 31,353 | 10.8% | |
2023 (est.) | 32,860 | [12] | 4.8% |
U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790-1880[14] 1890-1910[15] 1920-1930[16] 1930-1940[17] 1940-1950[18] 1960-1980[19] 1980-2000[20] 2010[21] |
2020 census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White
|
26,365 | 84.09% |
Black or African American
|
127 | 0.41% |
Native American
|
62 | 0.2% |
Asian
|
131 | 0.42% |
Other/Mixed
|
1,069 | 3.41% |
Latino
|
3,599 | 11.48% |
As of the
2010 census
As of the
Of the 11,314 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.3% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 43.4 years.[23]
The median income for a household in the county was $36,741 and the median income for a family was $45,317. Males had a median income of $32,177 versus $27,288 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,439. About 12.4% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the
2000 census
As of the
There were 9,071 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,330, and the median income for a family was $41,805. Males had a median income of $31,217 versus $24,020 for females. The
Government and politics
Gilmer County is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners. The current board chairman is Charlie Paris. The Post 1 Commissioner is Hubert Parker and the Post 2 Commissioner is Karleen Ferguson. Other current government officials include: Sheriff, Stacy Nicholson; Probate Judge, Scott Chastain; Magistrate Judge, Kevin Johnson; Clerk of Court, Amy Johnson; Tax Commissioner, Rebecca Marshall; Coroner, Jerry Hensley. All are members of the Republican Party.
Some of the past chairmen of the Board of Commissioners include J.C. Sanford (2011-2014), Mark Chastain (2009–2010), Jerry Farist (2005–2008), and Rayburn Smith (1997–2004). Merle Howell served as the first chairman of the three-member board starting on January 1, 1996. She was recalled by the voters of Gilmer County, who elected Rayburn Smith in July 1997.
Up until 1988, Gilmer County was governed by a sole commissioner. Cicero Logan served as commissioner from 1946 until 1959. Harold Hefner was elected in 1958 and served from 1959 until 1972. Gilmer County's last sole commissioner was Benjamin N. Whitaker who served from 1973 until 1988.
In 1988, Gilmer County changed to a five-member board of commissioners who then hired a “county manager” to run day-to-day operations of the county. The first five-member board included Mack Logan, Ruel Reece, Garvin Davis Jr., John Penland, and Charles Aaron. Jim Bailey served as county manager.
Politics
The voters of Gilmer, like neighboring Rabun, Towns, Pickens and Fannin counties, were different in their historic partisan preferences from other parts of Georgia. Since the post-Civil War period, it had a competitive Republican party. At the turn of the 20th century, the
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 13,429 | 81.25% | 2,932 | 17.74% | 166 | 1.00% |
2016 | 10,477 | 81.55% | 1,965 | 15.29% | 406 | 3.16% |
2012 | 8,926 | 80.76% | 1,958 | 17.71% | 169 | 1.53% |
2008 | 8,408 | 75.17% | 2,614 | 23.37% | 164 | 1.47% |
2004 | 7,414 | 73.97% | 2,510 | 25.04% | 99 | 0.99% |
2000 | 4,941 | 67.04% | 2,230 | 30.26% | 199 | 2.70% |
1996 | 3,121 | 49.06% | 2,464 | 38.74% | 776 | 12.20% |
1992 | 2,661 | 45.19% | 2,311 | 39.25% | 916 | 15.56% |
1988 | 3,353 | 70.65% | 1,363 | 28.72% | 30 | 0.63% |
1984 | 2,972 | 70.66% | 1,234 | 29.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 2,170 | 47.83% | 2,246 | 49.50% | 121 | 2.67% |
1976 | 1,261 | 33.54% | 2,499 | 66.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 2,729 | 78.04% | 768 | 21.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 2,074 | 51.55% | 690 | 17.15% | 1,259 | 31.30% |
1964 | 2,167 | 50.09% | 2,159 | 49.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,850 | 55.69% | 1,472 | 44.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 1,857 | 59.29% | 1,275 | 40.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 1,324 | 49.35% | 1,359 | 50.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 1,203 | 47.36% | 1,275 | 50.20% | 62 | 2.44% |
1944 | 793 | 47.29% | 884 | 52.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 653 | 42.93% | 865 | 56.87% | 3 | 0.20% |
1936 | 1,047 | 48.14% | 1,128 | 51.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 616 | 33.73% | 1,210 | 66.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 1,012 | 65.67% | 529 | 34.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 912 | 54.03% | 776 | 45.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
1920 | 662 | 54.80% | 546 | 45.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 258 | 16.54% | 742 | 47.56% | 560 | 35.90% |
1912 | 52 | 7.93% | 488 | 74.39% | 116 | 17.68% |
Attractions
Gilmer County is home to an impressive specimen of yellow poplar known colloquially as "the big poplar". This particular specimen is 100 feet tall and approximately 20 feet in circumference at its base. The tree can be accessed via Bear Creek Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Ai
- Tails Creek
- Whitepath
- Yukon
In popular culture
See also
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Gilmer County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Gilmer County". Georgia.gov. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 137.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 117.
- ^ "The Names Stayed". Calhoun Times and Gordon County News. August 29, 1990. p. 64. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived(PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived(PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ^ "GCeconomy">Boatright, Sue; Flanders, Archie (March 2008). "Gilmer County Economy" (PDF). University of Georgia, Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development. Retrieved January 28, 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Gatling, William (June 30, 2010). "Deliverance and the Coosawattee". Georgia Canoeing Association. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ "Filming Locations for Deliverance (1972), in Georgia". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ "Brown's Guide to Georgia". December 22, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2020.