Familypedia
Register
Advertisement
This article is based on the corresponding article in another wiki. For Familypedia purposes, it requires significantly more historical detail on phases of this location's development. The ideal article for a place will give the reader a feel for what it was like to live at that location at the time their relatives were alive there. Also desirable are links to organizations that may be repositories of genealogical information..
Please help to improve this page yourself if you can.


Cherokee County, Georgia
Old Cherokee County Courthouse; Canton, Georgia; November 4, 2012
The Old Cherokee County Court House in Canton, built in 1929
Map of Georgia highlighting Cherokee County
Location in the state of Georgia (U.S. state)
Map of the U.S
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded December 6, 1831
Named for Cherokee people
Seat Canton
Largest city Woodstock
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

434 sq mi (1,124 km²)
422 sq mi (1,093 km²)
13 sq mi (34 km²), 2.9%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

266,620
508/sq mi (196/km²)
Congressional district 11th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.cherokeega.com

Cherokee County is a suburban county located in the US state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 266,620.[1] The county seat is Canton.[2] The county is under the jurisdiction of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office which is headed by Sheriff Roger Garrison. The Cherokee County Sheriff's office is accredited by CALEA. The major cities within the county are under the jurisdiction of police departments such as Woodstock Police, Canton Police, Holly Springs Police, and Nelson Police departments.

Cherokee County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

Original territory[]

Cherokee1822

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.[3]

Cherokee1834

1834 map of counties created from Cherokee land

An 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.[4] 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 railroad stations 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.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 434 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 422 square miles (1,090 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (2.9%) is water.[5] Much of the water is in 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)
  • Pine Log Mountain – 2,260 feet (689 m)
  • Oakey Mountain – 1,686 feet (514 m)
  • Dry Pond Mountain – 1,644 feet (501 m)
  • Hickory Log Mountain – 1,545 feet (471 m)
  • Polecat Mountain – 1,503 feet (458 m)
  • Byrd Mountain – 1,358 feet (414 m)
  • Garland Mountain – 1,348 feet (411 m)
  • Posey Mountain – 1,306 feet (398 m)

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.

Adjacent counties[]

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%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 214,346 people, 76,144 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 89.3% White, 6.4% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 10.1% 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.

Cherokee County was named one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Georgia in 2014.

Politics[]

As of 2021, all state, county, and municipal elected officials representing Cherokee County are members of the Republican Party (with the exception of officials who hold officially non-partisan offices).[11][12]

Cherokee County had voting patterns similar to most Solid South and Georgia counties prior to 1964 in presidential elections, though Democratic Party candidates did not win by as wide margins as they did in the rest of the state and the Deep South. In fact, the county backed Republican candidates three times between 1900 and 1960. From 1964 on, the county has swung strongly toward the Republicans, only failing to vote for the Republican in presidential elections since then in 1968 when segregationist George Wallace appealed to anti-Civil Rights Act sentiment and in the two elections Georgian Jimmy Carter was on the ballot. In addition, unlike the inner suburban counties of the Atlanta metropolitan area, Cherokee County has continued to vote for Republicans by landslide margins, although the margins have decreased slightly in the most recent elections with the growth of the metropolitan area. In the Presidential election of 2020, the majority of votes from all of the 42 county election precincts were cast for incumbent President Donald Trump.

United States presidential election results for Cherokee County, Georgia[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 99,585 68.75% 42,779 29.53% 2,495 1.72%
2016 80,649 71.51% 25,231 22.37% 6,904 6.12%
2012 76,514 77.73% 19,841 20.16% 2,084 2.12%
2008 70,279 74.79% 22,350 23.78% 1,344 1.43%
2004 58,238 78.99% 14,824 20.11% 665 0.90%
2000 38,033 72.65% 12,295 23.49% 2,020 3.86%
1996 24,527 63.41% 10,802 27.93% 3,348 8.66%
1992 16,054 54.95% 8,113 27.77% 5,047 17.28%
1988 14,593 76.45% 4,378 22.94% 117 0.61%
1984 11,146 76.11% 3,499 23.89% 0 0.00%
1980 5,250 44.96% 6,020 51.55% 408 3.49%
1976 2,609 28.52% 6,539 71.48% 0 0.00%
1972 5,509 82.62% 1,159 17.38% 0 0.00%
1968 2,675 35.85% 1,436 19.24% 3,351 44.91%
1964 3,398 51.59% 3,189 48.41% 0 0.00%
1960 2,341 43.21% 3,077 56.79% 0 0.00%
1956 1,829 46.43% 2,110 53.57% 0 0.00%
1952 1,618 39.75% 2,452 60.25% 0 0.00%
1948 631 29.31% 1,267 58.85% 255 11.84%
1944 1,059 44.00% 1,348 56.00% 0 0.00%
1940 1,017 39.39% 1,552 60.11% 13 0.50%
1936 842 40.87% 1,211 58.79% 7 0.34%
1932 314 15.25% 1,727 83.88% 18 0.87%
1928 1,679 74.29% 581 25.71% 0 0.00%
1924 601 39.99% 848 56.42% 54 3.59%
1920 1,138 67.66% 544 32.34% 0 0.00%
1916 461 28.67% 855 53.17% 292 18.16%
1912 21 1.57% 603 45.20% 710 53.22%
1908 665 59.80% 326 29.32% 121 10.88%
1904 246 20.08% 622 50.78% 357 29.14%
1900 550 48.12% 535 46.81% 58 5.07%
1896 702 47.24% 712 47.91% 72 4.85%
1892 382 18.16% 927 44.06% 795 37.79%
1888 459 22.36% 1,575 76.72% 19 0.93%
1884 140 13.93% 865 86.07% 0 0.00%
1880 125 6.45% 1,813 93.55% 0 0.00%



Education[]

Public Schools[]

  • Cherokee County School District (44 Schools)
  • Cherokee Charter Academy (CSUSA)

Private schools[]

Private schools in Cherokee County include:

  • Lyndon Academy (Woodstock)
  • Cherokee Christian Schools (Woodstock)
  • Cherokee Christian Academy (Woodstock)
  • Community Christian School (Canton)
  • Crossroads Christian School (Canton)
  • Omega Learning Academy (Woodstock)
  • King's Academy (Woodstock)

Higher education[]

  • Reinhardt University is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Waleska, Georgia.

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • I-75 Interstate 75
  • I-575 Interstate 575
  • Georgia 5 State Route 5
  • Georgia 5 Business State Route 5 Business (Canton)
  • Georgia 5 Business State Route 5 Business (Ball Ground)
  • Georgia 20 State Route 20
  • Georgia 92 State Route 92
  • Georgia 108 State Route 108
  • Georgia 140 State Route 140
  • Georgia 369 State Route 369
  • Georgia 372 State Route 372
  • Georgia 401 State Route 401 (unsigned designation for I-75)
  • Georgia 417 State Route 417 (unsigned designation for I-575)

Other Major Roads[]

  • Bells Ferry Road (Old SR 205)
  • East Cherokee Drive
  • Towne Lake Parkway
  • Woodstock Road
  • Victory Drive
  • Arnold Mill Road
  • Yellow Creek Road
  • Upper Burris Road
  • Lower Burris Road
  • 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)

Airport[]

The Cherokee County Airport (FAA LOC ID: CNI) is located adjacent to I-575 about six miles (10 km) northeast of downtown Canton, GA.

A redevelopment project recently completed a 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) terminal, the lengthening of the runway from 3,414 feet (1,041 m) to 5,000 feet (1,500 m), a new parallel taxiway, instrument landing equipment, and 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 suburban.

Communities[]

  • Ball Ground
  • Canton
  • Holly Springs
  • Mountain Park
  • Nelson
  • Waleska
  • Woodstock

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Avery
  • Batesville
  • Buffington
  • Clayton/Burris Crossroads
  • Creighton
  • Free Home
  • Gober
  • Gold Ridge
  • Greeley
  • Hickory Flat
  • Holbrook
  • Keithsburg
  • Lake Arrowhead
  • Lathemtown
  • Lebanon / Toonigh
  • Macedonia
  • Mica
  • Oak Grove
  • Ophir
  • Orange
  • Salacoa
  • Sharp Top
  • Sixes
  • Sutallee
  • Towne Lake
  • Union Hill
  • Univeter
  • Victoria

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.
  • Ira Roe Foster, Quartermaster General of Georgia, Brigadier General in the Georgia Militia (1845), attorney, medical doctor, Cherokee County State Representative, first mayor of Eastman, Georgia, Alabama State Senator
  • 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
  • Johnny Hunt, President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2008–2010.
  • 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.
  • Blair Redford, is an actor known for his acting on soap operas such as Days Of Our Lives.
  • Dean Rusk, U.S. Secretary of State was born in Cherokee County.
  • Bruce Miller, NFL fullback for the San Francisco 49ers, attended Woodstock High School.
  • Nick Markakis, MLB outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, attended Woodstock High School.

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, Georgia

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13057.html. Retrieved June 19, 2014. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ "GeorgiaInfo has moved :: Carl Vinson Institute of Government". Cviog.uga.edu. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/countyboundaries/cherokeeboundaries2.htm. Retrieved July 22, 2010. 
  4. ^ "GeorgiaInfo has moved :: Carl Vinson Institute of Government". Cviog.uga.edu. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/coundate.htm. Retrieved July 22, 2010. 
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. Retrieved June 17, 2014. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. Retrieved June 19, 2014. 
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ga190090.txt. Retrieved June 19, 2014. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. Retrieved June 19, 2014. 
  10. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved 2011-05-14. 
  11. ^ "Elected Official Directory". https://cherokeechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/electedofficials.pdf. 
  12. ^ "Elected Officials Listing". https://voter.cherokeega.com/uploads/elected%20officials%202019EXPANDED5.pdf. 
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Local Newspapers[]

Coordinates: 34°14′N 84°28′W / 34.24, -84.47


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Cherokee County, Georgia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
Advertisement