Calhoun, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Calhoun and Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: "Land of the Cherokee"[1] | |
 Location inGordon County and the state ofGeorgia | |
| Coordinates:34°30′0″N84°56′33″W / 34.50000°N 84.94250°W /34.50000; -84.94250 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Gordon |
| Incorporated (city) | January 1852[2] |
| Named after | John C. Calhoun |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.11 sq mi (41.72 km2) |
| • Land | 16.03 sq mi (41.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.073 sq mi (0.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,949 |
| • Density | 1,057.0/sq mi (408.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 30701, 30703 (PO Boxes) |
| Area codes | 706/762 |
| FIPS code | 13-12456[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0354936[5] |
| Website | www |
Calhoun is a city inGordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the2020 census, the city had a population of 16,949. Calhoun is thecounty seat of Gordon County.[6][7]
In December 1827, Georgia had already claimed the Cherokee lands that became Gordon County and other counties. A small town called "Dawsonville" was created and founded in Gordon County, named for the owner of an early general store.[8] Dawsonville was later renamed "Calhoun" to honorU.S. SenatorJohn C. Calhoun,[9] following his death in 1850.
Gordon County's inferior court called an election for the selection of the county seat, offering voters a choice between a site on theWestern & Atlantic Railroad (nearAdairsville) or a site more centrally located within the county. Voters chose a site along the railroad, so the inferior court designated Calhoun as county seat in 1851. The legislature incorporated Calhoun in an act approved on January 12, 1852.[10]
On January 5, 1861, Georgia seceded from the Union as a prelude to theAmerican Civil War. Calhounians joined theConfederacy. Most warfare took place elsewhere, but on May 16, 1864, Calhoun was near where theUnion GeneralWilliam Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate GeneralJoseph E. Johnston postured before theBattle of Adairsville during Sherman'sAtlanta campaign. Oakleigh, the home of Dr. Wall, was used by Sherman as his headquarters at that time.
A tornado on March 20, 1888, leveled much of Calhoun. A devastating fire on October 23 of that year destroyed most of what remained.[11]
Calhoun is located west of the center of Gordon County at34°30′0″N84°56′33″W / 34.50000°N 84.94250°W /34.50000; -84.94250 (34.499898, -84.942584),[12] along theOostanaula River where it is joined byOothkalooga Creek. It is part of theCoosa River/Alabama River watershed.
U.S. Route 41 passes through the center of town as Wall Street, andInterstate 75 runs along the eastern edge of the city, with access from Exits 310, 312, 315, 317, and 318. I-75 leads north 49 miles (79 km) toChattanooga, Tennessee, and south 68 miles (109 km) toAtlanta. US-41, running parallel to I-75, leads north 5 miles (8.0 km) toResaca and south 10 miles (16 km) toAdairsville.Georgia State Route 156 runs west out of town as West Line Street, leading 18 miles (29 km) toArmuchee, and heads east out of town as Red Bud Road, leading 8 miles (13 km) toRed Bud.Georgia State Route 373 (East Line Street and Dews Pond Road) leads east 8 miles (13 km) toCash.Georgia State Route 136 (North River Street) leads northwest 30 miles (48 km) toLaFayette.Georgia State Route 53 passes through the southern part of Calhoun, leading east 15 miles (24 km) toFairmount and southwest 22 miles (35 km) toRome.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city of Calhoun has a total area of 15.0 square miles (38.9 km2), of which 14.9 square miles (38.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.64%, is water.[13]
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Calhoun has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[14]
| Climate data for Calhoun, Georgia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10 (50) | 13 (55) | 18 (64) | 23 (73) | 27 (80) | 31 (87) | 32 (90) | 32 (89) | 29 (84) | 23 (74) | 17 (63) | 12 (54) | 22 (72) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2 (28) | −1 (31) | 3 (38) | 8 (46) | 12 (54) | 17 (62) | 19 (66) | 18 (65) | 14 (58) | 8 (46) | 3 (37) | −1 (30) | 8 (47) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 130 (5.1) | 130 (5.1) | 160 (6.2) | 120 (4.8) | 110 (4.4) | 100 (4) | 110 (4.5) | 94 (3.7) | 110 (4.2) | 84 (3.3) | 110 (4.2) | 120 (4.8) | 1,380 (54.2) |
| Source: Weatherbase[15] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 427 | — | |
| 1880 | 510 | 19.4% | |
| 1890 | 680 | 33.3% | |
| 1900 | 851 | 25.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,652 | 94.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,955 | 18.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,371 | 21.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,955 | 24.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,231 | 9.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,587 | 11.0% | |
| 1970 | 4,748 | 32.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,563 | 17.2% | |
| 1990 | 7,135 | 28.3% | |
| 2000 | 10,667 | 49.5% | |
| 2010 | 15,650 | 46.7% | |
| 2020 | 16,949 | 8.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[16] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 10,204 | 60.2% |
| Black or African American | 1,154 | 6.81% |
| Native American | 26 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 454 | 2.68% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 708 | 4.18% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 4,397 | 25.94% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 16,949 people, 6,088 households, and 4,001 families residing in the city.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 10,667 people, 4,049 households, and 2,672 families residing in the city. The population density was 915.4 inhabitants per square mile (353.4/km2). There were 4,298 housing units at an average density of 368.8 per square mile (142.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.91%White, 7.56%African American, 0.42%Native American, 1.00%Asian, 0.14%Pacific Islander, 11.61% fromother races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 17.07% of the population wasHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 4,049 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% weremarried couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,618, and the median income for a family was $42,310. Males had a median income of $27,616 versus $25,018 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,887. About 12.5% of families and 16.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.
TheCalhoun City School District servespreschool to grade twelve, and consists of twoelementary schools, amiddle school, and ahigh school, separate from the countyschool district.[21] The district has 166 full-time teachers and over 2,666 students.[22]
TheGordon County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, serving the area outside thecity limits.[23] The district has 365 full-time teachers and over 6,259 students.[22]
The twice-weeklyCalhoun Times established in 1870 is Gordon County's oldest operating business.[24] With home delivery print editions each Wednesday and Saturday, the paper also has a website and various social media. Blake Silvers has been managing editor of the Calhoun Times since January 2021.[25]
Although well outside ofmetro Atlanta, Calhoun is considered part of theAtlanta television market, the ninth-largestDMA according toNielsen Media Research. Cable TV service is offered throughComcast Cable, which provides onepublic, educational, and government access (PEG)cable TVchannel named WEBS cable 3.
There are now four radio stations having Calhoun as theircity of license:
Many other stations fromRome, Atlanta, andChattanooga are also available acrossnorthwest Georgia, though reception of these oftendepends on weather.
Municipalities and communities ofGordon County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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