Gordon County, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Gordon County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofGeorgia | |
 Georgia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:34°30′N84°52′W / 34.5°N 84.87°W /34.5; -84.87 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | February 13, 1850; 175 years ago (1850) |
| Named after | William Washington Gordon |
| Seat | Calhoun |
| Largest city | Calhoun |
| Area | |
• Total | 358 sq mi (930 km2) |
| • Land | 356 sq mi (920 km2) |
| • Water | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 57,544 |
| • Density | 162/sq mi (62.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 14th |
| Website | gordoncounty |
Gordon County is acounty in theNorthwest region of theU.S. state ofGeorgia. As of the2020 census, the population was 57,544.[1] Thecounty seat isCalhoun.[2] Gordon County comprises the Calhoun, GAMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in theAtlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs, GA-AL CSA.
Gordon County was created on February 13, 1850, by an act of theGeorgia General Assembly.[3] The new county was formed from portions of Cass (later renamedBartow) andFloyd counties. All lands that would become Gordon County were originally occupied by theCherokee Indians—and, in fact, the area was home ofNew Echota, the last seat of theCherokee Nation. Even while Cherokees remained on their homeland, the General Assembly enacted legislation in December 1830 that provided for surveying the Cherokee Nation in Georgia and dividing it into sections, districts, and land lots. Subsequently, the legislature identified this entire area as "Cherokee County" (even though it never functioned as a county). An act of December 3, 1832, divided the Cherokee lands into ten new counties—Cass (later renamed Bartow), Cherokee,Cobb,Floyd,Forsyth,Gilmer,Lumpkin,Murray,Paulding, andUnion. Cherokee lands were distributed to whites in a land lottery, but the legislature temporarily prohibited whites from taking possession of lots on which Cherokees still lived.
It was not until December 29, 1835, that Georgia had an official basis for claiming the unceded Cherokee lands that included the future location of Gordon County. In theTreaty of New Echota, a faction of the Cherokees agreed to give up all Cherokee claims to land in Georgia,Alabama,Tennessee, andNorth Carolina and move west in return for$5 million. Though a majority of Cherokees opposed the treaty and refused to leave, the U.S. and Georgia considered it binding. In 1838,U.S. Army troops rounded up the last of 15,000 Cherokees in Georgia and forced them to march west in what came to be known as the "Trail of Tears", making this area the starting point of the removal.
Gordon County's original 1850 boundaries were changed numerous times between 1852 and 1877, during which time the legislature transferred portions of Cass (Bartow), Floyd, Murray,Pickens, andWalker counties to Gordon County, while transferring land from Gordon to Floyd and Murray counties.
Georgia's 94th county was named forWilliam Washington Gordon[4] (1796–1842), the first Georgian to graduate fromWest Point and first president of theCentral of Georgia Railroad.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 358 square miles (930 km2), of which 356 square miles (920 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]
Mountains in Gordon County includeBaugh Mountain and Horn Mountain.[6][7]
The eastern half of Gordon County is located in theCoosawattee River sub-basin of theACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). Most of the western half of the county is located in theOostanaula River sub-basin of the same larger ACT River Basin, while a small northerly portion of the county, betweenResaca and Industrial City, is in theConasauga River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin.[8]
Gordon County has the most interstate exits out of all of the counties in Georgia, because of its location in the middle ofInterstate 75.[9]
I-75 /SR 401 – SR 401 is theunsigned designation for I-75
US 41 /SR 3
US 411 /SR 61
SR 53
SR 53 Spur (Calhoun)
SR 136
SR 136 Conn. (Calhoun)
SR 156
SR 225| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5,984 | — | |
| 1860 | 10,146 | 69.6% | |
| 1870 | 9,268 | −8.7% | |
| 1880 | 11,171 | 20.5% | |
| 1890 | 12,758 | 14.2% | |
| 1900 | 14,119 | 10.7% | |
| 1910 | 15,861 | 12.3% | |
| 1920 | 17,736 | 11.8% | |
| 1930 | 16,846 | −5.0% | |
| 1940 | 18,445 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 18,922 | 2.6% | |
| 1960 | 19,228 | 1.6% | |
| 1970 | 23,570 | 22.6% | |
| 1980 | 30,070 | 27.6% | |
| 1990 | 35,072 | 16.6% | |
| 2000 | 44,104 | 25.8% | |
| 2010 | 55,186 | 25.1% | |
| 2020 | 57,544 | 4.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 60,765 | [10] | 5.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1880[12] 1890-1910[13] 1920-1930[14] 1930-1940[15] 1940-1950[16] 1960-1980[17] 1980-2000[18] 2010[19] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 43,317 | 75.28% |
| Black or African American | 2,075 | 3.61% |
| Native American | 122 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 719 | 1.25% |
| Pacific Islander | 15 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,339 | 4.06% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 8,957 | 15.57% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 57,544 people, 20,561 households, and 15,002 families residing in the county.
As of the2010 United States census, there were 55,186 people, 19,715 households, and 14,653 families living in the county.[21] The population density was 155.1 inhabitants per square mile (59.9/km2). There were 22,278 housing units at an average density of 62.6 units per square mile (24.2 units/km2).[22] The racial makeup of the county was 85.2% white, 3.6% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 7.7% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.0% of the population.[21] In terms of ancestry, 14.6% wereAmerican, 9.8% wereIrish, 6.9% wereEnglish, and 6.7% wereGerman.[23]
Of the 19,715 households, 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.7% were non-families, and 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 36.0 years.[21]
The median income for a household in the county was $40,916 and the median income for a family was $47,964. Males had a median income of $37,358 versus $28,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,285. About 13.7% of families and 17.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.[24]
As of thecensus[25] of 2000, there were 44,104 people, 16,173 households, and 12,259 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 124 people per square mile (48 people/km2). There were 17,145 housing units at an average density of 48 units per square mile (19 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.69%White, 3.46%Black orAfrican American, 0.27%Native American, 0.53%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 4.98% fromother races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 7.41% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 16,173 households, out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% weremarried couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 31.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,831, and the median income for a family was $43,184. Males had a median income of $29,761 versus $22,256 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,586. About 7.50% of families and 9.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.
In addition to service industries, the economy of Gordon County is rooted in manufacturing and both heavy and light industry.Mohawk Industries, a leading manufacturer of flooring, is headquartered in Gordon County. In addition,Shaw Industries,Beaulieu International Group,LG Chem, andKobelco Construction Machinery America - a division ofKobe Steel - have significant presences in Gordon, County.
Gordon County was the home of theGeorgia Yellow Hammers, anold-time music group from the 1920s. The Yellow Hammers, chiefly composed of Bill Chitwood, Clyde Evans, Bud Landress, Charles Ernest Moody, and Phil Reeve were one of the most important bands during the heyday of old-time music. They have left their mark on the community. TheCalhoun High School (Calhoun, Georgia) Yellow Jackets football team play inPhil Reeve Stadium. Mr. Moody was the author of songs which are todaySouthern gospel standards including "Drifting Too Far From the Shore" which has been covered and recorded by such artists asJerry Garcia,Emmylou Harris,Phil Lesh,Hank Williams and many others.
Two fatal rail accidents took place in Gordon County in the late 20th century. The first one was in 1981 when Southern Railway train #160 collided with a log truck near the community of Oostanaula. The engineer and the driver of the log truck were fatally injured. In 1990, Train #188 ran a stop signal at the north end of the siding at Davis, Georgia and collided with Train #G38 on the same line. The engineer and conductor on #G38 and the conductor on #188 died in this collision. A monument stands at the site of the collision near the Georgia Highway 136 crossing.
Bert Lance, an advisor toJimmy Carter's successful presidential campaign, served as chairman of the Board of Calhoun First National Bank, later acquired by Trust Company of Georgia, forerunner ofSunTrust; it is now part ofTruist Financial. As of 2020, Carter is the final Democratic nominee to win Gordon County (1980).
Since 1980, Republicans have had a strong base in Gordon County.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 58 | 4.27% | 663 | 48.79% | 638 | 46.95% |
| 1916 | 190 | 13.18% | 1,010 | 70.04% | 242 | 16.78% |
| 1920 | 929 | 56.58% | 713 | 43.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 397 | 29.63% | 875 | 65.30% | 68 | 5.07% |
| 1928 | 1,039 | 58.40% | 740 | 41.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 122 | 6.60% | 1,708 | 92.42% | 18 | 0.97% |
| 1936 | 504 | 19.87% | 2,026 | 79.86% | 7 | 0.28% |
| 1940 | 527 | 24.41% | 1,623 | 75.17% | 9 | 0.42% |
| 1944 | 617 | 29.73% | 1,457 | 70.22% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1948 | 377 | 18.26% | 1,523 | 73.75% | 165 | 7.99% |
| 1952 | 880 | 28.54% | 2,203 | 71.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,024 | 34.20% | 1,970 | 65.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,148 | 34.78% | 2,153 | 65.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,317 | 41.55% | 3,260 | 58.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,815 | 29.99% | 1,161 | 19.18% | 3,077 | 50.83% |
| 1972 | 4,344 | 83.31% | 870 | 16.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,698 | 21.91% | 6,052 | 78.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 3,107 | 36.37% | 5,199 | 60.86% | 236 | 2.76% |
| 1984 | 5,566 | 68.10% | 2,607 | 31.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 6,051 | 71.65% | 2,369 | 28.05% | 25 | 0.30% |
| 1992 | 5,265 | 46.95% | 4,103 | 36.59% | 1,845 | 16.45% |
| 1996 | 5,232 | 48.35% | 4,239 | 39.18% | 1,349 | 12.47% |
| 2000 | 7,944 | 65.09% | 4,032 | 33.04% | 229 | 1.88% |
| 2004 | 11,671 | 73.88% | 4,028 | 25.50% | 98 | 0.62% |
| 2008 | 13,113 | 74.27% | 4,268 | 24.17% | 274 | 1.55% |
| 2012 | 13,197 | 77.91% | 3,440 | 20.31% | 302 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 15,191 | 79.69% | 3,181 | 16.69% | 690 | 3.62% |
| 2020 | 19,405 | 80.71% | 4,384 | 18.23% | 255 | 1.06% |
| 2024 | 22,495 | 81.34% | 4,982 | 18.01% | 180 | 0.65% |
Places adjacent to Gordon County, Georgia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofGordon County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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