| Calhoun, Georgia | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Downtown Calhoun and Courthouse | |
| Location in Gordon County and the state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Gordon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.7 sq mi (30.2 km2) |
| • Land | 11.7 sq mi (30.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 15,650 |
| • Density | 911.7/sq mi (353.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 30701, 30703 |
| Area code(s) | 706 |
| FIPS code | 13-12456[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0354936[2] |
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650[3]. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.[4]
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Calhoun is located at (34.499898, -84.942584),[5] along the Oostanaula River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30 km2), of which 11.6 square miles (30 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.17%) is water. Calhoun is located along U.S. Interstate 75, approximately 70 miles (110 km) north of Atlanta, and 50 miles (80 km) south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Calhoun was a part of the Cherokee Nation (including New Echota, capital of the Cherokee Nation) until December 29, 1835. When the Cherokees refused to give up their lands, the U.S. Army was sent by President Jackson to the northern region of Georgia to force them to move to Oklahoma (see more information on Trail of Tears).
After the Cherokees left their lands, Georgia claimed the Cherokee lands that became Gordon County and other counties. A small town called Dawsonville was created and founded in the Gordon County, named for the owner of an early general store. Dawsonville was later renamed Calhoun to honor U.S. Senator John C. Calhoun, following his death in 1850.
Gordon County's inferior court called an election to allow the voters to choose between a site on the Western & Atlantic Railroad (involving Adairsville) or a site more centrally located within the county instead of designating the location of the county seat unlike other counties. 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 (See Ga. Laws 1851-52, page 419 as an evidence).
On January 5, 1861, Georgia seceded from the Union. Calhounians joined the Confederacy during the American Civil War. On May 16, 1864, Calhoun was near the center of action as Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston postured before the outbreak of the Battle of Adairsville during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. Oakleigh, home of Dr. Wall, was saved and used by Sherman as the headquarters at that time.
As of the census[1] 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 (353.5/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% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 17.07% of the population was Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the city was $19,887. About 12.5% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.
The Calhoun City School District serves preschool to grade twelve, that consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, separate from the county school district.[9] The district has 166 full-time teachers and over 2,666 students.[10]
The Gordon 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 the city limits.[11] The district has 365 full-time teachers and over 6,259 students.[12]
Although well outside of metro Atlanta, Calhoun is considered part of the Atlanta television market, the ninth-largest DMA according to Nielsen Media Research. Cable TV service is offered through Comcast Cable, which provides one public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV channel named WEBS cable 3.
There are now four radio stations having Calhoun as their city of license:
Many other stations from Rome, Atlanta, and Chattanooga are also available across northwest Georgia, though reception of these often depends on weather.
There is also a semi-weekly newspaper, The Calhoun Times
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