Gilmer County, Georgia

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Gilmer County, Georgia
Gilmer County courthouse in Ellijay, Georgia
Map of Georgia highlighting Gilmer County
Location in the state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1832
Seat Ellijay
Largest city Ellijay
Area
 • Total 431.83 sq mi (1,118 km2)
 • Land 426.69 sq mi (1,105 km2)
 • Water 5.14 sq mi (13 km2), 1.19%
Population
 • (2010) 28,292
 • Density 55/sq mi (21/km²)
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.gilmercounty-ga.gov

Gilmer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1832 and was named for George Rockingham Gilmer.[1][2] As of 2000, the population was 23,456. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,389.[3] The county seat is Ellijay.[4]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 431.83 square miles (1,118.4 km2), of which 426.69 square miles (1,105.1 km2) (or 98.81%) is land and 5.14 square miles (13.3 km2) (or 1.19%) is water.[5]

Major highways

U.S. highways

  • U.S. Route 76

State routes

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
  • Whitepath Road

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Chattahoochee National Forest (part)

Civil War

During the Civil War, many men of Gilmer County enlisted in the Confederate Army. They served in the following units as well as the local home guard. Men from Gilmer would also join units in neighboring counties.

  • 1st Georgia State Line, Company H, "Gilmer Browns"
  • 11th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company D, Gilmer Boys
  • 11th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company F, Mrs. Joe Brown's Boys
  • 23rd Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company D
  • 39th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company G, Gilmer Lions
  • 39th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company I, Gilmer Tigers 2
  • 60th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company F, Gilmer Volunteers
  • 65th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company (Smith's Legion) A, Gilmer Light Guards
  • Gilmer 65th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company (Smith's Legion) H

The youngest enlisted soldier to serve in the Confederate Army was David Bailey Freeman from Ellijay. He enlisted in Company D 6th Georgia Cavalry with his brother on May 16, 1862 just two weeks before his 11th birthday. He was known as Little Dave and fought not as a musician or messenger but as an actual soldier. He fought at Chickamauga and during the Atlanta Campaign among other places.

Gilmer County was in no way left out of the war. The rough terrain of the North Georgia mountains made a "hideout" for Pro-Union men, Confederate deserters, and men avoiding being conscripted into military service. The state of Georgia fought back against these men by organizing Confederate Home Guard Units.

In 1864 there was an attempt to organize a pro union guerrilla force made up of these men in the mountains, called the 1st Georgia Infantry (US). They were equipped with weapons and supplies. They also stole horses and mules from Pro-Confederate families just as the Home Guard stole from the Pro-Union families. As a condition of their enlistment these men had only agreed to serve in Georgia. As a result the unit was never recognized by the Federal Government.

On November 5, 1864 the 1st Georgia Infantry (US) went on a raid into Gilmer County near Bucktown to steal horses and mules. Here they met the Confederate Home Guard and the Battle of Bucktown ensued. Twenty-one of the union guerrillas were captured and several others were wounded and killed. In possession of the captured was a list of names of local supporters. Several of the captured turned out to be Confederate deserters who were executed in Gainesville on November 7.

The war would leave deep scars on Gilmer County for years after the war.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18402,536
—
18508,440232.8%
18606,724−20.3%
18706,644−1.2%
18808,38626.2%
18909,0748.2%
190010,19812.4%
19109,237−9.4%
19208,406−9.0%
19307,344−12.6%
19409,00122.6%
19509,96310.7%
19608,922−10.4%
19708,9560.4%
198011,11024.1%
199013,36820.3%
200023,45675.5%
201028,29220.6%
Est. 201228,190−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
2012 Estimate[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 23,456 people, 9,071 households, and 6,694 families residing in the county. Estimates now put the population closer to 40,000 people. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 11,924 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.63% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 3.76% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 7.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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 per capita income for the county was $18,117. About 17.8% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.[8]

Government

Gilmer County is governed by a three member Board of Commissioners. The current board Chairman is J.C. Sanford. The Post 1 Commissioner is Will Beattie and the Post 2 Commissioner is Danny Hall. Other current government officials include: Sheriff, Stacy Nicholson; Probate Judge, Anita Mullins; Magistrate Judge, Roger Kincaid; Clerk of Court, Glenda Sue Johnson; Tax Commissioner, Melba Bennett; Coroner, Jerry Hensley. All are members of the Republican Party.

Some of the past Chairmen of the Board of Commissioners include 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 util 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 util 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.

Events and festivals

Home of the Apple Festival, a yearly event held in mid-October.

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 located in the Chattahoochee National Forest .

Cities and towns

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 137. 
  3. ↑ http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-13.xls
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  5. ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2013. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

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Coordinates: 34°41′N 84°28′W / 34.69°N 84.46°W / 34.69; -84.46

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