Cave Spring, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Cave Spring · Floyd County, Georgia
Population 1,148 (est. 2026: ~900)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -5.92% annual growth projection

Cave Spring, Georgia

Floyd County, Georgia · Population 1,174

Cave Spring sits in a narrow valley in the Ridge and Valley region of northwest Georgia, about 18 miles southwest of Rome — the county seat and nearest city of real size. The town is named for a limestone cave and natural spring that still flows in Rolater Park at the center of town. That spring has defined this place since before it was incorporated: Creek and Cherokee people used it, early settlers built around it, and today it remains the literal and symbolic heart of a small community that has managed to hold onto its historic character without being swallowed by suburban sprawl. At 1,174 residents, Cave Spring is one of the smallest incorporated cities in Floyd County, which is home to nearly 99,000 people — meaning Cave Spring represents barely more than one percent of the county's population. What it lacks in scale it makes up for in distinctiveness.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 estimates put Cave Spring's population at 982 within the surveyed area, with a median age of 49.2 — considerably older than the Georgia statewide median, which typically runs in the mid-30s. This is a graying community. There are 191 children under 18, and the average household size is 2.51 across 369 occupied households.

Racially, the town is predominantly white (816 residents), with a Black population of 126. No Asian or Hispanic/Latino residents are recorded in the ACS estimates. Of 514 total housing units, 145 are vacant — a vacancy rate just over 28 percent, which is high and reflects both the aging population and the town's limited economic pull for younger households.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Cave Spring is $40,250 — well below the Georgia statewide median, which runs closer to $65,000. Per capita income is $22,613. Of the 982 surveyed residents, 214 fall below the poverty line, a poverty rate around 22 percent. That's roughly double the state average and signals a community under real economic pressure.

The labor force counts 419 people, with 46 unemployed at the time of the survey. Most employment is likely tied to Rome, which offers the region's hospitals, manufacturing, retail, and services. Cave Spring itself has limited commercial activity — small-town retail, trades, and the institutional presence of the Georgia School for the Deaf, which is a meaningful local employer for a town this size.

Housing

The median home value in Cave Spring is $137,500 — affordable relative to state and national benchmarks but reflective of the limited local economy. Median rent runs $827 per month. Of the 369 occupied units, 234 are owner-occupied and 135 are renter-occupied, a roughly 63/37 split that leans toward ownership. The high vacancy rate (145 units, or 28 percent of the housing stock) is worth noting for anyone looking to buy or rent — there's more supply than active demand, which keeps prices modest but can also reflect disinvestment in older housing stock. Cave Spring's historic district includes 19th-century architecture that attracts buyers interested in restoration, though the absence of a municipal building code (see below) is a factor worth knowing before purchasing.

Schools

Two schools are located in Cave Spring:

Georgia School for the Deaf serves grades 1–12 with 71 students. It is a state-operated residential school and one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the South. Its presence has shaped Cave Spring's identity for generations and continues to be a significant institutional anchor.

Cave Spring Elementary School is listed in NCES data but shows no enrollment count in current records.

For secondary education beyond the Deaf school, students in Cave Spring are served through Floyd County Schools, with middle and high school options in Rome.

Getting Around

Cave Spring is car-dependent. Of 370 workers, 312 drive alone and 51 carpool. Zero workers use public transit, and zero walk to work. Only 7 people work from home. The aggregate commute time for the town comes to 9,360 minutes, averaging roughly 25 minutes per worker each way — consistent with a Rome-bound commute on US-411 or GA-100. There is no local transit infrastructure.

Healthcare

The two major hospitals serving Floyd County are both in Rome:

Both are approximately 18–20 miles from Cave Spring. For a local provider directory, the CMS NPI Registry lists licensed healthcare providers registered in Cave Spring.

Library

The Cave Spring Library serves the community locally and can be reached at (706) 777-3346. It is part of the Georgia public library system and serves as a community resource in a town with limited commercial amenities.

Parks & Recreation

Rolater Park, centered on the cave and spring the town is named for, offers swimming, picnicking, and access to the cave itself — it's the defining recreational space in town and worth seeing regardless of season.

For regional outdoor destinations, Little River Canyon National Preserve is approximately 26 miles away, managed by the National Park Service, and offers some of the deepest gorges in the eastern United States with hiking, waterfall access, and canyon overlooks. The Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center, about 26 miles out, serves as the visitor hub for that area.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and the Freedom Riders National Monument are both NPS-managed sites within the broader region, though each requires a longer drive.

Natural Hazards

Floyd County has a long federal disaster declaration record going back to 1993. Cave Spring and the surrounding county have been affected by:

The pattern is clear — this is a county that sees winter storm disruptions regularly, is vulnerable to severe spring storm systems, and has been reached by the remnants of Gulf and Atlantic hurricanes multiple times. Flooding and wind events are recurring, not exceptional. Residents should carry flood and wind coverage and take winter storm watches seriously.

Government & Municipal Code

Cave Spring's municipal code is published through Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/cave_spring. The town does not have a local building code on file. Anyone planning construction, renovation, or purchase of property for development should verify applicable state and county standards directly with Floyd County, as local building oversight may default to county or state minimums.

Weather

Current forecasts for Cave Spring are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast for Cave Spring | Active Alerts

The nearest official weather observation station is Cave Spring 1.7 S, located 1.1 miles from the town center.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)