East Ellijay, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
East Ellijay · Gilmer County, Georgia
Population 418 (est. 2026: ~700)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 16.75% annual growth projection

East Ellijay, Georgia

Gilmer County, Georgia · Population 650

East Ellijay sits in the Blue Ridge foothills of the North Georgia mountains, straddling the Ellijay River just east of its larger twin city, Ellijay. The two cities share a name, a river, and a downtown commercial corridor — functionally, most visitors treat them as one place. What makes East Ellijay distinct is its small-town density: a tight grid of streets, a walkable core, and a character shaped by apple orchards, seasonal tourism, and a population that skews older and has been here a long time. Gilmer County as a whole is apple country, and East Ellijay is the quieter, residential half of that equation. Atlanta is roughly 85 miles to the south — close enough to draw weekend visitors from the metro, far enough that daily commuting is uncommon.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 estimates put East Ellijay's population at 530, well below the Census-designated figure of 650 — a gap typical of small cities where survey margins are wide. The median age of 50.4 is substantially older than Georgia's statewide median, reflecting both the long-tenured resident base and the pattern of retirees settling in North Georgia mountain communities. Of 530 residents counted, 453 identified as white and 59 as Hispanic or Latino. The Asian population is 14. The Black population in the ACS sample was zero, though this likely reflects sample size limitations in a town this small rather than absolute demographics.

Average household size is 1.83 — meaning most households are couples or individuals, not families with children. Only 102 of 289 total households are family households, and just 86 residents are children under 18. This is a community built around adults, many of them past working age.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in East Ellijay is $26,691 — roughly half of Georgia's statewide median, which consistently runs in the mid-to-upper $60,000 range. The per capita income of $41,665 is notably higher than the household median, which signals that the population includes a significant number of single-person or two-person households where one income serves fewer people, and potentially some retirees drawing investment or Social Security income that elevates individual figures.

155 residents — nearly 30 percent of the population — fall below the federal poverty line. Of 233 people in the labor force, 25 are unemployed. The local economy leans on tourism (apple festivals, mountain recreation), small retail, and service employment, with some residents working in Ellijay proper or making longer commutes toward Jasper or Canton.

Housing

East Ellijay has 375 total housing units, of which 289 are occupied and 86 sit vacant — a vacancy rate of roughly 23 percent. That's high by most standards, and likely reflects a mix of seasonal short-term rentals, second homes owned by Atlanta-area residents, and some structural vacancy in older stock.

Of occupied units, 162 are owner-occupied and 127 are renter-occupied — a closer split than most small Georgia towns, where ownership rates tend to run higher. Median home value is $167,700, and median gross rent is $617 per month. Both figures are low by metro Georgia standards, which makes the area accessible — but the income picture means affordability is still a real issue for many households.

Schools

The school listings attached to East Ellijay in NCES data pull from a wide geographic catchment and include schools in Dodge County and other districts — these are likely NCES data artifacts rather than schools serving East Ellijay directly. Students in East Ellijay attend Gilmer County Schools. Families should verify current attendance zones directly with Gilmer County School District, which operates schools in the Ellijay corridor.

Getting Around

208 workers reported commuting data. Of those, 143 drove alone and 28 carpooled. Zero used public transit, and zero walked to work. 37 worked from home — about 18 percent of the workforce, a meaningful share for a town this size.

Average aggregate travel time works out to roughly 22 minutes per commuter, which is moderate. There is no public transit serving East Ellijay. A car is not optional here — it is the only way to move through daily life.

Healthcare

East Ellijay does not have a major hospital within the city limits. Residents rely on Ellijay-area providers and, for more complex care, facilities in Jasper (Piedmont Mountainside Hospital) or the broader Atlanta metro. Local and regional providers registered with CMS can be searched through the NPI Registry for East Ellijay, GA.

Library

The Gilmer County Public Library is 0.5 miles from East Ellijay and serves as the primary public library for the area. Phone: (706) 635-4528.

Parks & Recreation

The North Georgia mountains surrounding East Ellijay are the recreation. The Chattahoochee National Forest begins close to town, and the Ellijay River corridor draws tubers, kayakers, and hikers through the warmer months. Apple orchards throughout Gilmer County open for agritourism in the fall, anchored by the Georgia Apple Festival.

At the regional scale, two National Park Service sites are within reach:

Visitor centers at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (46.9 miles), Island Ford (47.1 miles), and Chickamauga Battlefield (48.4 miles) serve as entry points for those sites.

Natural Hazards

Gilmer County has a substantial federal disaster declaration history. Since 2000, the county has received 15 FEMA declarations spanning a range of hazard types:

The pattern is consistent: this region gets hit by the remnants of Gulf and Atlantic hurricanes as they push inland, and it periodically endures ice storms and winter events that can isolate mountain communities. The 2024 Hurricane Helene declarations are the most recent, following significant flooding and storm damage across North Georgia.

Residents should maintain emergency supplies and understand that road closures during winter storms and flooding events are a real operational risk, not a theoretical one.

Government & Municipal Code

East Ellijay maintains a municipal code published through Municode: https://library.municode.com/ga/east_ellijay

No local building code is on file for East Ellijay. State and county standards govern construction.

Weather

Current forecasts and alerts for East Ellijay are available through the National Weather Service:

The nearest weather observation station is ELLIJAY, located 1.1 miles from the city center.

References

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