Calhoun, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Calhoun · Gordon County, Georgia
Population 17,611 (est. 2026: ~19,600)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 3.25% annual growth projection

Calhoun, Georgia

Gordon County, Georgia · Population 16,949

Calhoun sits in the Conasauga River valley in the northwest Georgia foothills, about 65 miles north of Atlanta along the I-75 corridor. It is the county seat of Gordon County and, at roughly 17,000 residents, functions as the commercial and civic hub for a county of 57,544. The surrounding landscape is defined by ridgelines, river bottomland, and the remnants of Cherokee history — this was the heart of the Cherokee Nation before forced removal in the 1830s, and the town is named for U.S. Secretary of War John C. Calhoun. Today the city is defined by its carpet and flooring industry connections, its Hispanic-Latino community — one of the larger concentrations in rural northwest Georgia — and its position as a mid-sized small city that punches above its weight in services for the region.

People & Demographics

Calhoun's population of 17,184 is younger than the Georgia average, with a median age of 34.3. The city has 6,121 households averaging 2.77 people, and 4,640 children under 18 represent a meaningfully child-heavy community.

The demographic profile is notable for its diversity. White residents account for 12,148; Hispanic and Latino residents number 4,691 — roughly 27% of the population and a defining cultural presence in local commerce, schools, and community life. Black residents number 1,217, and Asian residents 174. Gordon County as a whole is significantly more white and less Latino than Calhoun itself, making the city a distinct demographic node within the county.

Economy & Employment

The labor force stands at 7,959, with 192 unemployed — an unemployment rate of roughly 2.4%. Median household income is $54,927, below the Georgia state median but reflective of the manufacturing-oriented local economy. Per capita income is $29,064. Poverty affects 3,188 residents, a figure that warrants attention given the overall income levels.

Northwest Georgia's flooring and carpet industry — centered in nearby Dalton — is the gravitational economic force in this region, and Calhoun sits squarely in that orbit. Many residents commute into Dalton or work in Calhoun's own industrial and distribution sectors. The city also supports retail, healthcare, and services that draw from the broader Gordon County population.

Housing

Calhoun has 6,667 total housing units. Of those, 6,121 are occupied and 546 sit vacant — a vacancy rate of about 8.2%. The owner-to-renter split is close: 3,159 owner-occupied units versus 2,962 renter-occupied, making this a city where renting is common and not concentrated in any one demographic slice.

Median home value is $211,200. Median rent is $746 per month — a figure that remains below Georgia's broader metro averages and represents meaningful affordability for working families. By northwest Georgia standards, Calhoun offers a reasonable entry point for homeownership without the pressure found closer to Atlanta.

Schools

Calhoun operates its own city school system, a separate entity from Gordon County Schools, which is uncommon for a city of this size in Georgia and reflects long-standing local priorities around education.

Calhoun City Schools: - Calhoun Early Learning Academy (Pre-K–K): 481 students - Calhoun Primary School (Grades 1–3): 879 students - Calhoun Elementary School (Grades 4–6): 878 students - Calhoun Middle School (Grades 7–8): 623 students - Calhoun High School (Grades 9–12): 1,274 students

Gordon County Schools also operates within the surrounding area: - Red Bud Elementary School: 534 students - Belwood Elementary School: 518 students - Sonoraville Elementary: 618 students - Ashworth Middle School (Grades 6–8): 596 students - Red Bud Middle School (Grades 6–8): 824 students - Sonoraville High School (Grades 9–12): 1,142 students - Gordon Central High School (Grades 9–12): 871 students

Calhoun High School, with 1,274 students, is the largest single school in the data set and serves as the anchor secondary institution for city residents.

Getting Around

Calhoun is a car-required city. Of 7,667 workers, 6,154 drove alone to work and 843 carpooled. Zero workers commuted by public transit. Seventy-two walked to work and 553 worked from home. Average aggregate commute data translates to roughly 18.8 minutes per worker — short by Georgia standards, suggesting many residents work locally or in nearby Dalton rather than making the full Atlanta run. I-75 is the primary artery connecting Calhoun north to Chattanooga and south toward Atlanta.

Healthcare

AdventHealth Gordon serves Calhoun, with hospital facilities located in the city. The system provides regional hospital services for Gordon County and surrounding areas. For a searchable directory of individual healthcare providers with active NPI registrations in Calhoun, the CMS NPI Registry returns current results.

Library

The Calhoun-Gordon County Library serves the entire county from its Calhoun location. Contact: (706) 624-1456. The library is part of the Georgia Public Library Service network and functions as the primary public library resource for city and county residents alike.

Parks & Recreation

Three National Park Service units are within regional reach of Calhoun:

The Conasauga River and the Cohutta Wilderness in the Chattahoochee National Forest also lie within close range to the east, offering serious backcountry access.

Natural Hazards

Gordon County has accumulated 15 FEMA disaster declarations since 1990 — a record that reflects the full range of hazards facing northwest Georgia.

Severe weather and tornadoes have been the most destructive recurring threat. The April 2011 tornado outbreak (DR-1973) was among the deadliest in Georgia history. The May 2021 severe storms and tornadoes (DR-4600) added another major event. The 1990 storms and flooding (DR-857) bracket the modern record.

Winter storms have triggered four separate federal emergency declarations: January 2026 (EM-3642), February 2014 (EM-3368), January 2000 (DR-1311), and the catastrophic March 1993 blizzard (EM-3097). Ice events in northwest Georgia can shut down I-75 and isolate communities quickly.

Tropical systems have reached this far inland. Hurricane Irma in 2017 generated both an emergency declaration (EM-3387) and a major disaster declaration (DR-4338). Hurricane Opal in 1995 (DR-1071) and the downstream effects of Hurricane Katrina evacuations in 2005 (EM-3218) also appear in the record. Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024 (EM-3616), a reminder that Gulf storms can still deliver damaging wind and rain to the northwest Georgia ridges.

The COVID-19 pandemic produced two declarations in March 2020 (EM-3464, DR-4501).

Government & Municipal Code

Calhoun's municipal code is published and maintained through Municode: https://library.municode.com/ga/calhoun

The data does not indicate a locally adopted building code on file with this source.

Weather

Current NWS forecasts for Calhoun are available at: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=34.4994&lon=-84.9558

Active weather alerts: https://alerts.weather.gov/search?point=34.4994,-84.9558

The nearest weather observation station is Calhoun Exp Stn, located 1.3 miles from the city center.

References

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