Resaca, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Resaca · Gordon County, Georgia
Population 1,247 (est. 2026: ~900)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -9.7% annual growth projection

Resaca, Georgia

Gordon County, Georgia · Population 1,142

Resaca sits along the Oostanaula River in Gordon County, roughly 65 miles north of Atlanta and about 6 miles south of Calhoun, the county seat. The town occupies a narrow strip of northwest Georgia where I-75 cuts through the ridge-and-valley terrain of the Appalachian foothills. It is a small, tight-knit community — fewer than 300 households — with deep Civil War history. The Battle of Resaca in May 1864 was among the first major engagements of Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, and the battlefield grounds remain part of the local landscape today. Resaca is not a suburb and not a rural backwater. It is a working-class river town that has absorbed significant Hispanic and Latino immigration, which now shapes its demographics as much as anything else.

People & Demographics

The 2022 ACS counted 1,363 residents, with a median age of 37.8. The population skews toward families: average household size is 4.48 people across just 240 occupied units — a figure notably higher than typical Georgia averages, reflecting the large share of multigenerational and extended-family households.

Racially, the town is majority White (1,020 residents), with 93 Black residents and 31 Asian residents. The Hispanic and Latino population stands at 476 — roughly 35% of the total — making Resaca one of the more ethnically diverse small towns in Gordon County, which is itself 57,544 people. Children are a significant presence: 307 residents are under 18, making up nearly a quarter of the population.

Economy & Employment

Median household income in Resaca is $56,154, and per capita income is $26,310. The labor force numbers 405 people, with just 3 recorded as unemployed — a remarkably low figure that suggests most working-age adults who want jobs have them, though the local economy offers limited professional-sector opportunities.

Fifty residents fall below the federal poverty line. Most workers are in manufacturing, logistics, and trades — the kinds of industries that run along the I-75 corridor through northwest Georgia. Gordon County's poultry and carpet manufacturing industries draw workers from communities like Resaca. The per capita income is modest compared to Georgia's overall figures, but household incomes hold up reasonably well when multiple earners share a roof.

Housing

Resaca has 265 total housing units, 240 of which are occupied. The 25 vacant units give a vacancy rate of about 9.4%. Of occupied units, 161 are owner-occupied and 79 are renter-occupied — a 67/33 split that leans toward ownership.

Median home value is $135,800. That is well below Georgia's statewide median, making Resaca one of the more affordable entry points into homeownership in the region. Median rent, however, is $1,010 per month — not dramatically low, which reflects the limited rental stock and demand driven by the town's large household sizes. For buyers priced out of Calhoun's market, Resaca offers a genuine alternative within easy commuting distance.

Schools

Resaca's public elementary school is Tolbert Elementary School, serving grades pre-K through 5 with 521 students. That enrollment figure is large relative to the town's total population, indicating the school draws from surrounding unincorporated areas of Gordon County. For middle and high school, students feed into Gordon County Schools, with secondary campuses located in and around Calhoun.

Getting Around

Resaca is a car-required town. Of 400 workers, 371 drive alone to work and 26 carpool. Zero residents use public transit and zero walk to work; 3 work from home. Aggregate travel time across all workers is 8,955 minutes, working out to roughly 22 minutes per worker one way — a reasonable commute by northwest Georgia standards, with Calhoun and Dalton both accessible in under 30 minutes via I-75.

There is no local transit infrastructure, and none is proximate.

Healthcare

Gordon County's primary hospital is AdventHealth Gordon, located in Calhoun. For local provider listings, the CMS NPI Registry can be searched for Resaca-based providers directly at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov. Residents needing specialty care or trauma services typically travel to Dalton or access the larger systems in the greater Chattanooga or Atlanta metro areas.

Library

The nearest public library is the Calhoun-Gordon County Library, approximately 4.7 miles from Resaca. Phone: (706) 624-1456. It serves as the county's primary library system for all of Gordon County.

Parks & Recreation

Resaca's historical identity is inseparable from the Civil War landscape. The Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, administered by the National Park Service, lies about 30 miles north and includes the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center (30.4 miles). The Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center is 37.1 miles out.

Closer to home, Pocket Campground and Pocket Picnic Shelter — part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests system — provide outdoor recreation in the immediate area. Little River Canyon National Preserve and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park round out the NPS options within reasonable driving distance of Gordon County.

Natural Hazards

Gordon County has a long and varied FEMA disaster history that directly affects Resaca. Declared events since 1990 include:

The pattern is consistent — this corner of Georgia faces winter weather threats, severe spring storm seasons, and real exposure to remnant tropical systems tracking inland from the Gulf. The 2024 Hurricane Helene declaration underscores that even weakened tropical systems can produce damaging conditions 300+ miles from the coast. Residents should maintain preparedness for all three hazard types.

Government & Municipal Code

Resaca operates under a town government with its municipal code published through Municode. The full code is available at library.municode.com/ga/resaca-town-georgia. No local building code is currently adopted, which is a meaningful data point for anyone planning construction or renovation — state minimum standards would apply by default.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions for Resaca are available through the National Weather Service:

The nearest weather observation station is RESACA 2.8 WSW, located approximately 1.1 miles from town.

References

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