Gordon County, Georgia
Gordon County is a county in the northwestern portion of the State of Georgia, with an estimated population of approximately 58,000 residents. Established in 1850, the county was named for William Washington Gordon, the first president of the Central of Georgia Railroad. The county seat is Calhoun, a city situated along the Interstate 75 corridor approximately 70 miles northwest of Atlanta. Gordon County lies within the greater carpet and flooring manufacturing region of northwest Georgia, and its economy is closely linked to this industry.
Geography and Physical Setting
Gordon County encompasses approximately 358 square miles in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province of northwest Georgia. The landscape is characterized by parallel ridges of resistant rock alternating with fertile limestone valleys, creating a distinctive topography well suited to both agriculture and industrial development. Elevations range from approximately 600 feet in the valley floors to more than 1,200 feet on the higher ridges. The Oostanaula River flows through the county from north to south, and the Coosawattee River enters from the northeast, both providing water resources for agricultural and industrial use.
The New Echota Historic Site, located in Gordon County along the Coosawattee River, preserves the last capital of the Cherokee Nation before the forced removal known as the Trail of Tears. This state historic site is of national significance as the location where the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper was published and where the controversial Treaty of New Echota was signed in 1835.
Government and Administration
Gordon County operates under a commission form of government with a Board of Commissioners consisting of a sole commissioner or chairman and additional members depending on the current charter. The county government provides services including law enforcement through the sheriff's office, road maintenance, emergency services, and planning and development. Gordon County falls within the Cherokee Judicial Circuit for superior court proceedings. The City of Calhoun maintains a separate municipal government with a city manager and city council.
Economy and Key Industries
The economy of Gordon County is heavily influenced by the carpet and flooring manufacturing industry that defines northwest Georgia's economic identity. While the epicenter of the carpet industry is neighboring Whitfield County and the city of Dalton, Gordon County hosts numerous manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and supply-chain businesses that serve this industry. Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, and various smaller manufacturers maintain operations in or near the county. This industrial concentration provides manufacturing employment at wages above the state average for the sector.
Agriculture remains important in the fertile valley lands, with poultry production, cattle farming, and hay cultivation representing the primary agricultural enterprises. The county's location along Interstate 75 has attracted logistics and distribution operations seeking access to the Atlanta-Chattanooga corridor. Retail trade centered in Calhoun serves both local residents and highway travelers. Healthcare services provided by AdventHealth Gordon (formerly Gordon Hospital) represent a significant employment sector. The growing Hispanic and Latino community, drawn initially by employment in the carpet industry, has contributed to the county's cultural diversity and economic vitality.
Key Communities
Calhoun — The county seat and largest city with a population of approximately 17,000. Calhoun's downtown features a traditional courthouse square and a developing commercial district along the I-75 corridor. The city has invested in revitalizing its historic center while accommodating growth along the interstate.
Fairmount — A small town of approximately 800 residents in the eastern portion of the county, situated at the base of the ridges that separate Gordon County from Pickens County. Fairmount retains a quiet, rural character.
Plainville — An unincorporated community in the northern part of the county, primarily residential and agricultural in nature.
Resaca — A small community of historical significance as the site of the Battle of Resaca (1864), one of the first major engagements of General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign during the Civil War. The Resaca Confederate Cemetery is one of the oldest Civil War memorial cemeteries in Georgia.