Cherokee County
Covering some 423.7 square miles, Cherokee offers a
diversified and very high quality lifestyle. From those seeking the tranquility
of the rural area to those who want a more fast-paced, metro setting, the area has the best of both worlds.
Opportunities are unlimited, as evidenced by the balance
between economic and residential growth. Cherokee County is ranked among the fastest
growing counties in the state of Georgia.
The original Cherokee was 6,900 square miles,
stretching over most of North Georgia. The
county, established by the Georgia Legislature on December 26, 1831,
theoretically still belonged to the Cherokee Indians, but they would soon
relinquish their ownership and submit to their removal to the West. Although
preceded in the first millennium by a culture often referred to, as Moundbuilders, the Cherokee and Creek Indians in the early
1700s were the first people in recorded history to call the area.
Many remnants of their culture remain throughout the county
whose very name honors these proud people. Although migration of whites into
the area began in the early 1800s, by 1825 there were still only 220 whites,
including men, women and children, living amidst 13,000 Indians and 1,277
slaves belonging to the Indians. The discovery of gold in Dahlonega in 1829 was
an enticement for some white settlers to migrate to the area during the 1830s.
These pioneers became the next group to call Cherokee "home". Where
the Cherokee had lived in harmony with the land…hunting, fishing, light farming…the new residents brought new lifestyles and
new crops. The industrial revolution had reached Georgia.
 Soon there would be mills to grind
corn, cotton gins, planing mills, and gold and copper
mining operations. Entrepreneurs in Cherokee
County would experiment with many
ideas, including growing silkworms, thus Canton's
name.
As citizens of a young nation,
residents of the county would become embroiled in the struggle to create a new
nation from the bitter Civil War. Sherman's
forces would pay a brief fiery visit to the county in 1864, but fortunately
would not remain to call it "home".
Post-war residents worked to
rebuild and recover. Cotton farming continued to be profitable, and with the
advent of the railroad in the county in 1879, it grew in importance. The Rope
Mill in Woodstock began operations before the turn of the century. The Canton Cotton Mills opened
in 1899. Although cotton was king, the marble finishing business in the north
end of the county would prove to be the county's largest revenue producer for a
number of years. For many citizens, "home" would be a mill village or
a small farm.
 As time progressed into a new
century, Cherokee's five municipalities would emerge as centers of commerce and
trade. The county had been divided into 24 smaller counties, reducing its size
to 429 square miles. Each town had its own identity. Canton, as the county seat, evolved to become
the center of government. The cotton mill and other ventures gave newcomers and
natives the livelihood needed. Ball Ground, named for an actual ball game
between two Indian tribes, became known for its gems and minerals. Reinhardt College gave prominence to Waleska. Woodstock remained
a quiet farming community for many years, as did Holly Springs,
but that would change. The county survived a world war and a depression, and it
should be noted that during the 1930s when 2/3 of the banks in Georgia failed, none of the four Cherokee County banks did so.
 During and after World War II, the
county would experience explosions in growth and all the accompanying changes.
Cotton farming gave way to poultry production, and the county became known as
the Broiler Capital of the World. Bell Bomber, the forerunner of Lockheed in Marietta, gave many
residents unexpected opportunities for gainful employment. Hundreds of workers
would now call Cherokee
County "home",
and in the decades to follow, the allure of the suburbs would draw newcomers to
the area in record numbers.
The list of those whose
"home" is now Cherokee
County has grown to
include the best of the best. From its beginning, Cherokee's greatest assets has been the quality of its people. Those in our
past, and those today, are responsible for setting and holding high standards
in making the county remarkable in those things that matter most.
We have an educational system to be
envied, a thriving business atmosphere, tolerant spiritual communities, honest
and visionary leaders, government officials with integrity, an enthusiastic and
hard working labor force, an active cultural arts program, an excellent public
library system, a variety of recreational opportunities, a citizenry concerned
about ecology, civic groups with energy and compassion, health and safety
officials who are well-trained and caring, and residents who respect and preserve
their heritage.
After all, it's "home".
Cherokee County's rich heritage and beautiful
scenery make it an exciting place to visit. We invite you to come to see us ...
and to come back often to CherokeeTrails.org to see what's happening in Cherokee County, Georgia!
Registration &
License
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Driver Information
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Driver's License
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770.720.3693
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Tag Office
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678.493.6400
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**Out-of-state drivers have 30 days to obtain a Georgia's
driver's license.
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Business Information
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County Business License
Office
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678.493.6108
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If the business is located within one of the five
municipalities, please contact that city by telephoning the City Hall.
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Voter Information
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Voter Registration
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770.479.0407
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School Registration
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Children must be five years old on or before September 1
to enter kindergarten and 6 or older on or before September 1 to enter the
first grade in Cherokee
County. To register
your child for school, you will need a certified birth certificate, a vision,
hearing and dental screen from a physician or health clinic, and immunization
records on Georgia State Form 3032. For more information, or to register your
child, please call the Cherokee County School
District at 770.479.1871.
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Utilities
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Electricity
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Amicalola EMC
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706.253.5200
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Cobb EMC
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770.429.2100
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Georgia Power
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888.660.5890
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Sawnee EMC
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770.887.2363
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Natural Gas
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Georgia Natural Gas
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800.427.5463
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Propane Gas
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AmeriGas
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770.479.5556
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FerrellGas
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404.363.1300
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Water
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Please contact your local city hall or the Cherokee County Water Authority
(770.479.1813) for this information.
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Sanitation
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Please contact
the Chamber for a list of members providing residential and/or
commercial sanitation services.
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Cable
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ETC Communications
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706.253.2271
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Comcast
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800.266.2278
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Telephone
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Windstream
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800.501.1754
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BellSouth
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888.757.6500
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ETC Communications
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706.253.2271
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Nelson-BallGround
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770.735.2000
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Services
Government
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City Halls
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Ball Ground
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770.735.2123
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Canton
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770.704.1500
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Holly Springs
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770.345.5536
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Waleska
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770.479.2912
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Woodstock
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770.926.8852
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County
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General Information
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678.493.6100
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South Cherokee Annex
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770.928.0239
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Animal Control
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678.493.6200
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Building Permits
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678.493.6220
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Child Support Recovery
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770.720.3581
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Clean and Beautiful
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770.517.7650
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County Attorney
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678.493.6002
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County Extension Office
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770.479.0418
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District Attorney
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678.493.6300
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Marriage License
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678.493.6160
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Probate Court (24 hrs)
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678.493.6160
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Property Tax
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678.493.6120
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Road Superintendent
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770.345.5842
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Septic Tank Inspections
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770.479.0444
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Soil Conservation
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770.479.0517
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Tax Assessor
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678.493.6120
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Tax Commissioner
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678.493.6400
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State
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Family & Children's Services
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770.720.3610
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Social Security
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800.772.1213
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Media
The
Cherokee County School District consists of 36 schools: 11 elementary, composed
of kindergarten through 6th grade; six elementary composed of kindergarten
through 5th grade; three elementary composed of kindergarten through 4th grade;
one intermediate school, grades 5 and 6; four middle schools, grades 7 and 8;
two middle, grades 6 through 8; four high schools, grades 9 through 12; one
high school with ninth and tenth grades only; Ralph Bunche
for Head Start, CrossRoads Alternative MS/HS, Polaris
Evening School and Mountainbrook School at L.R. Tippens Educational Center.
Cherokee
County School District
P.O. Box 769
110 Academy Street
Canton, GA 30169
Phone : 770-479-1871
Elementary Schools:
Arnold Mill ES
Avery ES
Ball Ground ES
Bascomb ES
K. Boston ES
Carmel ES
Clayton ES
Free Home ES
Hasty ES
Hickory Flat ES
Holly Springs ES
F.D. Johnston ES
Liberty ES
Little River ES
Macedonia ES
R.M. Moore ES
Mountain Road ES
Oak Grove ES
Sixes ES
Woodstock ES
Chapman IS
Middle Schools:
Creekland MS
E.T. Booth MS
Dean Rusk MS
Freedom MS
M.A. Teasley MS
Woodstock MS
High Schools:
Cherokee HS
Creekview HS
Etowah HS
Sequoyah HS
Woodstock HS
Polaris Evening School
Ralph Bunche Center
Crossroads Alternative MS/HS
Mountainbrook
Private Schools:
American Heritage Academy
Cherokee Christian
School
Lyndon Academy
Higher Education:
Appalachian Technical College
Georgia Highlands
College
Kennesaw State
University
North Metro
Technical College
Reinhardt College
Troy University
- Canton Campus
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 4998
3605 Marietta Highway
Canton, GA 30114
Phone: 770/345.0400
Cherokee County
Map of Cherokee County
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