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Polk County
Overview
You will find that in Polk County we take great pride in our community while striving to be
warm and friendly. We enjoy an excellent quality of life including a distinguished school
system and a variety of leisure activities. We have five yearly festivals, all of which provide
fun and excitement. The Cedartown Auditorium presents a plethora of top of the line
entertainment from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to Broadway plays. The Rockmart Civic
Arts Commission promotes art activities and Little Theater groups in both Cedartown and
Rockmart, providing numerous productions yearly. Polk County has three excellent golf courses.
Cedartown hosted 4 Olympic training teams during the early summer of 1996. Our physical
location makes accessible three large cities: Atlanta, Chattanooga and Birmingham. Whether
making your home, starting a business or just visiting, we believe you will find Polk County
provides many opportunities.
History
Up until 1851, Polk County was part of Paulding County, but legislative moves took
parts of three counties and made Polk from it. Our county was named for President James
K. Polk by State Legislator William Jaynes. Polk County has three incorporated cities - Cedartown,
Rockmart, and Aragon. The incorporated anniversary was celebrated on December 20, 1951.
The area that is Cedartown, now a "Main Street City," was first the possession of the Creek
Indians. They engaged in a game of ball with the Cherokee Indians for land rights. The Creeks
lost and the Cherokee moved into a land rich in resources bounded by the Tennessee line on the
north, and the Chattahoochee River on the south. The Red Man gave up their home in 1832 when the
White Man settled in.
Cedartown's name symbolizes the large groves of Cedars and Long Leaf Pines. Because of the many
cedar trees, the Indians used to call this area "Valley of the Cedars." It was only natural that
the white man picked the name "Cedar Town."
Cedartown's water supply is furnished by the second largest limestone spring in the south. The
"Big Spring" produces an average of four million gallons of water per day, and supplies about
10,000 people with water.
Located in the heart of the Coosa Valley area of North Georgia, Rockmart is situated in a
triangle formed by Atlanta, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1838,
Rockmart's parent town, Van Wert, was incorporated by the people who came to work in the slate
and rock quarries of the area. Van Wert was the first county seat of Polk County, but was later
moved to Cedartown in the early 1850's. Rockmart's name was derived from the two words Rock Market,
for the town was once a scene of roofing slate business. This area has an abundance of slate,
limestone, iron shale, and clay.
In 1929, Aragon was referred to as an "Industrial Utopia" because of the employment and recreation
offered by one of the original industrial enterprises of Polk County. The Aragon Mills, Aragon,
Georgia, was owned by A.D. Julliard & Company, Inc. The mill was built and chartered in 1898 and
was one of the largest in the state. It is still presently running under the name of Diamond Mills
Inc. Aragon has since become an incorporated town with a government body consisting of a mayor and
four council members.
Contact Information
Polk County, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
604 Goodyear St. o Rockmart, GA 30153
Telephone: (770) 684-8760
Website: http://wwwpolk.ofgeorgia.org
Polk County Board of Commissioners
144 West Ave. Suite B
Cedartown Ga. 30125
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
Phone: 770-749-2100
Fax: 770-748-5520
Area Attractions
Join the fun in Polk County! From fine arts to hoe-downs, entertainment
is here in this northwest Georgia community.
Polk County loves festivals. That is why there are seven major festivals each
year. The last Saturday in June is a real treat at the Aragon Barbeque. Games
and softball tournaments are the order of the day, as well as musical entertainment
and arts and crafts. Contact the City of Aragon for more details at 684-6564. For
a look at fine arts, visit the Cedar Valley Arts Festival at Peek Park in Cedartown
the last full weekend in April or first weekend in May. Beautiful exhibits of
sculpture and painting in virtually every medium are on display during this yearly
event. Contact Cedartown Jr. Service League. The Cedartown Fall Festival is a
one-day event, the second Saturday in October, that takes place on the sidewalks
of Cedartown. The highlight of the festival is entertainment competitions of all types.
Contact the Downtown Cedartown Association at 770-748-2090.
The Native American Pow Wow is a two-day event, the first weekend in October, that
takes place at Northwest Park in Cedartown. Dancing, music, and arts and crafts makes
this festival something to attend. Contact person is Jerry Stroup at 770-748-8816.
There is also RockStock, a three day event held in October at The Rock Campground in
Rockmart. Proceeds from this event go to charity. Contact person is Jon Hitchcock
at 770-684-8517.
The Polk County Fair is held the third week in September at the Polk County Fairgrounds. I
features rides, food & fun. Contact person is Wayne Rice at 770-748-8816.
The Polk County Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Homespun Festival the third weekend
in July at the Seaborn Jones Memorial Park in Rockmart. Homespun features two days of arts
and crafts, live entertainment, great food and events. Friday night features great Southern
Gospel music and Saturday includes a 5-K Road Race, the annual parade, and fireworks, as
well as a variety of foods!
Polk County has exceptional recreational facilities. Few counties contain five golf courses
within its borders! These well kept courses are both publicly and privately owned. The
public-owned courses are Cedar Valley Golf Course, Meadow Lakes Golf Course and Prospect
Valley Golf Club. The privately owned course is Cherokee Golf & Country Club.
Rockmart is at the end of a state-owned abandoned railroad line to Atlanta. Polk County has
over a 15 mile paved section of the Silver Comet Trail. The first section of the trail starts
in Paulding County and heads west to Polk County. The second part of the trail runs from Coot's
Lake Road to historical Downtown Rockmart. The important part of the trail, located in Cedartown,
is not paved and still has railroad tracks on the trail. This part of the Silver Comet Trail
connects Georgia to the chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama.
Tennis courts and softball fields provide excellent accommodations for even the most
active residents.
Theatre, dance and music are enjoyed by all at the Cedartown Performing Arts Center. Renowned
entertainment such as "Coasters & Platters", and the "Atlanta Symphony Orchestra" are brought to
Polk County by the Cedartown Civic Arts Commission. The Cedar Valley Art Lovers League features a
new artist and displays each month.
The Rockmart Civic Art Center consists of a Theatre and Art Gallery. The Theatre is the home of
the Rockmart Community Chorus and RCAC Community Theatre Group. The Art Gallery is located adjacent
to the theatre. The Gallery hosts exhibits by local and regional artists, college and high school
Art Departments.
Polk County does, indeed, have a full program of recreation for every age group and every taste.
So come to Polk County and join the fun!
Quick Facts
Incorporated: December 20, 1851
Population: 38,127
Total Area: 311.2 Square Miles
ABC TRIANGLE
Polk County to Atlanta - 60 Miles
Polk County to Birmingham - 85 Miles
Polk County to Chattanooga - 83 Miles
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