Ellijay, Georgia

"Ellijay" redirects here. For the river, see Ellijay River. For the vocalists, see L.E.J.
Ellijay, Georgia
City

Ellijay town center

Location in Gilmer County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°41′41″N 84°29′1″W / 34.69472°N 84.48361°W / 34.69472; -84.48361Coordinates: 34°41′41″N 84°29′1″W / 34.69472°N 84.48361°W / 34.69472; -84.48361
Country United States
State Georgia
County Gilmer
Area
 • Total 3.6 sq mi (9.2 km2)
 • Land 3.6 sq mi (9.2 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,280 ft (390 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,619
 • Density 457/sq mi (176.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 30540
Area code(s) 706/762
FIPS code 13-27092[1]
GNIS feature ID 0331651[2]
Website ellijay-ga.gov

Ellijay is a city in Gilmer County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,619 at the 2010 census.[3] The city is the county seat of Gilmer County.[4]

The city holds an annual Georgia Apple Festival in October, and Gilmer County is known as the "Apple Capital of Georgia".

Former President Jimmy Carter has a log cabin second home in Ellijay.[5]

History

Ellijay is the anglicized form of the Cherokee name Elatseyi, meaning "new ground".[6] Other sources say it means "green place".[7]

Gilmer County was cut from Cherokee County in 1832, and Ellijay became the county seat in 1834.[8] Ellijay existed as a remote mountain community until the Marietta and Northern Georgia Railroad (later the L & N) arrived in 1884. This prompted something of a boom in the timber industry, but the area remained relatively isolated until the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway (Georgia 515, named for Georgia governor and U.S. senator Zell Miller) was completed in 1991.

Geography

Ellijay is located at the center of Gilmer County, at 34°41'41" north, 84°29'1" west (34.694656, -84.483566).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km2), all of it land.[3] It is situated at the confluence of the Ellijay and Cartecay rivers, forming the Coosawattee River, part of the Oostanaula/Coosa/Alabama River watershed. It is bordered to the east and south by the city of East Ellijay.

U.S. Route 76 bypasses the city center to the south and east. It leads west 24 miles (39 km) to Chatsworth and northeast 16 miles (26 km) to Blue Ridge. Georgia State Route 52 (Chatsworth Highway) also leads 24 miles (39 km) to Chatsworth, taking a more northerly route over Cohutta Mountain. Georgia State Route 515, the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway, leads northeast with US 76 to Blue Ridge and south 20 miles (32 km) to Jasper. Downtown Atlanta is 77 miles (124 km) to the south.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880200—
1890437118.5%
190058133.0%
191065913.4%
1920632−4.1%
19306574.0%
19401,497127.9%
19501,5272.0%
19601,320−13.6%
19701,3260.5%
19801,50713.7%
19901,178−21.8%
20001,58434.5%
20101,6192.2%
Est. 20151,680[10]3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,584 people, 593 households, and 342 families residing in the city. The population density was 591.7 people per square mile (228.2/km2). There were 662 housing units at an average density of 247.3 per square mile (95.4/km2). There were 662 housing units at an average density of 247.3 per square mile (95.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.25% White, 1.39% African American, 0.00% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.57% Pacific Islander, 12.50% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.19% of the population.

There were 593 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,120, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $20,469 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,740. About 20.3% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 31.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Ellijay is governed by a five-member city council and a mayor. The current mayor is William Albert "Al" Hoyle.

Education

Dalton State College Gilmer County Center

Higher education

Dalton State College - Gilmer County Center[12]

Gilmer County School District

The Gilmer County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school.[13] There is also Crossroads, which is the alternative school in Ellijay.

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ellijay city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ Nemy, Enid (1983-07-14). "A Small Blue Ridge Pine Cabin is the Carters' Rustic Retreat". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  6. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 117.
  7. ↑ "The Names Stayed". Calhoun Times and Gordon County News. August 29, 1990. p. 64. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 229. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ Dalton State - Extended Campus. Dalton State College. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  13. ↑ Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 9, 2010.
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