GILMER COUNTY OVERVIEW
Gilmer County is located in the northwest mountains of Georgia and is within an hour's drive to Atlanta or Chattanooga Tennessee. Highway 515 runs through Gilmer County and is a straight shot to Interstate 75 which makes for an easy commute. (I-75 provides the major link between the Great Lakes and the SouthEast to cities like Miami, Tampa, Naples, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Cincinnati, Toledo and Detroit.
Nestled in the foothills of the Chattahoochee National Forest and Appalachian Mountains, Gilmer is known as Georgia's Apple Capital. Small town ambience, old fashioned blue grass concerts or gospel music jams, fishing, canoeing, boating are just a few of the adventures that continue to draw more and more people to this area year after year.
Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains where pristine valleys are dotted with apple and peach orchards, dairy and chicken farms, Gilmer is blessed with an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty of forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and streams. You will love to spend a day or even a lifetime here.
Pictured: Ellijay River
GILMER COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS
Gilmer County ranks 22 out of 159 Georgia counties in the fastest growing counties based
on population change from 2000 to 2003
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Population
(Estimate Year 2004 increase of 14.06% from 2000 Census)
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26,755
|
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Households
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9,071
|
|
Families
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6,694
|
|
Housing Units
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11,924
|
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Racial / Ethnicity Makeup
|
|
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White
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93.6%
|
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Black or African American
|
.3%
|
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American Indian or Alaska Native
|
.5%
|
|
Asian
|
.2%
|
|
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
|
.3%
|
|
Other Race
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3.8%
|
|
Two or More Races
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1.4%
|
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Hispanic or Latino
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7.7%
|
|
Gender
|
11,902
|
|
Male
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11,902
|
|
Female
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11,554
|
|
Median Household Income
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$35,140
|
|
National Household Income
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$41,994
|
|
Per Capita Personal Income (in 2002)
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$21,166
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National Per Capita Personal Income
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$30,906
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Crime: http://www.fedstats.gov/mapstats/crime/county/13123.html
Private Schools:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&State=13&County=Gilmer
Public Schools:
http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&State=13&County=Gilmer
Public Library:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/librarysearch/library_list.asp?Search=1&State=13&County=Gilmer
Places of Worship:
http://www.gilmerchamber.com/members/religion.asp
*Source: Information based on 2000 Census U. S. Census Bureau unless noted otherwise
*www.epodunk.com
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE by Sub Area (Communities include: Cherry Log, East Ellijay, Ellijay)
Number of Residential Properties FOR SALE (as of July 20, 2008)
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Total: 882
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ACTIVE
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CONTINGENT
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PENDING
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|
Sub Area 1
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162
|
2
|
9
|
|
Sub Area 2
|
140
|
3
|
8
|
|
Sub Area 3
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420
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4
|
25
|
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Sub Area 4
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104
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3
|
2
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Residential Property Sales (as of July 18, 2008)
Have We Hit Bottom
*Source: NorthEast Georgia Multiple Listing Data (as of July 20, 2008)
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY
July 21 Arts ‘Round the Square
AUGUST
August 18 Arts ‘Round the Square
August 19 Kamikaze Paintball of Ellijay will be hosting the MSPA's (Mid-South Paintball Association) 6th tournament in the series. They may contact Christine Ashley at 706-698-5264 or kamikazepb@ellijay.com for information.
August (date not known) Appalachian Regional Fair Presented by Ellijay Lions Club-an Old Timey County Fair. Midway Rides, Food, Display Booths, Crafts, Flower Show, Livestock 706/635-7400 or 706/635-5715
SEPTEMBER
September 1 Southern Outdoor Cinema
September 15 Arts ‘Round the Square
September 15 Apple Pickin' Jubilee held on the last 3 weekends of September. U-pic apples, entertainment, wagon rides, cow milking, pig races, museums, great food, petting farm, pony rides, playground, picnic area, bakery, and farm market. Hillcrest Orchards, 9696 Hwy 52 East Ellijay, GA 30536, 706-273-3838 applelan@ellijay.com www.hillcrestorchards.net
OCTOBER
October 12 & 13 Friends of Library Book Sale Call 706/276-4528 for information
October 13-14, 20-21 Apple Arts on the Square Sponsored by DEMA 706/635-1826
37th Annual Georgia Apple Festival Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce And Ellijay Lions Club www.georgiaapplefestival.org
October 20 Apple Festival Parade
October (first three weekends) Community of Cherry Log celebrates the harvest with their Festival Music, food and crafts (706) 635-1933
October 26 7:00 - Musical Guest - Blue Ridge Grass/ 8:00 - Jeff Biggers will speak on Cottage Industries in Appalachia
October 27 10:00 - Painting of Quilt Trail Squares; 11:00 - Artist demonstrations; 1:15 - Musical guest Dean Phelps; 2:30 - Curator Anna Fariello will speak Location: Cherry Log Christian Church, 1149 Cherry Log Street, Cherry Log, Georgia Admission: The event is free of charge, For more info, call 706-632-1772 or web site.
October 31 Halloween Celebration, Trick or Treat on the Square
NOVEMBER
November 17 Arts ‘Round the Square, Christmas in Ellijay, Sponsored by DEMA
November 24 Light Up Ellijay Parade, Light Up Ellijay Fireworks
DECEMBER
December Festival of Trees held all month at Gilmer County Library. Local businesses and civic organizations provide and decorate theme trees for viewing by the public. 706/276-4528
December 15 Arts 'Round the Square, Meet Santa on the Roundabout
ATTRACTIONS AND POINTS OF INTEREST
Historic Sites:
Cheiftain's Trail - A tour of local Native american sites; Call Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce for information. Call:706-635-7400
Downtown Ellijay - The quaint square is lined with historic buildings, antique, craft, & gift shops, as well as eateries of all kinds. Don't miss the Hyatt Hotel, now the courthouse, the Perry House, the Tabor House, and the Dr. Watkins residence. Website!
Ellijay City Cemetary - Best Panoramic views of the city, valley and mountains; South of the square,
Fort Mountain - Prehistoric rock formations; Highway 52 West.
Gilmer County Courthouse - National Register of Historic Places, built around 1891 as Hyatt Hotel; On the square, Ellijay.
Kell Farm - Built in 1867 by James Kell, the farm is occupied by his descendants. A marker in the cemetary commemorates Kell's Revolutionary War exploits.
Old Cartecay United Methodist Church - est. 1834, oldest Methodist Church in North Georgia. Call to arrange a tour. Highway 52 East & Roy Road.Call:706-276-3703
Places to Visit:
Apple Orchard Alley - Eleven of the county's 18 orchards are spread across the picturesque valley along State Highway 52. Other orchards dot the county's valleys & hillside. Pick up a map at the Chamber Office.
Colonel Poole's Georgia Bar-B-Q, Inc. - A favorite stomping ground for local & national celebrities, the Pig Hill of Fame offers barbecue & a chance to immortalize your name on the fabeled hillside. Craig Street, East Ellijay. Oscar Poole Call:(706) 635-4100
Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary - Call for reservations! Craig Cylke Call:(706) 276-2980
Hillcrest Orchards - Baby animals. Janice Smith Call:(706) 273-3838 applelan@ellijay.com - Website!
Llamas - Off Highway 52 West. Call 706-276-3658 for reservations.
Pink Pig - Jimmy Carter's favorite barbecue place offers delicious food & unique atmosphere with photos of the famous & not-so-famous interspersed among pig memorabilia. Highway 515 North, Cherry Log.
Bud Holloway Call:(706) 276-3311
River Park - A picturesque recreation complex on the banks of the Coosawattee River, the park offers picnic areas, tennis courts, and a walking trail. Old Highway 5 South, along the Coosawattee River. South of the Dairy Queen.
RECREATION
Adventure Trail Rides· Misty Callihan, Call:(706) 258-2276 info@adventuretrailrides.com - Website!
Blanche Manor· Peggy Blanche, Owner Call:423-496-1060 - Website!
Cartecay Bike Shop· Mike Palmari, Owner Call:706-635-2453 mike@cartecaybikes.com - Website!
Carters Lake/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers· Lu Ann Lackey, Park Manager Call:(706) 334-2248 luanne.lackey@sam.usace.army.mil - Website!
Coosawattee River Tubing Company· , Call:706/635-1609 - Website!
Ellijay Outfitters· Anne Micallef, CEO Call:706-698-GEAR annemark@ellijay.com - Website!
FUNWORKZ· Anne or Larry Greeson, Owners Call:706-636-4469 Fax:706-636-4499 Anneinellijay@aol.com
Georgia Apple Festival · W. Scott Sharp, Call:706-636-4500 Fax:706-635-7410 gaapplefestival@ellijay.com - Website!
Grandpa Jones Corn Maze & Pumpkins· Scott & Jewell Jones, Owners Call:706-273-2306 scott-jewell@ellijay.com - Website!
Kamikaze Paintball of Ellijay, Inc.· Christine Ashley, President Call:706-698-5264 kamikazepb@ellijay.com - Website!
Licklog Creek Ranch· David & Robin Reece, Owners Call:706-276-3055 drreece@ellijay.com
Mountaintown Outdoor Expeditions· Jay Syrmansky, Call:(706) 635-2524
North Georgia Mountain Outfitters· Gil & Collin, Co-Owners Call:706-698-4453 info@hikenorthgeorgia.com - Website!
Ocoee Adventure Center· Larry Mashburn, Call:888-723-8622
Ocoee Rafting· Angie Arp, Call:800-251-4800 Fax:423-496-3389 info@ocoeerafting.com - Website!
Reece's Corn Maze· David & Robin Reece, Owners Call:706-276-3055 Fax:706-276-3055 drreece@ellijay.com - Website!
Rolling Thunder River Co.· Charles Miller, Call:800-408-7238 rafting@rollingthunderriverco.com - Website!
Ruby's Naturalist Corner· Ruby K. Mithcell, Naturalist Call:706-422-8753 parknature2006@yahoo.com - Website!
*Source: Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce
All information contained herein is deemed reiliable and accurate but is not guaranteed
JUST GOOGLE: Lot 23 Ridges Over the Lake, Blue Ridge Georgia
JUST GOOGLE: 201 Rooster Branch Road, Cherry Log Georgia
Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor
Coldwell Banker High Country Realty
Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513
Cell: 706-633-0644 (direct)
Office: 706-632-7311 x252
Primarily serving the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
Fannin, Gilmer, Union and Towns Counties
Websites:
www.move2northgeorgia.net
www.cbhighcountry.com/re/donnayates
Email:
donna@mynorthgeorgia.net
Edited: August 3, 2008
Edited: September 19, 2009
