Ellijay, Georgia
Ellijay, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Ellijay town center | |
 Location in Gilmer County and the state of Georgia | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Gilmer |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2) |
| • Land | 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 1,619 |
| • Density | 586.7/sq mi (229.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| 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. The city is the county seat of Gilmer County.[3]
The city holds an annual Apple Festival in October, and Gilmer County is known as the 'Apple Capital of Georgia'.
History
Ellijay is the anglicized form of the Cherokee name Elatseyi, meaning "new ground".[4][5]
Gilmer County was cut from Cherokee County in 1832, and Ellijay became the county seat in 1834. Ellijay existed as a remote mountain community until the Marietta and Northern Georgia Railroad (later the L and 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 34°41'41" North, 84°29'1" West (34.694656, -84.483566).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 km² (2.7 mi²). 6.9 km² (2.7 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Ellijay lies where two rivers, the Ellijay and the Cartecay, come together to form the Coosawattee River.
Demographics
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. Former President Jimmy Carter has a second log cabin home in Ellijay.
Government
Ellijay is governed by a five member City Council and a Mayor. The current mayor is William Albert "Al" Hoyle.
Education
Higher education
Dalton State College - Gilmer County Center[7]
Apple Festival
The Apple Festival is a nationally recognized festival that occurs on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of October. Tourists from as far as Hawaii and Alaska come to try Ellijay's world famous apples and other vendors' apple products.
Gilmer County School District
The Gilmer County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school.[8] There is also Crossroads, which is the alternative school in Ellijay.
- Ellijay Elementary School
- Ellijay Primary School
- Mountain View Elementary School
- Oakland Elementary School which was recently closed due to county budget constraints.
- Clear Creek Middle School
- Gilmer Middle School
- Gilmer High School
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 229. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 117.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ Dalton State - Extended Campus. Dalton State College. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 9, 2010.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Gilmer County, Georgia, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||