Editing Gainesville, Georgia (section)

==History==
[[File:Georgia - Dalton through Lumpkin - NARA - 23937127 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|View of Gainesville, 1931]]
Gainesville was established as "Mule Camp Springs" by European-American settlers in the early 1800s. Less than three years after the organization of Hall County on December 15, 1818, Mule Camp Springs was renamed "Gainesville" on April 21, 1821. It was named in honor of General [[Edmund P. Gaines]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n132 133]}}</ref> a hero of the [[War of 1812]] and a noted military surveyor and road-builder. Gainesville was selected to be the [[county seat]] and chartered by the [[Georgia General Assembly]] on November 30, 1821.

A [[gold rush]] that began in nearby [[Lumpkin County, Georgia|Lumpkin County]] in the 1830s resulted in an increase in the number of settlers and the beginning of a business community. In the middle of the 19th century, Gainesville had two important events. In 1849, it became established as a resort center, with people attracted to the springs. In 1851, much of the small city was destroyed by fire.

Around 1870, after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Gainesville began to grow. In 1871 The [[Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway]], later re-organized into The [[Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railroad]], began to stop in Gainesville, increasing its ties to other markets and stimulating business and population. It grew from 1,000 in 1870, to over 5,000 by 1900.

By 1898, [[textile]] mills had become the primary driver of the economy, with the railroad integral to delivering raw cotton and carrying away the mills' products. With the revenues generated by the mills, in 1902, Gainesville became the first city south of [[Baltimore]] to install [[street lamp]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/life/gainesvilles-queen-city-name-about-more-parkway/|title=Gainesville's 'Queen City' name about more than a parkway|website=www.gainesvilletimes.com|access-date=2018-03-31}}</ref> On March 1, 1905, free mail delivery began in Gainesville, and on August 10, 1910, the Gainesville post office was opened. On December 22, 1915, the city's first high-rise, the Jackson Building, had its formal opening. In 1919 [[Southern Bell]] made improvements to the phone system.

City services began in Gainesville on February 22, 1873, with the election of a City Marshal, followed by solid waste collection in 1874. In 1890, a [[Municipal bond|bond issue]] to fund the waterworks was passed, and the original water distribution system was developed.

In 1943, at the height of [[World War II]], Gainesville contributed to the war effort by leasing the airport to the US government for $1.00. The military used it as a [[naval air station]] for training purposes. In 1947, the airport was returned to the city of Gainesville, improved by the addition of two {{convert|4000|ft|adj=on}} landing strips (one of which was later lengthened to {{convert|5500|ft}}).

After World War II, a businessman named Jesse Jewell started the poultry industry in north Georgia. Chickens have since become the state's largest agricultural crop. This $1 billion a year industry has given Gainesville the title "Poultry Capital of the World".

In 1956, the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] constructed [[Lake Sidney Lanier]], by building [[Buford Dam]] on the [[Chattahoochee River]]. During the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], Gainesville served as the venue for the rowing and kayaking medal competitions, which were staged on Lake Lanier.

Gainesville gained accreditation of its Parks and Recreation Department in 2001. This was the third department in the state to be accredited. The Lakeside water treatment plant opened in 2002. The city has sponsored new social activities, including the Spring Chicken Festival in 2003, the Art in the Square gathering in 2004, and "Dredgefest" in 2008.

2008 saw the reopening of the Fair Street Neighborhood Center, the reopening of the Linwood Water Reclamation Facility Grand, and the completion of the Longwood Park Fishing Pier.

[[2021 Georgia poultry plant accident|On January 28, 2021]], a poultry plant in Gainesville leaked [[liquid nitrogen]] killing 6 and hospitalizing 12.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55847100|website = bbc.com|title = Georgia nitrogen deaths: Leak kills six at Gainesville poultry plant|date = 28 January 2021|access-date = 28 January 2021}}</ref>