Editing Cherokee County, Georgia

{{short description|County in Georgia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage.   -->| name               = Cherokee County
| settlement_type    = [[List of counties in Georgia|County]]
| official_name      = Cherokee County 
<!-- Images and maps  ----------->| image_skyline      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Cherokee County, Georgia.png
| image_seal         = Seal of Cherokee County, Georgia.png
| image_shield       = 
| image_blank_emblem = CherokeeCountyGAlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 100px
| blank_emblem_alt   = 
| blank_emblem_link  = List of U.S. county and city insignia
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=250|frame-align=center|type=shape-inverse|stroke-color=#808080|fill=#808080|fill-opacity=0.4|zoom=9|title=Cherokee County|id=Q486664|stroke-width=2|frame-coordinates={{Coord|34.2467|-84.4803}}}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Cherokee County
| image_map1         = Map of Georgia highlighting Cherokee County.svg
| mapsize1           = 200px
| map_caption1       = Location in Georgia
<!-- Location ------------------>
| coordinates        = {{Coord|34.24|-84.47|display=inline,title|type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}
| named_for          = [[Cherokee people|Cherokee Native Americans]]
| nickname           = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}}
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| seat_type          = [[County seat]]
| seat               = [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Woodstock, Georgia|Woodstock]]
| established_title  = Formed
| established_date   = December 26, 1831<ref name="businessview">{{cite web |url= https://businessviewmagazine.com/cherokee-county-georgia-near-atlanta/ |title= Cherokee County, Georgia: Near Atlanta |publisher= Business View Magazine |access-date= July 12, 2023 }}</ref>
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_title       = Chairman
| leader_name        = Harry Johnston
| leader_title1      = Vice Chair
| leader_name1       = Richard Weatherby
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| leader_title5      = 
| leader_name5       = 
| unit_pref          = US
| area_total_sq_mi   = 434
| area_land_sq_mi    = 421
| area_water_sq_mi   = 13
| area_footnotes     =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sangis.org/ |title=Home |website=sangis.org}}</ref>
<!-- Elevations   ------------>| elevation_max_footnotes = 
| elevation_max_ft   = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = 
| elevation_min_ft   = <!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|April 1, 2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 266,620
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| population_est     = 286,602 {{gain}}
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| demographics_type2 = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1 = 
| demographics2_info1 = 
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time|Eastern]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = –4
<!-- Codes ---------------->| postal_code_type   = <!--[[ZIP Code]]-->
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 770|770]], [[Area code 470|470]]
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info_sec1    = 13057
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID = {{GNIS 4|277301}}
| blank_name_sec2    = Congressional districts
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Georgia's 7th congressional district|7th]] and [[Georgia's 11th congressional district|11th]] congressional districts
| website            = {{URL|https://www.cherokeecountyga.gov/}}
}}

'''Cherokee County''' is in the US state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the 2020 census the population was 266,620.<ref name="ReferenceA">US 2020 Census Bureau report, Cherokee County, Georgia</ref><ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=2019 County Metro Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2020/pop-estimates-county-metro.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503072804/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 3, 2015}}</ref> The county [[County commission|Board of Commissioners]] is the governing body, with members elected to office. Cherokee County is included to be part of [[Metro Atlanta]].

==History==

===Original territory===
[[Image:Cherokee1822.jpg|thumb|An 1822 map of Cherokee lands in Georgia]]
Cherokee County was created by an act of the [[Georgia General Assembly]] on December 26, 1831, covering a vast area northwest of the [[Chattahoochee River]] and [[Chestatee River]] (except for [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]]). It was named after the [[Cherokee|Cherokee people]] who lived in the area at that time.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/c.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030710215157/http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/c.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2003 |url-status=live |title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins |publisher=Winship Press |author=Krakow, Kenneth K. |year=1975 |location=Macon, GA |pages=41 |isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref>

The discovery of gold in local streams accelerated the push of European Americans to expel the Cherokee from their land.

In 1832, the State of Georgia implemented the [[Georgia Land Lotteries|Cherokee Land Lottery]], which gave deeds of land that had previously belonged to the Cherokee people to white male citizens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/countyboundaries/cherokeeboundaries2.htm |title=GeorgiaInfo has moved :: Carl Vinson Institute of Government |publisher=Cviog.uga.edu |access-date=July 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511172224/http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/countyboundaries/cherokeeboundaries2.htm |archive-date=May 11, 2008}}</ref> The forcible [[Indian removal|removal of the Cherokee people]] to [[Indian Territory]] west of the Mississippi River began during this year.

===Partition===

[[Image:Cherokee1834.jpg|thumb|An 1834 map of counties created from Cherokee land]]The General Assembly passed a law on December 3, 1832, which created the counties of [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth]], [[Lumpkin County, Georgia|Lumpkin]], [[Union County, Georgia|Union]], [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]], [[Gilmer County, Georgia|Gilmer]], [[Murray County, Georgia|Murray]], Cass (now [[Bartow County, Georgia|Bartow]]), [[Floyd County, Georgia|Floyd]], and [[Paulding County, Georgia|Paulding]] from area that had previously been part of Cherokee County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/coundate.htm |title=GeorgiaInfo has moved :: Carl Vinson Institute of Government |publisher=Cviog.uga.edu |access-date=July 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218012756/http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/coundate.htm |archive-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref>

[[Canton, Georgia|Etowah]] was declared the county seat in 1833. Its name was later changed to Canton, which is still the county seat today.

In 1857, part of the southeastern corner of the county was ceded by the General Assembly to form [[Milton County]] (now the cities of [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]], [[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]], [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]], and parts of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]], within north [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]]).

===Development===
In the 1890s, The Atlanta & Knoxville Railroad (later renamed the Marietta & North Georgia Railroad when it could not be completed to [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]]) built a [[branch line]] through the middle of the county. When this line was bought by the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] in the following decade, the L&N Railroad built [[railroad station|station]]s at [[Woodstock, Georgia|Woodstock]] and [[Holly Springs, Georgia|Holly Springs]].

Cherokee County began to see rapid population growth following the construction of [[Interstate 575]], the first phase of which opened in 1979. The freeway bisects the county and serves as its primary thoroughfare, running from [[Kennesaw, Georgia|Kennesaw]] north through [[Woodstock, Georgia|Woodstock]], [[Holly Springs, Georgia|Holly Springs]], [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]], and [[Ball Ground, Georgia|Ball Ground]]. Today, the county is most densely populated in its southern areas, which are closest to the [[Atlanta|City of Atlanta]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|434|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|422|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|13|sqmi}} (2.9%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Much of the water is in [[Lake Allatoona]] in the southwest. The lake is fed by the [[Etowah River|Etowah]] and [[Little River (northern Georgia)|Little]] Rivers (the county's primary waterways), and other large streams such as [[Noonday Creek]]. Much of the northern part of the county begins to rise toward the [[foothills]] of the north Georgia mountains.

The vast majority of Cherokee County is located in the [Etowah River] sub-basin of the [[ACT River Basin|Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin]], with only a small northwesterly corner of the county located in the [[Coosawattee River]] sub-basin of the same basin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |title=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience |publisher=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission |access-date=November 19, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003004639/http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Mountains===
[[File:Pine Log Mountain and Bear Mountain, Cherokee County, Georgia.jpg|thumb|[[Pine Log Mountain]] (left) and [[Bear Mountain (Georgia)|Bear Mountain]] (right)]]
Nine [[summit (geography)|summits]] are listed by the [[United States Geological Survey]] [[Geographic Names Information System]] as being in the county. From tallest to lowest, they are:

{{div col}}
* [[Bear Mountain (Georgia)|Bear Mountain]] – {{convert|2297|ft|m|0}}
* [[Pine Log Mountain]] – {{convert|2260|ft|m|0}}
* Oakey Mountain – {{convert|1686|ft|m|0}}
* Dry Pond Mountain – {{convert|1644|ft|m|0}}
* Hickory Log Mountain – {{convert|1545|ft|m|0}}
* Polecat Mountain – {{convert|1503|ft|m|0}}
* Byrd Mountain – {{convert|1358|ft|m|0}}
* Garland Mountain – {{convert|1348|ft|m|0}}
* Posey Mountain – {{convert|1306|ft|m|0}}
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Pickens County, Georgia|Pickens]] – north
* [[Dawson County, Georgia|Dawson]] – northeast
* [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth]] – east
* [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton]] – southeast
* [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]] – south
* [[Bartow County, Georgia|Bartow]] – west
* [[Gordon County, Georgia|Gordon]] – northwest

==Government, politics, and policing==
An exurban county of [[Metro Atlanta]], Cherokee County strongly supports the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. Having consistently followed a [[Solid South]] voting pattern for the bulk of the late 19th century and again from the [[Great Depression]] through the [[civil rights movement]], the most recent Democratic presidential candidate to win Cherokee County is Georgian [[Jimmy Carter]], who carried it in both of his bids. In addition, it has not voted Democratic at the state level since the [[1994 United States elections|1994 elections]], when it supported Democratic candidates for Secretary of State and Agriculture Commissioner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> The GOP margin of victory has decreased in the past three presidential cycles as population growth has led Metro Atlanta and, in turn, the state as a whole to shift politically leftward.

{{PresHead|place=Cherokee County, Georgia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David |website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|112,142|48,838|1,611|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|99,585|42,779|2,495|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|80,649|25,231|6,904|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|76,514|19,841|2,084|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|70,279|22,350|1,344|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|58,238|14,824|665|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|38,033|12,295|2,020|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|24,527|10,802|3,348|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|16,054|8,113|5,047|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|14,593|4,378|117|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,146|3,499|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|5,250|6,020|408|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,609|6,539|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,509|1,159|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,675|1,436|3,351|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,398|3,189|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,341|3,077|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,829|2,110|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,618|2,452|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|631|1,267|255|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,059|1,348|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,017|1,552|13|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|842|1,211|7|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|314|1,727|18|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,679|581|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|601|848|54|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,138|544|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|292|855|461|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|21|603|710|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|665|326|121|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|246|622|357|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|550|535|58|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|702|712|72|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|382|927|795|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|459|1,575|19|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|140|865|0|Georgia}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|125|1,813|0|Georgia}}

===Government===
The five-member board of commissioners is elected from four districts, with an [[at-large]] county commission chair. Thus, members are elected as residents of geographic districts, but the commission chair must receive the majority vote of the county in total. Each is elected to a four-year term.

===Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and city police agencies===
The county is under the jurisdiction of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, which is currently headed by Sheriff Frank Reynolds. Unlike some other metro Atlanta counties in Georgia, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office is a full-service Sheriff's Office meaning they manage the Adult Detention Center (jail), and handle law enforcement for unincorporated areas of Cherokee County.  The incorporated cities within Cherokee County, [[Woodstock, Georgia|Woodstock]], [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]], [[Holly Springs, Georgia|Holly Springs]], and [[Ball Ground]], have independent municipal police departments.

===Cherokee County Marshal's Office===
Originally formed by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners as the Cherokee County Police, the Marshal's office is composed of Sworn Deputies and civilian Animal Control Officers. The Deputies primarily handle code enforcement (in unincorporated areas), commercial vehicle traffic enforcement, park ordinance enforcement, business and liquor licenses, Cherokee Probation arrests and transports, as well as enforcing State Laws (including traffic laws) and assisting the Sheriff's Office and City Police. The civilian Animal Control Officers enforce all animal related ordinances within the county, including cities.

===Politics===
As of 2021, all state, county, and municipal elected officials representing Cherokee County are members of the Republican Party, with the exception of officials who hold officially non-partisan offices.<ref name="08/18/2021">{{cite web |title=Elected Official Directory |url=https://cherokeechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/electedofficials.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122191147/https://cherokeechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/electedofficials.pdf |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |url-status=live |website=Cherokee Chamber |access-date=August 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elected Officials Listing |url=https://voter.cherokeega.com/uploads/elected%20officials%202019EXPANDED5.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818060706/https://voter.cherokeega.com/uploads/elected%20officials%202019EXPANDED5.pdf |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |url-status=live |website=Cherokee Elections and Voter Registration |access-date=August 18, 2021}}</ref>

Cherokee County had voting patterns similar to most [[Solid South]] and Georgia counties prior to [[1964 United States presidential election in Georgia|1964]] in presidential elections, though Democratic Party candidates did not win by as wide margins as they did in the rest of the state and the [[Deep South]]. In fact, the county backed Republican candidates four times between [[1900 United States presidential election in Georgia|1900]] and [[1960 United States presidential election in Georgia|1960]]. From 1964 onward, the county has swung strongly toward the Republicans, only failing to vote for the Republican in presidential elections since then in [[1968 United States presidential election in Georgia|1968]] when [[segregationist]] [[George Wallace]] appealed to anti-Civil Rights Act sentiment and in the two times Georgian [[Jimmy Carter]] was on the ballot in [[1976 United States presidential election in Georgia|1976]] and 1980. In addition, unlike the inner suburban counties of the Atlanta metropolitan area, Cherokee County has continued to vote for Republicans by landslide margins, although the margins have decreased slightly in the most recent elections with the growth of the metropolitan area. In [[2020 United States presidential election in Georgia|2020]], the majority of votes from all of the 42 county election precincts were cast for incumbent President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 9, 2020|title=Election Results by Precinct|url=https://voter.cherokeega.com/uploads/Election-Results/11-3-20%20SOVC%20FINAL.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102190804/https://voter.cherokeega.com/uploads/Election-Results/11-3-20%20SOVC%20FINAL.pdf |archive-date=January 2, 2021 }}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 5895
|1850= 12800
|1860= 11291
|1870= 10399
|1880= 14325
|1890= 15412
|1900= 15243
|1910= 16661
|1920= 18569
|1930= 20003
|1940= 20126
|1950= 20750
|1960= 23001
|1970= 31059
|1980= 51699
|1990= 90204
|2000= 141903
|2010= 214346
|2020= 266620
|estyear=2023
|estimate=286602
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br>1790–1880<ref name=1880CensusGACty>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census Population by Counties 1790–1800 |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-08.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1890–1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population – Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1920–1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population – Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1930–1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population – Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1940–1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population – Georgia – |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960–1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population – Number of Inhabitants – Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1980–2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population – Population and Housing Unit Counts – Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Cherokee County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cherokee County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US13057|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cherokee County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13057&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cherokee County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13057&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|127,618
|174,243
|style='background: #ffffe6; |197,867
|89.93%
|81.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74.21%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|3,483
|11,633
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,326
|2.45%
|5.43%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.50%
|-
|Native American or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|420
|536
|style='background: #ffffe6; |502
|0.30%
|0.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,127
|3,484
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,429
|0.79%
|1.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.04%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|32
|84
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100
|0.02%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|123
|487
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,544
|0.09%
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.58%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,405
|3,313
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,741
|0.99%
|1.55%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.40%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|7,695
|20,566
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32,111
|5.42%
|9.59%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.04%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''141,903'''
|'''214,346'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''266,620'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 266,620 people, 93,441 households, and 69,257 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], 214,346&nbsp;people, 75,936&nbsp;households, and 57,876&nbsp;families were living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13057 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034551/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13057 |archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|508.3|PD/sqmi}}. The 82,360 housing units averaged {{convert|195.3|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13057 |access-date=December 27, 2015 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213161841/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13057 |archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% White, 5.65% Black or African American, 1.65% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin of any race made up 9.6% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 16.2% were Irish, 16.1% were German, 14.1% were English, 10.7% were American, and 5.7% were Italian.<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13057 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024927/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13057 |archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 75,936&nbsp;households, 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.8% were not families, and 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 36.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $66,320 and for a family was $77,190. Males had a median income of $53,773 versus $40,153 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,217. About 5.5% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13057 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023422/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13057 |archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 141,903 people, 49,495 households, and 39,200 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|335|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. <!-- There were 51,937 housing units at an average density of {{convert|123|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.41% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.48% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.38% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.80% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.61% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.29% from two or more races. 5.42% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. -->

Of the 49,495 households, 41.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.20% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.80% were not families. About 16.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county, the population was distributed as 28.30% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 35.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 6.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $60,896, and for a family was $66,419. Males had a median income of $44,374 versus $31,036 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,871. About 3.50% of families and 5.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
{{Main|Cherokee County School District (Georgia)}}

===Public schools===
* [[Cherokee County School District (Georgia)|Cherokee County School District]]
* Cherokee Charter Academy

===Private schools===
Private schools in Cherokee County include:
* [[Lyndon Academy]] (Holly Springs)
* [[Cherokee Christian Schools]] (Woodstock)
* [[Cherokee Christian Academy]] (Woodstock)
* Community Christian School (Canton)
* Crossroads Christian School (Canton)
* Omega Learning Academy (Woodstock)
* The King's Academy (Woodstock)

===Higher education===
* [[Reinhardt University]] is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in [[Waleska, Georgia]].

Chattahoochee Technical College has campuses in Woodstock and Canton in Cherokee County.

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[File:I-75.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 75 in Georgia|Interstate 75]]
* [[File:I-575.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 575 (Georgia)|Interstate 575]]
* [[File:Georgia 5.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 5|State Route 5]]
* [[File:Georgia 5 Business.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 5 Business (Canton)|State Route 5 Business]] (Canton)
* [[File:Georgia 5 Business.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 5 Business (Ball Ground)|State Route 5 Business]] (Ball Ground)
* [[File:Georgia 20.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 20|State Route 20]]
* [[File:Georgia 92.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 92|State Route 92]]
* [[File:Georgia 108.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 108|State Route 108]]
* [[File:Georgia 140.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 140|State Route 140]]
* [[File:Georgia 369.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 369|State Route 369]]
* [[File:Georgia 372.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 372|State Route 372]]
* [[File:Georgia 401.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 401|State Route 401]] (unsigned designation for I-75)
* [[File:Georgia 417.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 417|State Route 417]] (unsigned designation for I-575)
{{div col end}}

<!--not encyclopedic  ===Other major roads===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Historic ferries of the Atlanta area#Bell's Ferry|Bells Ferry Road]] (Old [[Georgia State Route 205|SR 205]])
* [[East Cherokee Drive]]
* [[Towne Lake Parkway]]
* Woodstock Road
* Victory Drive
* [[Arnold Mill Road]]
* [[Yellow Creek Road]]
* Upper Burris Road
* Lower Burris Road
* [[Wade Green Road]]
* [[Kellogg Creek Road]] (Old [[Georgia State Route 92|SR 92]])
* Canton Highway (Old [[Georgia State Route 5|SR 5]])
* Marietta Highway (Old SR 5)
* Ball Ground Highway (Old SR 5)
* Old Marietta Road (Old [[Georgia State Route 20|SR 20]])
{{div col end}} -->

===Airport===
The [[Cherokee County Airport (Georgia)|Cherokee County Airport]] (FAA LOC ID: CNI) is located adjacent to I-575 about {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} northeast of downtown Canton.

A redevelopment project recently completed a {{convert|10000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} terminal, the lengthening of the runway from {{convert|3414|to|5000|ft|m}}, a new parallel taxiway, instrument landing equipment, and new hangars. The new facilities will accommodate 200 corporate aircraft in hangars and provide 100 tie-downs for smaller aircraft.

===Public transportation===
The Cherokee Area Transit Service serves all of the Cherokee County area, rural and suburban.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Ball Ground, Georgia|Ball Ground]]
* [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]] (county seat)
* [[Holly Springs, Georgia|Holly Springs]]
* [[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park]] (partially in [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]])
* [[Nelson, Georgia|Nelson]] (partially in [[Pickens County, Georgia|Pickens County]])
* [[Waleska, Georgia|Waleska]]
* [[Woodstock, Georgia|Woodstock]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Batesville, Georgia|Batesville]]
* [[Buffington, Georgia|Buffington]]
* [[Free Home, Georgia|Free Home]]
* [[Gold Ridge, Georgia|Gold Ridge]]
* [[Hickory Flat, Georgia|Hickory Flat]]
* [[Keithsburg, Georgia|Keithsburg]]
* [[Lake Arrowhead, Georgia|Lake Arrowhead]]
* [[Lebanon, Georgia|Lebanon]]
* [[Toonigh, Georgia|Toonigh]] (neighborhood of Holly Springs)
* [[Macedonia, Georgia|Macedonia]]
* [[Mica, Georgia|Mica]]
* [[Oak Grove, Georgia|Oak Grove]]
* [[Orange, Georgia|Orange]]
* [[Salacoa Creek|Salacoa]]
* [[Sixes, Georgia|Sixes]]
* [[Sutallee, Georgia|Sutallee]]
* [[Towne Lake, Georgia|Towne Lake]]
* [[Univeter, Georgia|Univeter]]
* [[Victoria, Georgia|Victoria]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable residents==
* [[Joseph E. Brown]] was elected governor of Georgia in 1857 and later served as U.S. Senator from Georgia. Brown's primary residence and law practice were in Canton, and he owned a farm believed to be near the Sutallee community.
* [[Ira Roe Foster]] was [[Quartermaster General]] of Georgia, a [[brigadier general]] in the [[Georgia Militia]] (1845), attorney, medical doctor, Cherokee County [[Georgia House of Representatives|State Representative]], first mayor of [[Eastman, Georgia]], and [[Alabama Senate|Alabama state senator]]. 
* [[Josh Holloway]], actor and model, is most famous for his role as [[James "Sawyer" Ford]] on ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''. He attended Free Home Elementary in Free Home and [[Cherokee High School (Georgia)|Cherokee High School]] in Canton.
* [[Johnny Hunt]] was president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] in 2008–2010.
* [[Chris Kirk]], a [[PGA Tour]] golfer, attended [[Etowah High School (Georgia)|Etowah High School]].
* [[Nick Markakis]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] outfielder for the [[Atlanta Braves]], attended [[Woodstock High School (Georgia)|Woodstock High School]].
* [[Bruce Miller (American football)|Bruce Miller]], [[NFL]] fullback, formerly played for the [[San Francisco 49ers]], attended Woodstock High School.
* Robert Rechsteiner, better known as [[Rick Steiner]], ex-professional wrestler, is now a part of the [[Cherokee County School District (Georgia)|school board]] for the county.
* [[Blair Redford]], an actor best known for his roles as [[Scotty Grainger]] on ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' and [[Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald]] on ''[[Passions]]'', grew up in Canton.
<!-- how is he related? * [[Chandler Riggs]], actor, best known for portraying [[Carl Grimes]] on AMC's ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'' -->
* [[Dean Rusk]], U.S. Secretary of State, was born in Cherokee County. [[Dean Rusk Middle School]] was named after him.
* [[Buster Skrine]], [[NFL]] cornerback for the [[New York Jets]], attended Etowah High School.
* [[Drew Waters]], professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves, attended Etowah High School.

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, Georgia]]
*[[List of counties in Georgia]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cherokeega.com/ Cherokee County government]
* [http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/ Cherokee County School District]
* [http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=47A%20 Cherokee County Airport – FAA Airport Master Record]
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/cherokee/cherokee-county Cherokee County] historical marker

===Local newspapers===
* [http://www.thecherokeeconnection.com/ TheCherokeeConnection.com – Cherokee County Ga News, Events, & Community Publication]
* [http://www.ledgernews.com/ ''The Cherokee Ledger-News'']
* [http://www.hometowncherokee.com/ HomeTownCherokee.com – Cherokee's Online News & Community Publication]
* [http://www.cherokeetribune.com/ ''Cherokee Tribune'']
* [http://www.cherokeetoday.com/ Cherokee Today]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Cherokee County, Georgia
|North     = [[Pickens County, Georgia|Pickens County]]
|Northeast = [[Dawson County, Georgia|Dawson County]]
|East      = [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth County]]
|Southeast = [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]]
|South     = [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Bartow County, Georgia|Bartow County]]
|Northwest = [[Gordon County, Georgia|Gordon County]]
}}
{{Cherokee County, Georgia}}
{{Atlanta Metro}}
{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cherokee County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:1831 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1831]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]
[[Category:Counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area|Cherokee]]