Walker County, Georgia: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:29, 6 May 2025

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Walker County is a county in the northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, its population was 67,654,<ref name="ReferenceA">US 2020 Census Bureau report, Walker County, Georgia</ref> down from 68,756 in 2010.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is LaFayette.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created on December 18, 1833, from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation. Walker County is part of the Chattanooga TN/GA metropolitan statistical area.

History

Walker County was named after Georgia's U.S. Senator, Freeman Walker (1780–1827).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Civil War battles fought in Walker County were part of the Chickamauga Campaign fought between August 21 and September 20, 1863:

Second Battle of Chattanooga, August 21
Battle of Davis's Cross Roads, September 10–11
Battle of Chickamauga, September 19–20

In 2002, the Tri-State Crematory scandal in Noble came to national attention when 339 bodies that were consigned to be cremated were discovered on the property. The owner, Ray Brent Marsh, was convicted of several charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (0.1%) is covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The northern two-thirds of Walker County is located in the Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga sub-basin of the Middle Tennessee-Hiwassee basin. Most of the southeastern portion of the county is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin), with a very small southeastern sliver located in the Conasauga River sub-basin in the larger ACT River Basin. The rest of the southern portion of Walker County is located in the Upper Coosa River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

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Hamilton County, Tennessee - north
Catoosa County - northeast
Whitfield County - east
Gordon County - southeast
Floyd County - south
Chattooga County - south
DeKalb County, Alabama - southwest/CST Border
Dade County - west

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Natural attractions and features

Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part)
Ellison's Cave (12th deepest cave in the United States)
Lookout Mountain (part)
McLemore Cove
Petty John's Cave
Pigeon Mountain
Rocktown
Rock City
Lula Lake Land Trust

Government

Until 2020, Walker County was one of only nine counties in the United States still employing the sole commissioner form of government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Georgia is the last remaining state that allows sole commissioners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a 2018 referendum, Walker County voters approved with an 80% margin a transition to a five-member board of commissioners, consisting of four commissioners elected by district and a chairperson. The first members of the board were elected in November 2020 and took office in January 2021 with Districts 1 and 2 commissioners serving an initial two-year term and Districts 3 and 4 commissioners and the chairperson serving an initial four-year term. From 2022, every commissioner will serve four-year terms, therefore ensuring that half the commission is up for reelection every two years. The commission meets in LaFayette, the county seat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The commissioners of each district represent these areas:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

District 1: Rossville
District 2: Chickamauga
District 3: LaFayette
District 4: Lookout Mountain

Transportation

Major highways

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Railroads

Current

Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (occasional tourist excursions)

Defunct

Chattanooga Southern Railway (became Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway)
Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway, then abandoned )
Chickamauga and Durham Railroad (merged into Chattanooga & Durham)
Chattanooga and Durham Railroad (merged by Chattanooga, Rome and Southern)
Chattanooga, Rome and Southern Railroad (merged into Central of GA Railway)
Central of Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway)
Southern Railway (merged into Norfolk Southern, Walker County line transferred to State of Georgia, leased to Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway)

Demographics

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2020 census

**Walker County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	57,336	63,343	59,654	93.91%	92.13%	88.18%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,300	2,809	2,840	3.77%	4.09%	4.20%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	172	170	149	0.28%	0.25%	0.22%
Asian alone (NH)	165	291	293	0.27%	0.42%	0.43%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	13	30	25	0.02%	0.04%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	48	53	204	0.08%	0.08%	0.30%
Multiracial (NH)	454	947	2,804	0.74%	1.38%	4.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	565	1,113	1,685	0.93%	1.62%	2.49%
Total	61,053	68,756	67,654	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, 67,654 people, 26,760 households, and 17,810 families were residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 68,756 people, 26,497 households, and 18,898 families were living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. The 30,100 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% White, 4.1% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were American, 15.3% were Irish, 11.2% were English, and 9.3% were German.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 26,497 households, 33.8% had children under 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were not families; 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The county's age distribution was 23.6% under 18, 5.3% from 20 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15% who were 65 or older. The gender ratio of the county's population was 50.9% female versus 49.1% male.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,723, and for a family was $46,307. Males had a median income of $38,297 versus $29,285 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,440. About 11.6% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under 18 and 8.1% of those 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> 61,053 people, 23,605 households, and 17,467 families were living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 25,577 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.43% White, 3.78% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. About 0.93% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 23,605 households, 32.6% had children under 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were not families. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 37 years.

The county's age distribution was 24.8% under 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,406, and for a family was $39,034. Males had a median income of $29,448 versus $21,583 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,867. About 10.00% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Chickamauga
Fort Oglethorpe (small portion only)
LaFayette (county seat)
Lookout Mountain
Rossville

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Media

Walker County Messenger

Education

Walker County School District includes most areas, while areas in the Chickamauga city limits are in the Chickamauga City School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Politics

References

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External links

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