Ellijay, Cherry Log, and Gilmer County

Points of Interest

Ellijay
East Ellijay
Mountaintown
Coosawattee Community
Coosawattee Gated Community
Coosawattee River Resort
Boardtown
Cartecay
New Hope
Oakland
Tails Creek
Fort Mountain
Cherry Log
Ellijay River
Coosawattee River
Cartecay River
Turniptown Creek
Carters Lake
Lake Conasauga
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm
Hill Crest Orchards Petting Zoo
Grandpa Jones Corn Maze and Pumpkins
Whitepath Golf Course
Gilmer Golf and Games
Amicalola Falls
Cohutta Wilderness
Conasauga Trail
Songbird Trail
Grassy Mountain Tower Trail
Rich Mountain Wilderness
Benton MacKay Trail
Gilmer County Apple Festival
Appalachian Regional Fair

Things to See

The Chamber of Commerce is located off Hwy. 515 (the Zell Miller Parkway) in East Ellijay Georgia. Drop by to visit us, and we'll tell you more about this place where sunlight dances off sparkling water; moon beams and starlight twinkle in dark skies; wildlife bounds through deep green forests; rocking chairs wait on friendly porches, while smoke curls lazily from chimneys, and crisp, juicy apples tempt you to stop and take a bite. Ask us about the Georgia Apple Festival, held the second and third weekends of each October; or about the many different varieties of apples grown in the county; or the historic landmarks; or the local fisherman with the most knowledge about the best fishing holes; or the best place to locate a new business. We'll do our best to help you get acquainted with our hometown! Come spend a day, a week, or a lifetime where winter is a mountain top dusted with snow; spring is a hillside layered with apple blossoms; summer is a valley sprinkled with wildflowers; and fall is a mountain side covered with a patchwork quilt of multicolored leaves. Come to Gilmer County. We'll be looking for you!

Attractions and Historic Sites:

Chieftain’s Trail - A tour of local Native American sites

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.

Ellijay City Cemetery - 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 cemetery commemorates Kell's Revolutionary War exploits

Old Cartecay United Methodist Church - est. 1834, oldest Methodist Church in North Georgia. Highway 52 East & Roy Road.

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.

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 fabled hillside. Craig Street, East Ellijay

Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary - 435 Cougar Lane, Ellijay, GA 30540

Grandpa Jones Corn Maze & Pumpkins - Scott & Jewell Jones, Owners Boardtown Road, Ellijay, GA 30540

Hillcrest Orchards - Baby animals - 9696 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30540

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.

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.

Demographics - Geographic Location

Gilmer County is located in the Northwest Georgia Mountains and encompasses 439 square miles. It is bordered by Fannin, Gordon, Murray, Dawson, and Pickens Counties. Gilmer County is 80 miles north of Atlanta and 75 miles southeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Climate:
Average Rainfall - 60.4 inches annually;
Average Temperature+ 85 degrees summer+ 35 degrees winter

Population: (chamber figures)
Ellijay – 2,000
East Ellijay – 700
Gilmer County – 25,000

Labor Force:
Gilmer County – 9,342
Gilmer Area *48,000*Gilmer County's 5 county MSA includes Dawson, Fannin, Murray and Pickens Counties

Unemployment Rate:
Gilmer County – 4.7%
Per Capita Income: 2000 - $17,315

Accommodations:
Four (4) motels• Two (2) bed & breakfast• Two (2) lodges• Numerous cabin rentals

Taxes:
Property: • Millage rate: 19.94 (millage rate includes general government, schools, bond, etc.* Based on 2004 rate

Gilmer County History

Gilmer County nestles in the foothills of the vast Chattahoochee National Forest in the Appalachian Mountain Range. Wildlife abounds in the many forests, rivers, lakes, and streams. Apple and peach orchards and dairy and chicken farms provide picturesque views through the valleys. The bright beauty of apple blossoms and wild flowers in the spring, the new life of young animals, the lush green of summer crops and forest foliage, the rust, gold, red, and green of autumn leaves and apples, and the strength and simplicity of the winter landscape all combine to produce an ever-changing panorama of the land and its people.

The 439 square miles of Gilmer County, located 84.5 degrees West Longitude by 34.5 degrees North Latitude, were once a part of the not-too-clearly defined Spanish territory known as Florida. It probably "became English" around 1775.

The first white people were, in all likelihood, the explorer DeSoto and his followers, who, it is believed, went through Gilmer County in their exploration of this territory. The Cherokee Indians were the first known settlers of the area. The present-day city of Ellijay is one of the rare places that retains the same name and is located on the exact site of an original Indian settlement. The name Ellijay, means "New Ground Place." Meaning a place which has been newly prepared for planting. The Cherokees' legacy to us includes many of the names of the rivers and communities in Gilmer County.

The county was created from original Cherokee County on December 3, 1832, and in 1856, a portion of Union County. It was named for George R. Gilmer. At present, the county is bounded on the north by Fannin County, to the east by Fannin and Dawson Counties, to the west by Murray and Gordon Counties, and on the south by Pickens County.

Ellijay became the seat of the county government in 1834. It is located on the west bank of the Ellijay River. Within the community, the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers come together to form the Coosawattee River.
There are a number of recognized communities within the county, such as Mountaintown, Boardtown, Cartecay, Cherry Log, etc., which have been population centers since early settlement days. Several communities have built clubhouses for community use. Boardtown, Cherry Log, New Hope, Oakland, and Tails Creek Communities have organized clubs which hold regular meetings and provide activities which draw the residents into a closer relationship. Post Offices are located in Ellijay, East Ellijay, and Cherry Log.

If you would like additional information call or email me and I’ll point you in the right direction.