Elberton, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Elberton is the largest city in Elbert County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 4,743 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Elbert County
and serves as a hub for industry and small business in Northeast Georgia
. Founded in 1803, Elberton is known as the "Granite
Capital of the World."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), of which, 3.96 square miles (10.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, the five-person elected council serves as a board of directors, and the mayor
performs more ceremonial duties and presides over council meetings, although Elberton mayors have traditionally taken a more active role in running the city.
The City of Elberton also operates Elberton Utilities, a comprehensive utility system which includes electric, gas, water, sewer, cable television, and internet services; Elberton Public Works, which provides solid waste and street cleaning services and operates the city's cemeteries; Main Street Elberton, which promotes development in the downtown area; and the Elbert Theatre, which reopened in 2001 after extensive renovations and now hosts numerous productions throughout the year. The city is also the primary benefactor of the Development Authority of Elberton, Elbert County, and Bowman.
For over twenty years, Elberton has been the sister city of Mure, Kagawa
, Japan
. Students have the opportunity each year to participate in an exchange program sponsored by the two cities.
The City of Elberton was named a Georgia City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association in 2002 and received commendation as a Trendsetter by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2005. The city was also selected to host the Georgia Literary Festival in 2005 for the area's contributions to literature.
of 2000, there were 4,743 people, 1,985 households, and 1,274 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,183.4 people per square mile (456.7/km²). There were 2,265 housing units at an average density of 565.1 per square mile (218.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.33% White, 37.99% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 1.33% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.
There were 1,985 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples
living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,246, and the median income for a family was $31,154. Males had a median income of $29,277 versus $19,470 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,486. About 21.3% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.
history has largely revolved around the industry, following the opening of the first commercial quarry and manufacturing plant by Dr. Nathaniel Long in 1889. As the industry grew in the early 1900s, so did Elberton's importance on the passenger and freight railroad lines, bringing many travelers and businessmen to the city and leading to its heyday.
Several granite monuments, including the Georgia Guidestones
, are located in or near Elberton. For more information on the city's granite industry, see the Elberton Granite Association website.
Elberton's Granite Bowl
seats 20,000 and features the former Sanford Stadium
(University of Georgia
) scoreboard.
, a division of the United States Department of Energy
. The authority markets power generated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
across the southern United States
. The authority recently moved from its downtown headquarters in the former Samuel Elbert Hotel to a new building on Athens Tech Drive on the western end of the city.
. Five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school are located within the city. The district has 244 full-time teachers and over 3,793 students. The school system is one of the county's largest employers.
Colleges in nearby cities include the University of Georgia
, Emmanuel College
, Anderson University
, Clemson University
, and Gainesville College.
presided over the dedication of the facility, calling it "one of the nation's finest." The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission.
Today, Elbert Memorial is a 52-bed acute care general hospital with emergency, surgical, and rehabilitation facilities, as well as a wellness center, cafeteria, and gift shop. The hospital is currently researching potential expansion opportunities, either through an extensive reworking of the current facility or by moving to a new location.
Other nearby hospitals include Cobb Memorial Hospital in Royston
, Athens Regional Medical Center
and St. Mary's Hospital in Athens
and Anderson Area Medical Center (AnMed) in Anderson, South Carolina
.
The Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail also publishes a daily Northeast Georgia edition which covers the Elberton area.
The city is served by four local radio stations. WSGC-AM 1400, which plays an oldies
format, is one of Georgia's oldest, having been on the air since 1946. WSGC-FM 92.1 and WXKT-FM 100.1 play country music
while WLVX-FM 105.1 specializes in R&B.
Elberton is in the Greenville
-Spartanburg
-Asheville
television market, though local cable and satellite providers also carry stations from the Atlanta
market.
, Inc. (SCI): Mure, Japan
(1983)
Georgia State Routes 17
, 72
, 77
and 77 Connector pass through the city. Heard, Oliver, Church, and McIntosh Streets are the primary thoroughfares downtown while College Avenue and Elbert Street bypass the downtown area and serve as the major routes through the city.
Interstate 85
exits for Elberton include exits 160 (State Routes 51
), 173 (17
) and 177 (77
). The city can also be reached from Interstate 20
via two exits - State Route 77 (exit 154) and U.S. Route 78
/State Route 17
(exit 172).
State Route 72 connects Elberton with Athens
to the west and Charlotte, North Carolina
, to the east, while State Route 77 connects to Lexington
and Hartwell
. State Route 17 stretches from the North Georgia mountains to the coast at Savannah
. State Route 368 begins just north of the city and links Elberton to Anderson, South Carolina
.
Plans for the proposed Interstate 3
have the highway passing through Elberton.
Airports
Elberton and Elbert County are served locally by the Elbert County-Patz Field Airport, located just east of the city on State Route 72.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
is located 100 miles west of Elberton, while Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
is located 75 miles to the east.
Regional air transportation is available in the nearby cities of Athens
and Anderson, South Carolina
.
Railroad
For many years, Elberton was an important passenger and freight stop on the main line of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
. The line is now operated by CSX Transportation
and remains in use for freight transportation. A spur line also connects Elberton to a main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway
(formerly Southern Railway
).
Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,743 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Elbert County
Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
and serves as a hub for industry and small business in Northeast Georgia
Northeast Georgia
Northeast Georgia is a region of the Georgia in the United States. The northern part is also in the north Georgia mountains, while the southern part is still hilly but much flatter in topography....
. Founded in 1803, Elberton is known as the "Granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
Capital of the World."
Geography
Elberton is located at 34°6′35"N 82°51′56"W (34.109628, -82.865669).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), of which, 3.96 square miles (10.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
Government
Elberton operates under a Council-Manager form of government.69 In this style of government, the city managerCity manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, the five-person elected council serves as a board of directors, and the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
performs more ceremonial duties and presides over council meetings, although Elberton mayors have traditionally taken a more active role in running the city.
The City of Elberton also operates Elberton Utilities, a comprehensive utility system which includes electric, gas, water, sewer, cable television, and internet services; Elberton Public Works, which provides solid waste and street cleaning services and operates the city's cemeteries; Main Street Elberton, which promotes development in the downtown area; and the Elbert Theatre, which reopened in 2001 after extensive renovations and now hosts numerous productions throughout the year. The city is also the primary benefactor of the Development Authority of Elberton, Elbert County, and Bowman.
For over twenty years, Elberton has been the sister city of Mure, Kagawa
Mure, Kagawa
was a town located in the suburbs of Takamatsu in Kita District, Kagawa, Japan. The north and south of the town are hilly; the center is flat and suitable for housing development....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Students have the opportunity each year to participate in an exchange program sponsored by the two cities.
The City of Elberton was named a Georgia City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association in 2002 and received commendation as a Trendsetter by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2005. The city was also selected to host the Georgia Literary Festival in 2005 for the area's contributions to literature.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,743 people, 1,985 households, and 1,274 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,183.4 people per square mile (456.7/km²). There were 2,265 housing units at an average density of 565.1 per square mile (218.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.33% White, 37.99% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 1.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.
There were 1,985 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,246, and the median income for a family was $31,154. Males had a median income of $29,277 versus $19,470 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,486. About 21.3% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.
Granite
Elberton claims the title "Granite Capital of the World," annually producing more granite products than any other city in the world. The city's post-Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
history has largely revolved around the industry, following the opening of the first commercial quarry and manufacturing plant by Dr. Nathaniel Long in 1889. As the industry grew in the early 1900s, so did Elberton's importance on the passenger and freight railroad lines, bringing many travelers and businessmen to the city and leading to its heyday.
Several granite monuments, including the Georgia Guidestones
Georgia Guidestones
The Georgia Guidestones is a large granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, USA. A message comprising ten guides is inscribed on the structure in eight modern languages, and a shorter message is inscribed at the top of the structure in four ancient languages' scripts: Babylonian, Classical...
, are located in or near Elberton. For more information on the city's granite industry, see the Elberton Granite Association website.
Elberton's Granite Bowl
Granite Bowl
The Granite Bowl is the off-campus playing venue for the football and soccer sports teams for the Elbert County Blue Devils in Elberton, Georgia in the United States. It is located between College Avenue and West Church Street and is near the city of Elberton's downtown square. The stadium can hold...
seats 20,000 and features the former Sanford Stadium
Sanford Stadium
Sanford Stadium is the on-campus playing venue for football at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States. The 92,746-seat stadium is the seventh largest stadium in the NCAA. Architecturally, the stadium is known for the fact that its numerous expansions over the years have been...
(University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
) scoreboard.
Southeastern Power
Since 1950, Elberton has served as the headquarters of the Southeastern Power AdministrationSoutheastern Power Administration
The Southeastern Power Administration is a United States Power Marketing Administration with responsibility for marketing hydroelectric power from 23 water projects operated by the U.S...
, a division of the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. The authority markets power generated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
across the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The authority recently moved from its downtown headquarters in the former Samuel Elbert Hotel to a new building on Athens Tech Drive on the western end of the city.
Elbert County School District
The city is served by the Elbert County School DistrictElbert County School District
The Elbert County School District is a public school district in Elbert County, Georgia, USA, based in Elberton, Georgia. It serves the communities of Bowman and Elberton, Georgia.-Schools:...
. Five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school are located within the city. The district has 244 full-time teachers and over 3,793 students. The school system is one of the county's largest employers.
Private education
- Elberton Christian School is located on Rhodes Drive in the city.
- Athens Christian School, located in nearby AthensAthens, GeorgiaAthens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, also provides bus service to Elberton.
Higher education
- Athens Technical CollegeAthens Technical CollegeAthens Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1958 as Athens Area Vocational-Technical School. The school was renamed Athens Area Technical Institute in 1987 and took its current name in 2000...
operates a full satellite campus on the western end of the city.
Colleges in nearby cities include the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Georgia
Emmanuel College is located in Franklin Springs, Georgia. Emmanuel is a private, Christian, liberal arts college and is affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. The school averages between 700 to 800 students.-History:...
, Anderson University
Anderson University (South Carolina)
Anderson University is a private comprehensive university located in Anderson, South Carolina, offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in approximately 60 areas of study. Anderson is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and is accredited as a Level V institution by the...
, Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, and Gainesville College.
Healthcare
Elbert Memorial Hospital, located at the corner of Laurel and Chestnut streets, has provided medical care to the Elberton region since 1950. Then-Governor Herman TalmadgeHerman Talmadge
Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served as governor of Georgia briefly in 1947 and again from 1948 to 1955. His term was marked by his segregationist policies. After leaving office Talmadge was elected to the U.S...
presided over the dedication of the facility, calling it "one of the nation's finest." The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission.
Today, Elbert Memorial is a 52-bed acute care general hospital with emergency, surgical, and rehabilitation facilities, as well as a wellness center, cafeteria, and gift shop. The hospital is currently researching potential expansion opportunities, either through an extensive reworking of the current facility or by moving to a new location.
Other nearby hospitals include Cobb Memorial Hospital in Royston
Royston, Georgia
Royston is a city in Franklin, Hart, and Madison counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 2,493 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Royston is located at ....
, Athens Regional Medical Center
Athens Regional Medical Center
Athens Regional Medical Center is a 364-bed regional referral trauma II hospital in Athens, Georgia, United States, one of only eight Level II centers in the state. Serving a 17-county region in Northeast Georgia, Athens Regional Health Services is one of Northeast Georgia's largest health care...
and St. Mary's Hospital in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
and Anderson Area Medical Center (AnMed) in Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
.
Media
Elberton is currently served by one newspaper, The Elberton Star, though several others (including the Elbert County Examiner and the Elbert Beacon, both of which merged with the Star) have covered the city over the years. The Star has been published since 1887.The Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail also publishes a daily Northeast Georgia edition which covers the Elberton area.
The city is served by four local radio stations. WSGC-AM 1400, which plays an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format, is one of Georgia's oldest, having been on the air since 1946. WSGC-FM 92.1 and WXKT-FM 100.1 play country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
while WLVX-FM 105.1 specializes in R&B.
Elberton is in the Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
-Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
-Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
television market, though local cable and satellite providers also carry stations from the Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
market.
Sister cities
Elberton has a sister city, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
, Inc. (SCI): Mure, Japan
Mure, Kagawa
was a town located in the suburbs of Takamatsu in Kita District, Kagawa, Japan. The north and south of the town are hilly; the center is flat and suitable for housing development....
(1983)
Transportation
HighwaysGeorgia State Routes 17
Georgia State Route 17
State Route 17 is a north–south route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route runs from its southern terminus at I-16 south of Bloomingdale north to the North Carolina border north of Hiawassee.-Route description:...
, 72
Georgia State Route 72
State Route 72 is an east–west highway connecting Athens-Clarke County with Elberton in Georgia, and then to the South Carolina line at the Savannah River. It continues in South Carolina as South Carolina Highway 72, where it runs from the state line to Rock Hill, South Carolina near...
, 77
Georgia State Route 77
State Route 77 is a Georgia state controlled highway that runs primarily in eastern Georgia. The highway connects the cities of Elberton and Hartwell with Interstate 85 and Interstate 20....
and 77 Connector pass through the city. Heard, Oliver, Church, and McIntosh Streets are the primary thoroughfares downtown while College Avenue and Elbert Street bypass the downtown area and serve as the major routes through the city.
Interstate 85
Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
exits for Elberton include exits 160 (State Routes 51
Georgia State Route 51
State Route 50 is an east–west state route located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from SR 52 in Lula to Lake Hartwell north of the city of Hartwell.- Route description :...
), 173 (17
Georgia State Route 17
State Route 17 is a north–south route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route runs from its southern terminus at I-16 south of Bloomingdale north to the North Carolina border north of Hiawassee.-Route description:...
) and 177 (77
Georgia State Route 77
State Route 77 is a Georgia state controlled highway that runs primarily in eastern Georgia. The highway connects the cities of Elberton and Hartwell with Interstate 85 and Interstate 20....
). The city can also be reached from Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
via two exits - State Route 77 (exit 154) and U.S. Route 78
U.S. Route 78
U.S. Highway 78 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 715 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, to Charleston, South Carolina. Between Memphis and Birmingham, Alabama, it is being upgraded to become Interstate 22....
/State Route 17
Georgia State Route 17
State Route 17 is a north–south route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route runs from its southern terminus at I-16 south of Bloomingdale north to the North Carolina border north of Hiawassee.-Route description:...
(exit 172).
State Route 72 connects Elberton with Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
to the west and Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, to the east, while State Route 77 connects to Lexington
Lexington, Georgia
Lexington is a city in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Oglethorpe County...
and Hartwell
Hartwell, Georgia
Hartwell is a city in Hart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,188 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hart County.-Geography:Hartwell is located at . It sits upon the southern border of Lake Hartwell...
. State Route 17 stretches from the North Georgia mountains to the coast at Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. State Route 368 begins just north of the city and links Elberton to Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
.
Plans for the proposed Interstate 3
Interstate 3
Interstate 3 , the Third Infantry Division Highway, is a proposed Interstate Highway in the United States to run from Savannah, Georgia, north to Augusta, Georgia, and Knoxville, Tennessee...
have the highway passing through Elberton.
Airports
Elberton and Elbert County are served locally by the Elbert County-Patz Field Airport, located just east of the city on State Route 72.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
is located 100 miles west of Elberton, while Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport , also known as GSP International Airport or Roger Milliken Field, is a public airport located in unincorporated Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina, United States, 3 miles south of central Greer; the airport serves Greenville and...
is located 75 miles to the east.
Regional air transportation is available in the nearby cities of Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
and Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
.
Railroad
For many years, Elberton was an important passenger and freight stop on the main line of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
. The line is now operated by CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
and remains in use for freight transportation. A spur line also connects Elberton to a main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
(formerly Southern Railway
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
).
Notable natives and residents
- Amos T. AkermanAmos T. AkermanAmos Tappan Akerman served as United States Attorney General under President Ulysses S. Grant from 1870 to 1871. Akerman was born on February 23, 1821 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire as the ninth of Benjamin Akerman’s twelve children...
, U.S. Attorney General under Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, fought railroad corruption and Ku Klux KlanKu Klux KlanKu Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically... - William Wyatt BibbWilliam Wyatt BibbWilliam Wyatt Bibb was a United States Senator from Georgia and the first Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama. Bibb County, Alabama, and Bibb County, Georgia, are named for him....
, appointed first governor of Alabama, U.S. Senator from 1813–1816 - Paul BrownPaul Brown (Georgia politician)Paul Brown was an American politician and lawyer.Brown was born in Hartwell, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1901. He was admitted to the state bar in that year and began practicing law in Lexington, Georgia...
, 14-term U.S. Congressman from 1933–1961 - Clark GainesClark GainesClark Daniel Gaines is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs over the course of his 7 year career.-Early years:...
, NFL running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - George Rockingham GilmerGeorge Rockingham GilmerGeorge Rockingham Gilmer was an American statesman and politician. He served two non-consecutive terms as the 34th Governor of Georgia, the first from 1829 to 1831 and the second from 1837 to 1839...
, two-term governor of Georgia, U.S. Congressman - Derek HarperDerek HarperDerek Ricardo Harper is a retired American professional basketball player from the University of Illinois, who spent 16 seasons as a point guard in the National Basketball Association with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.-College:After graduating from...
, University of IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and 16-year NBA point guardPoint guardPoint guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... - Corra Harris, early 20th century author, lived at Farm Hill
- Nancy HartNancy HartNancy Morgan Hart was a heroine of the American Revolutionary War whose exploits against Loyalists in the Georgia backcountry are the stuff of legend...
, Revolutionary War heroine - Stephen HeardStephen HeardStephen Heard was briefly the 12th Governor of Georgia from when he was appointed on February 18, 1780 until Nathan Brownson was elected the tenth Governor of Georgia in August of 1781 Stephen Heard (November 1, 1740 – November 15, 1815) was briefly the 12th Governor of Georgia (a position later...
, governor of Georgia from 1780–1781 - Arnall PatzArnall PatzArnall Patz was an American medical doctor and research professor at Johns Hopkins University. In the early 1950s, Patz discovered that oxygen therapy was the cause of an epidemic of blindness among some 10,000 premature babies. Following his discovery, there was a sixty percent reduction in...
, discovered cause of blindness in premature infants and helped develop laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy http://www.aph.org/hall_fame/bios/patz.html - Joseph Rucker LamarJoseph Rucker LamarJoseph Rucker Lamar was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court appointed by President William Howard Taft...
, former United States Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
justice - Charles TaitCharles TaitCharles Tait was an American politician. A Democratic Republican, he served as a United States Senator from Georgia and later as a United States federal judge.-Early life:...
, U.S. Senator from 1809–1819 - Wiley ThompsonWiley ThompsonWiley Thompson was a United States Representative from Georgia.Born in Amelia County, Virginia, Thompson moved to Elberton, Georgia, and served as a commissioner of the Elbert County Academy in 1808...
, U.S. Congressman and Indian agent, oversaw removal of Seminoles from Florida (Second Seminole WarSecond Seminole WarThe Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between various groups of Native Americans collectively known as Seminoles and the United States, part of a series of conflicts called the Seminole Wars...
) - Daniel TuckerDaniel TuckerDaniel Tucker was a Methodist minister, farmer and ferryman as well as a Captain during the American Revolution...
, preacher, subject of "Old Dan TuckerOld Dan Tucker"Old Dan Tucker", also known as "Ole Dan Tucker", "Dan Tucker", and other variants, is a popular American song. Its origins remain obscure; the tune may have come from oral tradition, and the words may have been written by songwriter and performer Dan Emmett...
" song