Lumpkin County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Lumpkin County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. As of the 2010 census
, the population
was 29,966. Its county seat
is Dahlonega
.
. Lumpkin's daughter, Martha Atalanta Lumpkin Compton, was the source for the city name of Marthasville
(which was the previous name for Atlanta
).
Many also attribute Atlanta's name to Martha's middle name of Atalanta
; however, there are conflicting accounts which suggest the name Atlanta was derived as the feminine form of Atlantic (Atlanta being one end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad) by John Edgar Thomson
, Chief Engineer of the Georgia Railroad.
Gold was discovered in the county near Auraria
in the 1830s, and the U.S. government briefly had a mint in Dahlonega as a result until 1860. Gold from the county was later used on the roof of the Georgia State Capitol
.
Agriculture
and Agritourism
are top business industries. Since the mid 1990s, Lumpkin County has been recognized as "The Heart of Georgia Wine Country." Five vineyards and wineries are located in the county.
of 2000, there were 21,016 people, 7,537 households, and 5,366 families residing in the county. The population density
was 74 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 8,263 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.02% White
, 1.46% Black
or African American
, 0.97% Native American
, 0.38% Asian
, 0.08% Pacific Islander
, 1.57% from other races
, and 1.53% from two or more races. 3.46% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 7,537 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples
living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,167, and the median income for a family was $46,368. Males had a median income of $31,289 versus $23,955 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,062. About 9.00% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
is also in Lumpkin County. Lumpkin County is also home to several private schools including Hidden Lake Academy
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. As of the 2010 census
Census
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...
, the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 29,966. Its 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....
is Dahlonega
Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242....
.
History
Lumpkin County was created on December 3, 1832. The county was named for former governor of Georgia, Wilson LumpkinWilson Lumpkin
Wilson Lumpkin was a governor of Georgia, and a United States Representative and Senator.-Biography:Born near Dan River, Virginia, he moved in 1784 to Oglethorpe County, Georgia with his parents, who settled near Point Peter and subsequently at Lexington, Georgia...
. Lumpkin's daughter, Martha Atalanta Lumpkin Compton, was the source for the city name of Marthasville
Marthasville, Georgia
Marthasville was the previous name of Atlanta, Georgia. Marthasville was named after Governor Wilson Lumpkin's daughter, Martha; it was officially incorporated on December 23, 1843...
(which was the previous name for 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...
).
Many also attribute Atlanta's name to Martha's middle name of Atalanta
Atalanta
Atalanta is a character in Greek mythology.-Legend:Atalanta was the daughter of Iasus , a Boeotian or an Arcadian princess . She is often described as a goddess. Apollodorus is the only one who gives an account of Atalanta’s birth and upbringing...
; however, there are conflicting accounts which suggest the name Atlanta was derived as the feminine form of Atlantic (Atlanta being one end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad) by John Edgar Thomson
John Edgar Thomson
John Edgar Thomson was an American civil engineer and industrialist. Thomson was an entrepreneur best known for his leadership of the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1852 until his death 1874, making it the largest business enterprise in the world and a world-class model for technological and...
, Chief Engineer of the Georgia Railroad.
Gold was discovered in the county near Auraria
Auraria, Georgia
Auraria is a town in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, southwest of Dahlonega. Its name derives from aurum, the Latin word for gold. In its early days, it was also known variously as Dean, Deans, Nuckollsville, and Scuffle Town.-History:In 1828, a man walked Findley Ridge, kicked a rock,...
in the 1830s, and the U.S. government briefly had a mint in Dahlonega as a result until 1860. Gold from the county was later used on the roof of the Georgia State Capitol
Georgia State Capitol
The Georgia State Capitol, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, is an architecturally and historically significant building. It has been named a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the main office building of Georgia's government...
.
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and Agritourism
Agritourism
Agritourism, as it is defined most broadly, involves any agriculturally-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. Agritourism has different definitions in different parts of the world, and sometimes refers specifically to farm stays, as in Italy...
are top business industries. Since the mid 1990s, Lumpkin County has been recognized as "The Heart of Georgia Wine Country." Five vineyards and wineries are located in the county.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 284.87 square miles (737.8 km²), of which 284.47 square miles (736.8 km²) (or 99.86%) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (or 0.14%) is water. The summit of Blood Mountain, which Lumpkin shares with Union County to the north, is the highest point in the county. At 4458 feet, Blood Mountain is the 5th-highest peak in Georgia and the highest point on Georgia's portion of the Appalachian Trail.Major highways
U.S. Highway 19
U.S. Highway 129
Georgia State Route 9Georgia State Route 9State Route 9 is a north–south highway running from Atlanta to just north of Dahlonega. It overlaps U.S. 19 from along 14th Street, in northwest Atlanta, to Roswell Road at I-285, in Sandy Springs. It is also concurrent with U.S. 19 from Dahlonega to its northern terminus at US 129...
Georgia State Route 52Georgia State Route 52State Route 52 is a west–east state route located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from Interstate 75 in Dalton to State Route 98 in Maysville.-Route description:...
Georgia State Route 60Georgia State Route 60State Route 60 begins at S.R. 124 in Hoschton and travels north through Gainesville and across I-985. The route overlaps U.S. 19 in Lumpkin County in Dahlonega. The route ends after traveling through McCaysville at the Tennessee state line....
Georgia State Route 115Georgia State Route 115State Route 115 is a state highway in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 19 and State Route 60 south of Dahlonega. The eastern terminus is at State Route 13 east of Clarkesville. It traverses the counties of Habersham,...
Georgia State Route 400Georgia State Route 400Georgia State Route 400 is a highway in the U.S. state of Georgia, concurrent with U.S. Route 19 from exit 4B until its terminus just south of Dahlonega. ST 400 goes from Atlanta, at Interstate 85 , to Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, Dawson County, and Dahlonega...
Adjacent counties
- Union CountyUnion County, GeorgiaUnion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 17,289. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,968. The county seat is Blairsville.Its Sole commissioner is Lamar Paris, who has served since 2001....
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
– north - White CountyWhite County, GeorgiaWhite County is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 22, 1857, from part of Habersham County. The county was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
– east - Hall CountyHall County, GeorgiaHall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2000, the population was 139,277. It is included in the Gainesville, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
– southeast - Dawson CountyDawson County, GeorgiaDawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
– west - Fannin CountyFannin County, GeorgiaFannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
– northwest
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 21,016 people, 7,537 households, and 5,366 families residing in the county. 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 74 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 8,263 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.02% White
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...
, 1.46% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.97% Native American
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...
, 0.38% Asian
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...
, 0.08% Pacific Islander
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...
, 1.57% 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 1.53% from two or more races. 3.46% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 7,537 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% 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, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,167, and the median income for a family was $46,368. Males had a median income of $31,289 versus $23,955 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 county was $18,062. About 9.00% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Lumpkin County is served by Lumpkin County School System. There is 1 high school, 1 middle school, and 3 elementary schools. North Georgia College and State UniversityNorth Georgia College and State University
North Georgia College & State University is a four-year public university located in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia. Founded as North Georgia Agricultural College in 1873, it is the second oldest co-educational institution in the state. The university is renowned for its ROTC program, and is...
is also in Lumpkin County. Lumpkin County is also home to several private schools including Hidden Lake Academy
Hidden Lake Academy
-History:The school was founded in 1994 by Dr. Leonard Buccelatto. It was intended to "fill the need for a specialty school to fill the gap between services of residential treatment centers and traditional boarding schools."-Program:...
.