Tunnel Hill, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Tunnel Hill is a town in northwest Whitfield County
, Georgia
, United States
,and southern Catoosa County
, Georgia
, United States
. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census.
through Chetoogeta Mountain, officially dedicated on October 31, 1849 by Etowah
steel-maker Mark A. Cooper on behalf of the state-owned Western & Atlantic Railroad.
The tunnel was the first completed south of the Mason-Dixon Line
. The rail line was operating during the late 1840s with passengers and freight being portage
d over the mountain while the tunnel was constructed. Another tunnel next to it, completed in 1928, is still used by its eventual successor CSX Transportation
. The original Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel
is now paved for tourists to walk through, and has even more historic value as the Great Locomotive Chase
passed through it in 1862. Throughout the American Civil War, the area homes around Tunnel Hill were used as part of a major hospital system. Wounded Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood was brought to the Clisby Austin House after the Battle of Chickamauga. His leg was buried in a family cemetery near the house. The Clisby Austin House also acted as the Headquarters of Union Gen. William T. Sherman while he made his plans for his attacks against nearby Dalton and Resaca, Georgia, which became the opening battles of what would later become known as his famous Atlanta Campaign. The general area of Tunnel Hill hosted many engagements and camps throughout the course of the war. All that is remembered today through an annual Battle Reenactment that is held in September each year. The dates of the various engagements are September 11, 1863; February 23, 24-25 1864; May 5–7, 1864; March 3, 1865
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,209 people, 451 households, and 359 families residing in the city. The population density
was 794.7 people per square mile (307.1/km²). There were 474 housing units at an average density of 311.6 per square mile (120.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.46% White, 2.56% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races
, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 451 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,438, and the median income for a family was $49,531. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $25,078 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,382. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Whitfield County, Georgia
Whitfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 30, 1851. The 2010 Census shows a population of 102,599. The county seat is Dalton.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Civil War:...
, 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...
,and southern Catoosa County
Catoosa County, Georgia
Catoosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 5, 1853. As of 2000, the population was 53,282. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 62,241...
, 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...
. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Dalton metropolitan area
The Dalton Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in northwestern Georgia, anchored by the city of Dalton...
. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census.
History
Tunnel Hill was incorporated on March 4, 1848 as Tunnelsville, and changed its name in 1856. Both names refer to a nearby 1,477 feet long railroad tunnelTunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
through Chetoogeta Mountain, officially dedicated on October 31, 1849 by Etowah
Canton, Georgia
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
steel-maker Mark A. Cooper on behalf of the state-owned Western & Atlantic Railroad.
The tunnel was the first completed south of the Mason-Dixon Line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
. The rail line was operating during the late 1840s with passengers and freight being portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
d over the mountain while the tunnel was constructed. Another tunnel next to it, completed in 1928, is still used by its eventual successor 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...
. The original Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel
Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel
The Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel refers to two different railroad tunnels passing through Chetoogeta Mountain in northwestern Georgia, USA.The first tunnel was completed on May 7, 1850, as part of the construction of the Western & Atlantic Railroad , the first state road in Georgia...
is now paved for tourists to walk through, and has even more historic value as the Great Locomotive Chase
Great Locomotive Chase
The Great Locomotive Chase or Andrews' Raid was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War. Volunteers from the Union Army, led by civilian scout James J...
passed through it in 1862. Throughout the American Civil War, the area homes around Tunnel Hill were used as part of a major hospital system. Wounded Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood was brought to the Clisby Austin House after the Battle of Chickamauga. His leg was buried in a family cemetery near the house. The Clisby Austin House also acted as the Headquarters of Union Gen. William T. Sherman while he made his plans for his attacks against nearby Dalton and Resaca, Georgia, which became the opening battles of what would later become known as his famous Atlanta Campaign. The general area of Tunnel Hill hosted many engagements and camps throughout the course of the war. All that is remembered today through an annual Battle Reenactment that is held in September each year. The dates of the various engagements are September 11, 1863; February 23, 24-25 1864; May 5–7, 1864; March 3, 1865
Geography
Tunnel Hill is located at 34°50′45"N 85°2′35"W (34.845934, -85.042955).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 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of 2010 Tunnel Hill had a population of 856. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 93.5% white, 3.7% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.5% from some other race and 0.4% from two or more race. 3.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino, with 2.0% of the population being Mexican.As of the 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...
of 2000, there were 1,209 people, 451 households, and 359 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 794.7 people per square mile (307.1/km²). There were 474 housing units at an average density of 311.6 per square mile (120.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.46% White, 2.56% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 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 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 451 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,438, and the median income for a family was $49,531. Males had a median income of $31,974 versus $25,078 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 $21,382. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Images
| Image | Description |
|---|---|
 |
The northwest faces of the historic Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel (right) and modern CSX (left) railroad tunnels. |
 |
The cut stone northwest face of the W&A tunnel, now preserved as a walking trail. |
 |
Brick-lined interior of the W&A tunnel, now preserved as a walking trail, looking southeast. |