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Dawson County, Georgia

Coordinates: 34°26′N 84°10′W / 34.44°N 84.17°W / 34.44; -84.17
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Not to be confused with Dawson, Georgia.

Dawson County
County
Dawson County Courthouse in Dawsonville
Dawson County Courthouse in Dawsonville
Flag of Dawson County
Flag
Official seal of Dawson County
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Dawson County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°26′N 84°10′W / 34.44°N 84.17°W / 34.44; -84.17
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1857; 167 years ago (1857)
Named forWilliam Crosby Dawson
SeatDawsonville
Largest cityDawsonville
Area
 • Total
214 sq mi (550 km2)
 • Land211 sq mi (550 km2)
 • Water3.6 sq mi (9 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
26,798 [1]
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.dawsoncounty.org

Dawson County is a county in the Northeast region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,798 up from 22,330 in 2010.[2][1] The county seat is Dawsonville.[3]

Dawson County is included in the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area. Its natural resources include Amicalola Falls (which is really in Lumpkin County), the highest falls in Georgia and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the state.

History

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Dawson County was created on December 3, 1857, from Gilmer and Lumpkin Counties.[4] It is named for William Crosby Dawson, a U.S. Senator from Georgia.[5]

American Civil War

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The 1860s brought war and hardships to the people of Dawson County. Many men of Dawson County answered the call and went to fight in the Civil War. Several Confederate units were raised in Dawson County, including:

  • 21st Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company E Concord Rangers
  • 22nd Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company I, Dawson County Independents
  • 38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company I (Wright's Legion), Dawson Farmers
  • 38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company L (Wright's Legion)
  • 52nd Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Company I

The 1st Georgia Infantry Battalion (Union), Companies B and C also was raised there.

Post-Civil War to present

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Dawson County is known for its long involvement in auto racing, which was established in the 20th century; many of the original NASCAR racers came from this area, and Dawsonville is now one of a few areas considered to be the "birthplace of stock car racing".[6] Local racing skills are said to have been developed by men who ran moonshine down Georgia State Route 9, also known as Thunder Road, to Atlanta. The celebration of Dawson County's history and its involvement in bootlegging moonshine during the Prohibition era now occurs every October, dubbed the Moonshine Festival.

Locals have referred to Dawson County as the "Moonshine Capital of the World". This title is claimed by many other cities and communities, but is fiercely defended by residents of the area. Allegedly, bootleggers took advantage of the county's relative isolation and the ability to move so much moonshine to the larger cities, especially Atlanta, during the United States Prohibition era.

Education

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Main article: Dawsonville, Georgia § Education

Dawson County currently serves grades K-12. It has a total of seven schools - one for pre-K, four for grades K-5, one for grades 6–7, one for grades 8–9, and Dawson County High School (grades 10–12).

Geography

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Amicalola Falls

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 214 square miles (550 km2), of which 211 square miles (550 km2) are land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (1.7%) are covered by water.[7]

The county is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Portions of the mountain chain extend into the far northern and western portions of the county, with elevations around 3,500 ft. in this area.

Part of Lake Lanier is in the southeastern part of the county and the boundary lines with neighboring counties pass through the lake. The 729-foot (222 m) Amicalola Falls, are located in the county. The Amicalola Falls are the highest in Georgia, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. The highest point in the county is Black Mountain, with an elevation of 3,600 feet (1,100 m). The Chestatee and Etowah Rivers flow through Dawson County.

The vast majority of Dawson County is located in the Etowah River subbasin of the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The southeastern tip of the county is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River subbasin of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, and a very small northern section of Dawson County is located in the Coosawattee River subbasin of the larger ACT River Basin.[8]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Private communities

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Several large, gated, private communities function similar to a municipality, providing many municipal-type services that operate independently of county government.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18603,856—
18704,36913.3%
18805,83733.6%
18905,612−3.9%
19005,442−3.0%
19104,686−13.9%
19204,204−10.3%
19303,502−16.7%
19404,47927.9%
19503,712−17.1%
19603,590−3.3%
19703,6391.4%
19804,77431.2%
19909,42997.5%
200015,99969.7%
201022,33039.6%
202026,79820.0%
2023 (est.)31,732[9]18.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2019[2] 2020[1]
Dawson County racial composition as of 2020[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 23,544 87.86%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 200 0.75%
Native American 63 0.24%
Asian 235 0.88%
Pacific Islander 14 0.05%
Other/Mixed 1,137 4.24%
Hispanic or Latino 1,605 5.99%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,798 people, 9,041 households, and 6,491 families residing in the county. Between 2021 and 2022, Dawson experienced a 5.8% growth in population, making it the fourth fastest growing county in the nation.[15]

In 2010, median income for a household in the county was $51,128 and the median income for a family was $60,236. Males had a median income of $41,726 versus $31,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,557. About 7.8% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[16] In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was estimated at $51,989, and for a family was estimated at $60,455. About 8.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

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Dawson County was the only county that supported Thomas Dewey in 1948 and then supported Adlai Stevenson II in 1952.[18]

United States presidential election results for Dawson County, Georgia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 16,115 82.12% 3,350 17.07% 158 0.81%
2020 13,398 83.30% 2,486 15.46% 200 1.24%
2016 9,900 83.76% 1,448 12.25% 472 3.99%
2012 8,847 86.19% 1,241 12.09% 176 1.71%
2008 8,242 82.54% 1,632 16.34% 112 1.12%
2004 6,649 81.87% 1,407 17.33% 65 0.80%
2000 4,210 71.38% 1,458 24.72% 230 3.90%
1996 2,343 54.41% 1,434 33.30% 529 12.29%
1992 1,696 43.58% 1,399 35.95% 797 20.48%
1988 1,908 71.03% 761 28.33% 17 0.63%
1984 1,322 67.28% 643 32.72% 0 0.00%
1980 729 39.68% 1,072 58.36% 36 1.96%
1976 370 21.09% 1,384 78.91% 0 0.00%
1972 828 78.26% 230 21.74% 0 0.00%
1968 509 31.81% 246 15.38% 845 52.81%
1964 639 40.67% 932 59.33% 0 0.00%
1960 401 30.45% 916 69.55% 0 0.00%
1956 613 45.95% 721 54.05% 0 0.00%
1952 470 37.90% 770 62.10% 0 0.00%
1948 786 52.82% 660 44.35% 42 2.82%
1944 342 42.17% 469 57.83% 0 0.00%
1940 276 36.17% 484 63.43% 3 0.39%
1936 322 46.07% 377 53.93% 0 0.00%
1932 105 15.53% 567 83.88% 4 0.59%
1928 290 46.62% 332 53.38% 0 0.00%
1924 264 48.35% 279 51.10% 3 0.55%
1920 354 58.22% 254 41.78% 0 0.00%
1916 29 3.91% 440 59.30% 273 36.79%
1912 23 6.42% 170 47.49% 165 46.09%

Transportation

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Major highways

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Pedestrians and cycling

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  • Springer Mountain Trail

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c US 2020 Census Bureau report, Dawson County, Georgia
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 59. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 101.
  6. ^ "The Unofficial History of Stock Car Racing Part 1: 1896-1936 | SpeedwayMedia.com". April 23, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  15. ^ Staff Report (May 23, 2023). "Two North Georgia counties among fastest growing in U.S." Now Habersham. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Re: Dole 1996/Gore 2000 counties". Talk Elections. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
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34°26′N 84°10′W / 34.44°N 84.17°W / 34.44; -84.17

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