Walker County, Georgia

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Walker County, Georgia
Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette
Location in the state of Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 18, 1833
Seat	LaFayette
Largest city	LaFayette
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	447 sq mi (1,158 km²) 446 sq mi (1,155 km²) 0.6 sq mi (2 km²), 0.1%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	68,756 154/sq mi (59/km²)
Congressional district	14th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	http://www.walkerga.us/

Walker County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,756. The county seat is LaFayette. The county was created on December 18, 1833, from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation.

Walker County is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Walker County is one of only nine counties in the United States still employing the sole commissioner form of government.

History

Walker County was named after Georgia'a U.S. Senator, Freeman Walker (1780-1827).

Civil War battles fought in Walker County were part of the Chickamauga Campaign fought between August 21 and September 20, 1863:

• Second Battle of Chattanooga, August 21.
• Battle of Davis's Cross Roads, September 10–11.
• Battle of Chickamauga, September 19–20.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 447 square miles (1,160 km²), of which 446 square miles (1,160 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (0.1%) is water. The northern two-thirds of Walker County is located in the Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga sub-basin of the Middle Tennessee-Hiwassee basin. Most of the southeastern portion of the county is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin), with a very small southeastern sliver located in the Conasauga River sub-basin in the larger ACT River Basin. The rest of the southern portion of Walker County is located in the Upper Coosa River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin.

Adjacent counties

• Hamilton County, Tennessee - north
• Catoosa County - northeast
• Whitfield County - east
• Gordon County - southeast
• Floyd County - south
• Chattooga County - south
• DeKalb County, Alabama - southwest/CST Border
• Dade County - west

Natural attractions and features

• Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
• Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part)
• Ellison's Cave (12th deepest cave in the United States)
• Lookout Mountain (part)
• McLemore Cove
• Petty John's Cave
• Pigeon Mountain
• Rocktown
• Rock City

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Route 27
• 
  U.S. Route 27 Business
• State Route 1
• State Route 1 Business
• State Route 2
• State Route 95
• State Route 136
• State Route 151
• State Route 157
• State Route 189
• State Route 193
• State Route 201
• State Route 337
• State Route 341

Railroads

Current

• Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway
• Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (occasional tourist excursions)

Defunct

• Chattanooga Southern Railway (became Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway)
• Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (purchased by Norfolk Southern then abandoned)
• Chickamauga and Durham Railroad (reorganized as Chattanooga & Durham)
• Chattanooga and Durham Railroad (purchased by Chattanooga, Rome and Southern)
• Chattanooga, Rome and Southern Railroad (purchased by Central of GA Railway)
• Central of Georgia Railway (purchased by Southern Railway)
• Southern Railway (purchased by Norfolk Southern, Walker County line transferred to State of Georgia, leased to Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	6,572		—
1850	13,109		99.5%
1860	10,082		−23.1%
1870	9,925		−1.6%
1880	11,056		11.4%
1890	13,282		20.1%
1900	15,661		17.9%
1910	18,692		19.4%
1920	23,370		25.0%
1930	26,206		12.1%
1940	31,024		18.4%
1950	38,198		23.1%
1960	45,264		18.5%
1970	50,691		12.0%
1980	56,470		11.4%
1990	58,340		3.3%
2000	61,053		4.7%
2010	68,756		12.6%
Est. 2016	67,896		11.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 61,053 people, 23,605 households, and 17,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile (53/km²). There were 25,577 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.43% White, 3.78% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,605 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,406, and the median income for a family was $39,034. Males had a median income of $29,448 versus $21,583 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,867. About 10.00% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 68,756 people, 26,497 households, and 18,898 families residing in the county. The population density was 154.0 inhabitants per square mile (59.5 /km²). There were 30,100 housing units at an average density of 67.4 per square mile (26.0 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% white, 4.1% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were American, 15.3% were Irish, 11.2% were English, and 9.3% were German.

Of the 26,497 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,723 and the median income for a family was $46,307. Males had a median income of $38,297 versus $29,285 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,440. About 11.6% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Chickamauga
• Fort Oglethorpe
• LaFayette
• Lookout Mountain
• Rossville

Census-designated places

• Chattanooga Valley
• Fairview
• Lakeview

Unincorporated communities

• Dry Creek
• Flintstone
• High Point
• Kensington
• Naomi
• Noble
• Rock Spring
• Villanow

Politics

Previous Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2016	79.1% 18,950	17.6% 4,215	3.3% 791
2012	73.9% 16,247	24.0% 5,274	2.2% 475
2008	72.3% 17,110	25.8% 6,095	1.9% 449
2004	71.3% 15,340	27.8% 5,986	0.8% 176
2000	65.2% 12,326	33.6% 6,341	1.2% 228
1996	50.1% 8,817	38.3% 6,743	11.6% 2038
1992	48.5% 8,489	35.6% 6,217	15.9% 2782
1988	68.6% 10,487	31.1% 4,753	0.3% 40
1984	68.2% 10,734	31.8% 5,000
1980	50.2% 7,088	48.2% 6,809	1.7% 235
1976	37.5% 4,807	62.5% 8,007
1972	84.7% 8,728	15.3% 1,574
1968	25.6% 3,664	13.5% 1,930	60.9% 8,725
1964	52.1% 5,939	47.8% 5,454	0.1% 8
1960	46.9% 4,027	53.1% 4,566
1956	49.0% 3,552	51.0% 3,693
1952	39.6% 2,866	60.4% 4,366
1948	9.7% 477	69.8% 3,418	20.4% 1000
1944	21.7% 765	78.2% 2,753	0.0% 1
1940	16.3% 558	83.5% 2,859	0.2% 7
1936	16.5% 458	83.3% 2,313	0.2% 5
1932	15.1% 405	83.8% 2,255	1.2% 31
1928	62.9% 1,786	37.1% 1,053
1924	32.9% 878	65.1% 1,740	2.0% 54
1920	44.3% 1,069	55.8% 1,347
1916	11.4% 300	71.8% 1,883	16.7% 439
1912	29.1% 404	55.5% 771	15.5% 215

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Walker County, Georgia
• Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority

External links

• City of Chickamauga
• City of LaFayette
• City of Rossville
• City of Lookout Mountain, Ga.
• Walker County Messenger
• WQCH Radio
• Walker County, GA, genealogy