Tallapoosa, Georgia
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Tallapoosa is a city in
Haralson County Haralson County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,919,US 2020 Census Bureau report, Haralson County, Georgia up from 28,780 in 2010. The county seat is Buchanan. Th ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
. The population was 3,170 at the 2010 census, up from 2,789 at the 2000 census.


History

The
Georgia General Assembly The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each of the General Assembly's 236 members serve two-year terms and are directl ...
incorporated Tallapoosa as a town in 1860. The community lends its name to the
Tallapoosa River The Tallapoosa River runs U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 27, 2011 from the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United Sta ...
. The name "Tallapoosa" is derived from the Creek words "Talwa" (town) and "Puse" (grandmother). The name first appearing on Georgia maps in the 19th century, notably around the 1820s, the name "Tallapoosee" was used to refer to the Tallapoosa River and surrounding regions. The spelling reflects documentation and naming conventions of the time, prior to the more standardized spelling "Tallapoosa" that became common later. The name shows respect, reverence and origin of the grandmother as the native Creek and nearby Cherokee practiced a matrilineal system of descent. Clan membership, inheritance, social structure and descent were traced through the mothers line and passed down through the maternal side. The Tallapoosa branch of the Muskogee (Creek) tribe is one of the oldest groups in the Southeast. The Grandmother was seen as a central figure in community life. They held a significant role in council meetings and were regarded as the bearers of wisdom, tradition and cultural knowledge having a key role in mediating disputes and conflicts preserving traditions and guiding future generations. They often led social and ceremonial events. Tallapoosa was a location of tribal meetings held by the Creek Indians, its location being a central point of trade between the Creek territory located in the lower flatlands to the south and the northern Cherokee territory located in the upper Appalachian mountains. A historic marker marks this meeting location in Tallapoosa titled "Seven Chestnuts" where Creek Indians held their council meetings under seven chestnut trees. Another nearby historical marker titled "Sandtown Trail" marks the location of the Sandtown Trail a route taken by Creek Indians which later became a stage coach route traveled by white settlers. Tallapoosa was once referred to as "Opossum Snout" (circa 1891) in a painting by artist
Lyell E. Carr Lyell E. Carr (1854–1912) was an American painter who painted scenes of African Americans and landscapes in the Deep South, especially Georgia in the 1890s. Carr painted in the Barbizon style. Biography Carr was born in 1854 in Sandwich, ...
depicting the area. Today the town hosts an annual New Year's Eve Possum Drop, one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in Georgia.


Geography

Tallapoosa is located in the western part of Haralson County in northwest Georgia. Its geographic coordinates are (33.7437, -85.2879).
U.S. Route 78 U.S. Route 78 (US 78) is an east–west United States Numbered Highway that runs for from Swifton, Arkansas, to Charleston, South Carolina. From Byhalia, Mississippi to Graysville, Alabama, US 78 runs concurrently with Inte ...
and
Georgia State Route 100 State Route 100 (SR 100) is a State highway (US), state highway that travels south-to-north through portions of Meriwether County, Georgia, Meriwether, Troup County, Georgia, Troup, Heard County, Georgia, Heard, Carroll County, Geor ...
are the main highways through the city. U.S. 78 runs through the city from east to west as Atlanta Street, leading southeast to
Waco Waco ( ) is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a U.S. census estimated 2024 population of 146,608, making i ...
and west to Fruithurst,
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
. GA-100 runs north–south through the city concurrent with U.S. 78, leading north to Cedartown and south to Bowdon.
Interstate 20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Reeves County, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. B ...
passes about south of the city center, with access from exit 5 (GA-100). I-20 leads east to
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
and west to
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
,
Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
. According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...
, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.27%, are water.


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,227 people, 1,368 households, and 789 families residing in the city.


2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 2,789 people, 1,187 households, and 764 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,334 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.18%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 6.63%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.22% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population. There were 1,187 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,938, and the median income for a family was $37,401. Males had a median income of $34,102 versus $21,130 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $15,302. About 12.8% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 26.9% of those age 65 or over.


Popular culture

Tallapoosa is mentioned in these works: The 1933 pre-code movie ''Baby Face'', starring
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career, she was known for her strong, realistic screen p ...
. The song ''
I've Been Everywhere Ive or IVE may refer to: Music * Ive (group), a South Korean girl group * I've Sound (aka "I've"), a Japanese musical group People * Ive (given name), a Croatian and Slovenian given name * Bert Ive (1875–1939), British-born Australian cinema ...
'', a performance of which was recorded by Johnny Cash in 1996. The poem " Stars at Tallapoosa" by Wallace Stevens, published in his collection ''
Harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...
'' (1923).
TLC TLC may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2 * TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network ** TLC (Asia), an A ...
filmed the New Year's special of their show ''
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo ''Here Comes Honey Boo Boo'' is an American reality television series that aired on TLC featuring the family of child beauty pageant contestant Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson. The show premiered on August 8, 2012, and ended on August 14, 2014. T ...
'' at The Possum Drop in Tallapoosa.


Notable people

* Leroy Almon, woodcarver *
Rhubarb Jones Warren "Rhubarb" Jones (August 9, 1951 – April 2, 2017) was an American DJ at WYAY "Eagle 106.7" in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the longest running morning radio personality in the Atlanta radio market, having been at the 106.7 spot on the FM di ...
, Radio personality


References


External links


City of Tallapoosa official website

Tallapoosa Historical Society

Historic Tallapoosa
historical marker {{authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Haralson County, Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) placenames of Native American origin