Walker County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

in the

northwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A '' compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west— ...

region of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

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 ...

. As of the 2020 census, its population was 67,654,US 2020 Census Bureau report, Walker County, Georgia down from 68,756 in 2010. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

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.

History

Walker County was named after Georgia's

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...

, 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 The Second Battle of Chattanooga took place during the American Civil War, beginning on August 21, 1863, as the opening battle in the Chickamauga Campaign. The larger and more famous battles were the Battles for Chattanooga (generally referred ...

, August 21 *

Battle of Davis's Cross Roads The Battle of Davis's Cross Roads, was fought September 10–11, 1863, in northwestern Georgia, as part of the Chickamauga Campaign of the American Civil War. It was more of a series of maneuvers and skirmishes than an actual battle and ca ...

, September 10–11 *

Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 18–20, 1863, between the United States Army and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a U.S. Army offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southe ...

, September 19–20 In 2002, the Tri-State Crematory scandal in Noble came to national attention when 339 bodies that were consigned to be cremated were discovered on the property. The owner, Ray Brent Marsh, was convicted of several charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Geography

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 county has a total area of , of which (0.1%) is covered by water. The northern two-thirds of Walker County is located in the Middle

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

- 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 The Coosa River is a tributary of the Alabama River in the U.S. states of Alabama and Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The river is about long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, ac ...

sub-basin in the ACT River Basin.

Adjacent counties

* Hamilton County,

- north * Catoosa County - northeast * Whitfield County - east * Gordon County - southeast * Floyd County - south * Chattooga County - south *

DeKalb County DeKalb County may refer to one of several counties in the United States, all of which were named for Baron Johann de Kalb: * DeKalb County, Alabama DeKalb County is a County (United States), county in the Northeast Alabama, northeastern part ...

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 ...

- southwest/CST Border * Dade County - west

Natural attractions and features

Chattahoochee National Forest The Chattahoochee River () is a river in the Southeastern United States. It forms the southern half of the Alabama and Georgia border, as well as a portion of the Florida and Georgia border. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a rela ...

(part) *

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, located in northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee, preserves the sites of two major battles of the American Civil War: the Battle of Chickamauga and the Siege of Chattanooga. A detailed ...

(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 * Lula Lake Land Trust

Government

Until 2020, Walker County was one of only nine counties in the United States still employing the

sole commissioner In local government in the United States, sole commissioner government is a county commission with only one seat. The sole commissioner typically holds all legislative and executive powers in the county. Even though with one commissioner there is ...

form of government. Georgia is the last remaining state that allows sole commissioners. In a 2018 referendum, Walker County voters approved with an 80% margin a transition to a five-member board of commissioners, consisting of four commissioners elected by district and a chairperson. The first members of the board were elected in November 2020 and took office in January 2021 with Districts 1 and 2 commissioners serving an initial two-year term and Districts 3 and 4 commissioners and the chairperson serving an initial four-year term. From 2022, every commissioner will serve four-year terms, therefore ensuring that half the commission is up for reelection every two years. The commission meets in LaFayette, the county seat. The commissioners of each district represent these areas: *District 1: Rossville *District 2: Chickamauga *District 3: LaFayette *District 4: Lookout Mountain

Transportation

Major highways

U.S. Route 27 * Business plate

U.S. Route 27 Business * Georgia 1

State Route 1 * Georgia 1 Business

State Route 1 Business * Georgia 2

State Route 2 * Georgia 95

State Route 95 * Georgia 136

State Route 136 * Georgia 151

State Route 151 * Georgia 157

State Route 157 * Georgia 189

State Route 189 * Georgia 193

State Route 193 * Georgia 201

State Route 201 * Georgia 337

State Route 337 * Georgia 341

State Route 341

Railroads

Current

Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway The Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway is a short-line railroad which is headquartered in LaFayette, Georgia, US. The railroad operates of the Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (a.k.a. the TAG route) from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Kensi ...

* Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (occasional tourist excursions)

Defunct

* Chattanooga Southern Railway (became Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway) * Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway, then abandoned ) * Chickamauga and Durham Railroad (merged into Chattanooga & Durham) * Chattanooga and Durham Railroad (merged by Chattanooga, Rome and Southern) * Chattanooga, Rome and Southern Railroad (merged into Central of GA Railway) *

Central of Georgia Railway The Central of Georgia Railway started as the Central Rail Road and Canal Company in 1833. As a way to better attract investment capital, the railroad changed its name to Central Rail Road and Banking Company of Georgia. This railroad was constr ...

(merged into Southern Railway) * Southern Railway (merged into Norfolk Southern, Walker County line transferred to State of Georgia, leased to Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, 67,654 people, 26,760 households, and 17,810 families were residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 68,756 people, 26,497 households, and 18,898 families were living in the county. The population density was . The 30,100 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% White, 4.1% 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 German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

. Of the 26,497 households, 33.8% had children under 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were not families; 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 county's age distribution was 23.6% under 18, 5.3% from 20 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15% who were 65 or older. The gender ratio of the county's population was 50.9% female versus 49.1% male. The median income for a household in the county was $38,723, and 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 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 20.0% of those under 18 and 8.1% of those 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

, 61,053 people, 23,605 households, and 17,467 families were living in the county. The population density was . There were 25,577 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.43% White, 3.78% 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. About 0.93% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Of the 23,605 households, 32.6% had children under 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were not families. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 37 years. The county's age distribution was 24.8% under 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 or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males. The median income for a household in the county was $32,406, and for a family was $39,034. Males had a median income of $29,448 versus $21,583 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 county was $15,867. About 10.00% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the

, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

* Chickamauga * Fort Oglethorpe (small portion only) * LaFayette (county seat) * Lookout Mountain * Rossville

Census-designated places

* Chattanooga Valley * Fairview * Lakeview * Rock Spring

Unincorporated communities

* Flintstone * High Point * Hinkles *

Kensington Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensingt ...

* Naomi * Villanow * East Armuchee

Media

*'' Walker County Messenger''

Education

Walker County School District includes most areas, while areas in the Chickamauga city limits are in the Chickamauga City School District.
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