Catoosa County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
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. The county seat
is Ringgold
.
Catoosa County is part of the Chattanooga
, TN
–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
On April 27, 2011 a devastating tornado touched down in Ringgold and Catoosa County, leaving a path of severe destruction.
the men of Catoosa County answered the call to go and protect their homes. They joined units in the surrounding counties as well as the following units organized in Catoosa County:
War would come to Catoosa County soon enough. Many area homes would become hospitals and treat wounded soldiers from all over. These included hospitals at Catoosa Springs, Cherokee Springs, the Old Stone Church and many other locations. The fighting itself would also make its way into the area. The following engagements were fought in and around Catoosa County.
1862
1863
1864
1865
of 2000, there were 53,282 people, 20,425 households, and 15,400 families residing in the county. The population density
was 328 people per square mile (127/km²). There were 21,794 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White
, 1.26% Black
or African American
, 0.31% Native American
, 0.71% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 20,425 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples
living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,998, and the median income for a family was $45,710. Males had a median income of $31,746 versus $23,790 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,009. About 6.40% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Catoosa County elementary schools: Battlefield Elementary, Boynton Elementary, Cloud Springs Elementary, Graysville Elementary, Ringgold Elementary, Tiger Creek Elementary, West Side Elementary, and Woodstation Elementary.
Catoosa County middle schools: Heritage Middle School, Lakeview Middle School, and Ringgold Middle School.
Catoosa County high schools: Heritage High School, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, and Ringgold High School.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. 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. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Ringgold
Ringgold, Georgia
Ringgold is a city in Catoosa County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,422 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Catoosa County...
.
Catoosa County is part of the Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, TN
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Chattanooga metropolitan area
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of six counties – three in southeast Tennessee and three in northwest Georgia – anchored by the city of Chattanooga...
.
On April 27, 2011 a devastating tornado touched down in Ringgold and Catoosa County, leaving a path of severe destruction.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 162.66 square miles (421.3 km²), of which 162.23 square miles (420.2 km²) (or 99.74%) is land and 0.44 square miles (1.1 km²) (or 0.27%) is water.Cities and towns
- Fort OglethorpeFort Oglethorpe, GeorgiaFort Oglethorpe is a city in Catoosa County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,263. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- Indian SpringsIndian Springs, GeorgiaIndian Springs is a census-designated place in Catoosa County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,982 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- LakeviewLakeview, GeorgiaLakeview is a census-designated place in Catoosa and Walker counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 4,820 at the 2000 census...
- RinggoldRinggold, GeorgiaRinggold is a city in Catoosa County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,422 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Catoosa County...
- Tunnel HillTunnel Hill, GeorgiaTunnel 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.-History:...
Major highways
Interstate 75Interstate 75Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
U.S. Highway 27
U.S. Highway 41
Georgia State Route 2Georgia State Route 2State Route 2 is a west–east route in the northern part of Georgia. The route serves suburbs of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as much of the mountainous area in the northern part of the state.-Route description:...
Georgia State Route 3Georgia State Route 3State Route 3 runs in a generally north–south orientation from Georgia's northern border to its southern border. Its northern terminus is at the Tennessee state line just southeast of Chattanooga , and its southern terminus is at the Florida state line about twelve miles south-southeast of...
Adjacent counties
- Hamilton CountyHamilton County, TennesseeHamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 . Its county seat is Chattanooga....
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
(north) - Whitfield County (east)
- Walker County (west)
National protected areas
- Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
- Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military ParkChickamauga and Chattanooga National Military ParkChickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, located in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee, preserves the sites of two major battles of the American Civil War: the Battle of Chickamauga and the Chattanooga Campaign.-History:...
(part)
Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
the men of Catoosa County answered the call to go and protect their homes. They joined units in the surrounding counties as well as the following units organized in Catoosa County:
- 1st Confederate Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Company B, Ringgold Volunteers
- 1st Confederate Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Company D
- 1st Confederate Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Company I
- 1st Georgia State Line Troops, Company A
- 11th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company G
- 39th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company F
War would come to Catoosa County soon enough. Many area homes would become hospitals and treat wounded soldiers from all over. These included hospitals at Catoosa Springs, Cherokee Springs, the Old Stone Church and many other locations. The fighting itself would also make its way into the area. The following engagements were fought in and around Catoosa County.
1862
- April 7–12 Union forces raid Confederate railroads and lines of communications between Marietta and Chattanooga, Tennessee
1863
- September 10 Skirmish near Graysville
- September 12 Skirmish at Leet's Tan Yard
- September 17 Skirmish at Ringgold
- September 18 Skirmish at Alexander's Bridge
- September 18 Action at Reed's Bridge
- September 19–21 Battle of ChickamaugaBattle of ChickamaugaThe Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
- November 23–27 The Ringgold-Chattanooga Campaign
- November 26 Action at Ringgold
- November 26 Skirmish at Graysville
- November 27 Engagement at Ringgold GapBattle of Ringgold GapThe Battle of Ringgold Gap was fought November 27, 1863, in northwest Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate victory by Maj. Gen...
- December 13 Skirmish at Ringgold
1864
- January 30 Skirmish at Chickamauga
- February 8 Skirmish at Ringgold
- February 18 Skirmish at Ringgold
- February 23 Skirmish at Catoosa Station
- February 27 Skirmish at Stone Church, near Catoosa Platform
- March 5 Skirmish at Leet's Tan Yard
- March 9 Skirmish near Nickajack Gap
- April 14 Skirmish at Taylor's Ridge
- May 1 Skirmish at Stone Church
- May 2 Skirmish at Lee's Cross Roads
- May 2 Skirmish near Ringgold Gap
- May 3 Skirmish at Catoosa Springs
- May 3 Skirmish at Chickamauga Creek
- May 7 Skirmish near Nickajack Gap
- October 27 Skirmish near Trickum's Cross Roads
1865
- March 20 Skirmish at Ringgold
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 53,282 people, 20,425 households, and 15,400 families residing in the county. 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 328 people per square mile (127/km²). There were 21,794 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White
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...
, 1.26% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.31% Native American
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...
, 0.71% Asian
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...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.39% 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 0.93% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 20,425 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% 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, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,998, and the median income for a family was $45,710. Males had a median income of $31,746 versus $23,790 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 county was $18,009. About 6.40% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Catoosa County Public SchoolsCatoosa County elementary schools: Battlefield Elementary, Boynton Elementary, Cloud Springs Elementary, Graysville Elementary, Ringgold Elementary, Tiger Creek Elementary, West Side Elementary, and Woodstation Elementary.
Catoosa County middle schools: Heritage Middle School, Lakeview Middle School, and Ringgold Middle School.
Catoosa County high schools: Heritage High School, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, and Ringgold High School.
See also
- April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreakApril 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreakAn extremely large and violent tornado outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak ever recorded, and popularly known as the 2011 Super Outbreak, occurred from April 25 to 28, 2011. The outbreak affected the Southern, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States, leaving catastrophic destruction in...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Catoosa County, Georgia
- Northwest Georgia Joint Development AuthorityNorthwest Georgia Joint Development AuthorityThe Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority is a joint development authority that serves Catoosa County, Chattooga County, Dade County, and Walker County in the U.S. state of Georgia....