Cohutta, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Cohutta is a town in Whitfield County
, Georgia
, United States
. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 582 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.59%) is water.
of 2000, there were 582 people, 222 households, and 170 families residing in the town. The population density
was 233.8 people per square mile (90.2/km²). There were 235 housing units at an average density of 94.4 per square mile (36.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.02% White, 1.72% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 1.20% from other races
, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 222 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,563, and the median income for a family was $44,444. Males had a median income of $30,592 versus $22,232 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,510. About 8.2% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
to Dalton, Georgia
, and served as the center for the surrounding farming areas. According to local lore, the town was originally known as "Shakerag," from the rag would-be passengers would wave to stop trains passing through.
In the 1920s, the town had a bank and a hotel, as well a high school, and was frequented especially in summer by inhabitants of Chattanooga seeking cooler temperatures. The high school burned down in 1952, and was not rebuilt.
As late as the late 1960s, Cohutta had a (small) supermarket, as well as three smaller "sundry" stores, a feed and seed, and the hair salon that is obligatory in practically all small towns in America. The improvement of roads, and the ease of access to larger cities (in this case, Dalton), drew shoppers away, so that by the 1990s, Cohutta had no businesses at all. Over the last decade, the surrounding area has become something of a bedroom community for Dalton, with housing developments taking over many of the farms in the area. Whether the "gentrification" of the area will lead to a revival of Cohutta itself is problematic.
Cohutta also prides itself on the Red Clay State Historic Park
that serves as a national Native American meeting ground, Cherokee memorial with a museum, as well as an outdoor park and recreation center for visitors.
This part of the state is extremely rich in Cherokee history as well as classic southern heritage that is complemented by the foliage of Georgia and Tennessee.
Whitfield County, Georgia
Whitfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 30, 1851. The 2010 Census shows a population of 102,599. The county seat is Dalton.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Civil War:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Dalton metropolitan area
The Dalton Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in northwestern Georgia, anchored by the city of Dalton...
. The population was 582 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Cohutta is located at 34°57′33"N 84°57′10"W (34.959202, -84.952908).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.59%) is water.
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 582 people, 222 households, and 170 families residing in the town. 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 233.8 people per square mile (90.2/km²). There were 235 housing units at an average density of 94.4 per square mile (36.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.02% White, 1.72% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 1.20% 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 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 222 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% 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, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,563, and the median income for a family was $44,444. Males had a median income of $30,592 versus $22,232 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 town was $17,510. About 8.2% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Culture
The architecture of the small city gives the impression that it once displayed a vibrant little downtown; this is perhaps due to the once-booming railroad system that still rumbles through Cohutta. Indeed, Cohutta reflects the trajectory of many smaller towns in the United States. The town emerged as a stop on the railroad from Cleveland, TennesseeCleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
to Dalton, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
, and served as the center for the surrounding farming areas. According to local lore, the town was originally known as "Shakerag," from the rag would-be passengers would wave to stop trains passing through.
In the 1920s, the town had a bank and a hotel, as well a high school, and was frequented especially in summer by inhabitants of Chattanooga seeking cooler temperatures. The high school burned down in 1952, and was not rebuilt.
As late as the late 1960s, Cohutta had a (small) supermarket, as well as three smaller "sundry" stores, a feed and seed, and the hair salon that is obligatory in practically all small towns in America. The improvement of roads, and the ease of access to larger cities (in this case, Dalton), drew shoppers away, so that by the 1990s, Cohutta had no businesses at all. Over the last decade, the surrounding area has become something of a bedroom community for Dalton, with housing developments taking over many of the farms in the area. Whether the "gentrification" of the area will lead to a revival of Cohutta itself is problematic.
Cohutta also prides itself on the Red Clay State Historic Park
Red Clay State Park
Red Clay State Historic Park is located in southern Bradley County in Cleveland, Tennessee. The park is also listed as an interpretive center along the Cherokee Trail of Tears...
that serves as a national Native American meeting ground, Cherokee memorial with a museum, as well as an outdoor park and recreation center for visitors.
This part of the state is extremely rich in Cherokee history as well as classic southern heritage that is complemented by the foliage of Georgia and Tennessee.