Toccoa, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Toccoa is a city in Stephens County
, Georgia
, United States
located approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) from Athens
and approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Stephens County
.
The name "Toccoa" is derived from the Cherokee word for "beautiful" or "where the Catawbas lived." The city was established in 1873 around an area formerly called Dry Pond, for a pond that was waterless most of the time.
Camp Toccoa
, a World War II
paratrooper
training base, was located nearby. It was the first training base for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Army's 101st Airborne Division
, whose Easy Company
was subject of the non-fiction book and subsequent HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.
Toccoa is also home to the Travelers Rest
Inn, known locally as Jarrett Manor Toccoa Falls College
is located here. On November 6, 1977 the Kelly Barnes Dam
, located above the college, failed. The resulting flood killed 39. Toccoa Falls
is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.
On May 7, 2000, Mary Ann Stephens of Toccoa was shot to death outside a Ramada Inn in Jacksonville, Florida
while on vacation with her husband. The incident received national attention and resulted in an Academy Award–winning French documentary, Murder on a Sunday Morning
, on the arrest and acquittal of the original suspect.
Toccoa is the birthplace of singer Ida Cox
, philanthropist Paul Edward Anderson
, former 100 Black Men of America President Thomas W.Dortch Jr., former Clemson and NBA basketball player Dale Davis
, former Georgia Tech
and NFL football player Pat Swilling
, and All-American (Georgia Tech) football player Ken Swilling. James Brown, the king of soul, lived in Toccoa a short time before his big break as a singer, and worked as a janitor at Toccoa High School. Bobby Byrd
was a gospel musician and songwriter, and a sideman to James Brown. Paul Anderson
, Olympic
gold medalist in weightlifting known as "the world's strongest man," was born in Toccoa. His world record for the heaviest weight ever lifted by a human (6,270 in the back lift) still stands. A 16-ton granite marker is located at his birthplace. Ramblin' "Doc" Tommy Scott was born and lives here, composer of "Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms".
The documentary Southern Comfort was filmed in Toccoa about resident transman Robert Eads
.
Internationally noted civil rights and social justice activist The Reverend Douglas Demetrius Prather, a native of Atlanta also has family ties to the city of Toccoa. Rev. Prather is a direct descendant of the original Prather family for which Prather Bridge Road is named. According to historical accounts, The Johns House, a charming Victorian cottage on the right before you get to Prather Bridge Road was built in 1898 and shows influence of the era. The trim on the front gable and porch is outstanding. The front door has a fanlight with sidelights. Slender posts with banisters and trim support the porch roof. The present structure was built around a log cabin. Further down on the right, on a hill overlooking the valley of the upper Tugalo River is Riverside. This beautiful twelve columned, Greek revival antebellum home was built in 1850 by James D. Prather with the labor of his slaves and the timber from his plantation. The Prather family cemetery is at the right of the house, about fifteen yards from the porch. During the Civil War, General Robert Tombs, a close friend of Mr. Prather, used the house as a refuge from northern troops. The soldiers pursued him to Riverside, where he was able to hide in a double closet and escape capture.
At Riverside, turn to the left, ride down the hill to the concrete bridge and to the right you can see the remains of Prather’s Bridge. The first Prather’s Bridge was a swinging bridge built in 1804 by James Jeremiah Prather. Until then, travelers crossed the Tugalo River at fords and later by ferries. The first bridge was washed away during a freshet (an overflow caused by heavy rain). A more substantial bridge was built in 1850, but was burned in 1863 during the Civil War to keep the enemy from crossing. James Jeremiah and his son, James Devereaux rebuilt the bridge in 1868. This bridge was also washed away in 1918 and was rebuilt in 1920 by James D. Prather. It was afterwards replaced by a concrete bridge, but was kept as a landmark until burned by vandals in 1978. The pillars still stand, made from rock quarried by Mr. Prather from a nearby hillside.
The novel "Fireworks Over Toccoa" by author Jeffrey Stepakoff, was published by St. Martin's Press and released nation-wide on March 30, 2010. A day-long celebration was held in Toccoa culminating in a fireworks display at Boyd Field in the evening.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.60%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,323 people, 3,879 households, and 2,443 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,121.3 inhabitants per square mile (433.2/km2). There were 4,378 housing units at an average density of 526.6 per square mile (203.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.47% White, 21.46% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races
, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 3,879 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.4% 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 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were only 75.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,345, and the median income for a family was $31,912. Males had a median income of $28,004 versus $20,807 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,942. About 15.8% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
. SCDA is responsible for the recruitment of new businesses such as industrial, manufacturing, distribution, corporate and regional headquarters and customer service centers. SCDA serves the following cities:
Toccoa, Georgia
Eastanollee, Georgia
Martin, Georgia
Avalon, Georgia
Major industrial parks in the area are: Toccoa Industrial Park, Meadowbrook Industrial Park, and Hayestone Brady Business Park.
Top employers in descending order: Patterson Pump, ITR (GEM Industries), Standard Register, Sage Automotive Interiors, Habersham Plantation, Toccoa Falls College
, Coats & Clark, Eaton Corporation.
s would disembark, is dedicated to the paratrooper
s of World War II
who trained at Camp Toccoa
. Camp Toccoa was located just outside the city proper, at the foot of Mount Currahee, and was formerly known as Camp Toombs. The museum houses the original Aldbourne
stables where paratrooper
s of the 101st Airborne Division
were housed temporarily in England
in 1944. Only one building remains of the original Camp Toccoa (the building is believed to be a former food supply storage facility, based on its position near the former camp's gates and the foundation's construction), and it was donated to the museum in 2011 by the Milliken company who was using it as a machine shop. The museum intends to restore the building, along with the surrounding grounds.
On the first Saturday of every October, a six-mile race is held along the Colonel Sink Trail, the same trail used by the paratroopers as part of their training for combat. The common refrain is "Three Miles Up And Three Miles Back". The race is part of the larger Currahee Military Weekend, which features World War II military reenactments in a staged military camp, weapons demonstrations, book signings by veterans, a parade through the downtown historic district, a hangar dance at the airport, and a special banquet
featuring key note speakers and veterans.
Local lore includes the Hanging Tree, located on the western side of the Stephens County Courthouse. The actual tree used for the executions is now just a stump on the courthouse lawn, the tree having been removed in 2011. Facing the courthouse, the Hanging Tree was just to the viewer's left.
The clock at the spire of the courthouse was restored to operational condition in 2010 as part of an overall renovation of the building, and is the highlight of the historic district which features several buildings from the American Civil War
period.
The Toccoa Casket Company, now out of business, was the largest supplier of caskets to the military until Vietnam. Its building is located on the main road leading into Toccoa from the south, on the route from Toccoa to Mount Currahee.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 304 full-time teachers and over 4,405 students. The town features one high school, one middle school, and four elementary schools.
Stephens County Middle School (SCMS) (Grades 6–8),
Liberty Elementary (Grades Pre-K–5),
Toccoa Elementary (Grades K–5),
Eastonallee Elementary (Grades K–5),
Big A Elementary (Grades K–5).
Stephens County High School is currently having a new facility built.
Crossroads Juvenile Academy is an alternative school in Stephens County, that gives behaviorally impaired students a second chance.
Mountain Education Center is an online night school that gives full Georgia High School Diplomas. This course is designed not only for full time students but also part-time students that are working to recover lost credits.
Amtrak
's Crescent
connects Toccoa with the cities of New York
, Philadelphia
, Baltimore, Washington
, Charlotte
, Atlanta
, Birmingham
, and New Orleans
. The Amtrak station
is situated at 47 North Alexander St. The picture to the left is how the station appeared prior to the extension of the Currahee Military Museum, which was built to house the Aldebourne Stables and a growing collection of artifacts. That extension was subsequently enlarged in 2009 to include a community room and gift shop.
Toccoa is also home to the Toccoa Airport
, a small executive airport to the northeast of town.
The nearest interstate highway is Interstate 85
.
department store.
In the early 1960s around the country large shopping malls began to compete with local downtown businesses and many began to fail. As an answer to the depressed conditions in downtowns, not only in Toccoa but in other towns as well, concrete canopies were erected and streets were closed to create a pedestrian mall. In less than ten years it was evident that instead of enhancing businesses and creating a positive downtown image, these canopies actually accelerated the downtown’s decline.
When the Belk Gallant department store announced it was going to move along a four lane road called Big A, community leaders organized Toccoa Main Street in 1990. In 1991, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Resource Team recommended that the canopies be removed and that the street be opened once again to vehicular traffic. However, for many years the project was not supported.
During that time, Toccoa Main Street implemented many changes and improvements to the downtown mall area. Brick pavers were installed and trees were planted. However, the canopies themselves began to deteriorate, and no support was found to repair them. During this time, businesses continued to flounder and many of the buildings were empty and in disrepair.
Over time, however, with growing support, approval was given to start the canopy removal project. Efforts that helped contribute community support for the project include: county-wide public surveys, University of Georgia (UGA) Market Study, a UGA design charrette, and renderings of individual buildings without the canopies provided by the GA Trust for Historic Preservation and UGA Community Design Planning and Preservation. To gather the necessary funds for the project, Toccoa partnered with six state agencies (Appalachian Regional Commission, Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), One Georgia Authority, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) that provided $1.3 million, with additional local funding of $552,000.
During the canopy removal and street re-opening project, private interest in downtown increased. In 2008, downtown saw 33 storefronts renovated (under the guidance of the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center (RDC) Historic Preservation Planner), 11 new business, 17 new jobs, 28 part-time jobs and 68 full-time equivalent jobs retained, and private investment of $3.5 million. Toccoa’s Main Street was re-opened to vehicular traffic. “The change in downtown is stunning,” said (then) Mayor Ron Seib. “Tourists and locals alike are visiting downtown, and parking is now at a premium, especially at lunch.” http://en.db-city.com/United_States/Georgia/Stephens/Toccoa On this webpage you will find many pictures of the renovated Mainstreet Toccoa.
The Currahee Military Museum, featured recently in the PBS Series, GA Traveler, and named as one of the best museums along the East Coast by Blue Ridge Mountain Magazine, is another attraction that continues downtown’s resurgence. Located in the restored historic train depot, the museum features a massive exhibit of 506’s Easy Company memorabilia. This World War II paratrooper company was popularized by the HBO Miniseries Band of Brothers. The depot housing this museum was recently restored to its pre-1940’s appearance. The depot building had previously been used as a maintenance and storage area for Norfolk Southern. Now it has been transformed to a publicly owned building that is home to the Chamber, Welcome Center, Stephens County Historical Society Museum, the Currahee Military Museum, and Amtrak. Funding for the million dollar project was received through Transportation Enhancement Activity (TEA) and GDOT funds of $400,000; local funding of $100,000 and private investment funds of over $500,000 were contributed. The museum just completed its second addition, funded by SPLOST.
Enhancing Toccoa “as a Northeast Georgia destination” is the newly restored Courthouse which anchors the downtown district. The renovation project was overseen by a governmental appointed citizen authority. Funded entirely by SPLOST dollars, the $2 million renovation project brought a historic 1907 building back to life while adding green space to the historic district and retained government offices and downtown customers in the city’s square.
. In addition, a recent Georgia law allows the state to relocate anyone they deem disabled or mentally retarded. Prominent city officials have kept quiet about the situation, suggesting a possible cover up, but many skeptics have spoken out against the governor of Georgia as well as to the nearby CDC offices.
Stephens County, Georgia
Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 26,175. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,268. The county seat is Toccoa.-History:...
, 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...
located approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) from Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
and approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census. The city is 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....
of Stephens County
Stephens County, Georgia
Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 26,175. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,268. The county seat is Toccoa.-History:...
.
History
In the area that is now Toccoa and the surrounding area, Mississippian Indians (Mound Builders) and then Cherokee Indians were the original inhabitants. The first residents of European descent were American Revolutionary War veterans who settled the area when the war ended. The Georgia General Assembly created Stephens County in 1905, and Toccoa was established as the county seat.The name "Toccoa" is derived from the Cherokee word for "beautiful" or "where the Catawbas lived." The city was established in 1873 around an area formerly called Dry Pond, for a pond that was waterless most of the time.
Camp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army...
, a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
training base, was located nearby. It was the first training base for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Army's 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, whose Easy Company
E Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles", is one of the most well-known companies in the United States Army. Their experiences in World War II are the subject of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers based on the book...
was subject of the non-fiction book and subsequent HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.
Toccoa is also home to the Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest (Georgia)
Traveler's Rest is an early tavern and inn located about 6 miles east of Toccoa, Georgia, United States. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 29, 1964....
Inn, known locally as Jarrett Manor Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls College is a fully accredited, Christian liberal arts, bible college, located in Toccoa, Georgia, on the edge of the Piedmont region and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The campus occupies , bordering the Chattahoochee National Forest and is home to Toccoa Falls a high...
is located here. On November 6, 1977 the Kelly Barnes Dam
Kelly Barnes Dam
Kelly Barnes Dam was an earthen embankment dam once located in Stephens County, Georgia, just outside of the city of Toccoa. It collapsed on November 6, 1977 after a period of heavy rainfall, and the resulting flood killed 39 people and caused $2.8 million in damages...
, located above the college, failed. The resulting flood killed 39. Toccoa Falls
Toccoa Falls
With a vertical drop of , the Toccoa Falls waterfall is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College in Stephens County, Georgia. Toccoa is the Cherokee Indian name for "beautiful"....
is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.
On May 7, 2000, Mary Ann Stephens of Toccoa was shot to death outside a Ramada Inn in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
while on vacation with her husband. The incident received national attention and resulted in an Academy Award–winning French documentary, Murder on a Sunday Morning
Murder on a Sunday Morning
Murder on a Sunday Morning is a documentary film by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Its subject is the Brenton Butler case, a criminal case in which a fifteen-year-old boy was wrongfully accused of murder...
, on the arrest and acquittal of the original suspect.
Toccoa is the birthplace of singer Ida Cox
Ida Cox
Ida Cox was an African American singer and vaudeville performer, best known for her blues performances and recordings...
, philanthropist Paul Edward Anderson
Paul Edward Anderson
Paul Edward Anderson was a weightlifter, strongman, and powerlifter.- Biography :Anderson was born in Toccoa, Georgia, United States of America....
, former 100 Black Men of America President Thomas W.Dortch Jr., former Clemson and NBA basketball player Dale Davis
Dale Davis (basketball)
Elliott Lydell Davis is a former American professional basketball player who played center and power forward. He is 6'11" and weighs 252 pounds....
, former Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
and NFL football player Pat Swilling
Pat Swilling
Patrick Travis Swilling is a former American football linebacker in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and a delegate in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He earned five Pro Bowl appearances.-College career:...
, and All-American (Georgia Tech) football player Ken Swilling. James Brown, the king of soul, lived in Toccoa a short time before his big break as a singer, and worked as a janitor at Toccoa High School. Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
was a gospel musician and songwriter, and a sideman to James Brown. Paul Anderson
Paul Edward Anderson
Paul Edward Anderson was a weightlifter, strongman, and powerlifter.- Biography :Anderson was born in Toccoa, Georgia, United States of America....
, Olympic
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
gold medalist in weightlifting known as "the world's strongest man," was born in Toccoa. His world record for the heaviest weight ever lifted by a human (6,270 in the back lift) still stands. A 16-ton granite marker is located at his birthplace. Ramblin' "Doc" Tommy Scott was born and lives here, composer of "Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms".
The documentary Southern Comfort was filmed in Toccoa about resident transman Robert Eads
Robert Eads
Robert Eads was an American transsexual man, whose life and death was the subject of the award-winning documentary Southern Comfort.- Transition :...
.
Internationally noted civil rights and social justice activist The Reverend Douglas Demetrius Prather, a native of Atlanta also has family ties to the city of Toccoa. Rev. Prather is a direct descendant of the original Prather family for which Prather Bridge Road is named. According to historical accounts, The Johns House, a charming Victorian cottage on the right before you get to Prather Bridge Road was built in 1898 and shows influence of the era. The trim on the front gable and porch is outstanding. The front door has a fanlight with sidelights. Slender posts with banisters and trim support the porch roof. The present structure was built around a log cabin. Further down on the right, on a hill overlooking the valley of the upper Tugalo River is Riverside. This beautiful twelve columned, Greek revival antebellum home was built in 1850 by James D. Prather with the labor of his slaves and the timber from his plantation. The Prather family cemetery is at the right of the house, about fifteen yards from the porch. During the Civil War, General Robert Tombs, a close friend of Mr. Prather, used the house as a refuge from northern troops. The soldiers pursued him to Riverside, where he was able to hide in a double closet and escape capture.
At Riverside, turn to the left, ride down the hill to the concrete bridge and to the right you can see the remains of Prather’s Bridge. The first Prather’s Bridge was a swinging bridge built in 1804 by James Jeremiah Prather. Until then, travelers crossed the Tugalo River at fords and later by ferries. The first bridge was washed away during a freshet (an overflow caused by heavy rain). A more substantial bridge was built in 1850, but was burned in 1863 during the Civil War to keep the enemy from crossing. James Jeremiah and his son, James Devereaux rebuilt the bridge in 1868. This bridge was also washed away in 1918 and was rebuilt in 1920 by James D. Prather. It was afterwards replaced by a concrete bridge, but was kept as a landmark until burned by vandals in 1978. The pillars still stand, made from rock quarried by Mr. Prather from a nearby hillside.
The novel "Fireworks Over Toccoa" by author Jeffrey Stepakoff, was published by St. Martin's Press and released nation-wide on March 30, 2010. A day-long celebration was held in Toccoa culminating in a fireworks display at Boyd Field in the evening.
Arts and culture
Although Toccoa prides itself on an array of different artists of different cultures, music also plays a great influence on the culture of Toccoa. Aaron Shust, a famous Christian artist, went to college at Toccoa Falls College and quickly scaled his way into the mainstream of Christian music. Another young, but successful group that originated from Toccoa is the band Sweet Escape, an American Christian Rock band formed in 2010.Kelly Barnes Dam failure
On November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam failed and released over 170 million gallons of water above the Toccoa Falls College campus. The failure killed 20 children and 19 adults.Geography
Toccoa is located at 34°34′29"N 83°19′12"W (34.574725, -83.319865).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 city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.60%) 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 9,323 people, 3,879 households, and 2,443 families residing in the city. 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 1,121.3 inhabitants per square mile (433.2/km2). There were 4,378 housing units at an average density of 526.6 per square mile (203.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.47% White, 21.46% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.53% 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 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 3,879 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% 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, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.4% 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 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were only 75.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,345, and the median income for a family was $31,912. Males had a median income of $28,004 versus $20,807 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 city was $14,942. About 15.8% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Stephens County Development Authority (SCDA) was established in 1965 to continue and sustain the growth of Northeast GeorgiaNortheast Georgia
Northeast Georgia is a region of the Georgia in the United States. The northern part is also in the north Georgia mountains, while the southern part is still hilly but much flatter in topography....
. SCDA is responsible for the recruitment of new businesses such as industrial, manufacturing, distribution, corporate and regional headquarters and customer service centers. SCDA serves the following cities:
Toccoa, Georgia
Eastanollee, Georgia
Eastanollee, Georgia
Eastanollee is an unincorporated community in Stephens County, Georgia, United States near Toccoa. It has a population of 1,085. The town has a post office.....
Martin, Georgia
Martin, Georgia
Martin is a town in Franklin County and Stephens counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 311 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martin is located at...
Avalon, Georgia
Avalon, Georgia
Avalon is a town in Stephens County, Georgia, United States. The population was 278 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Avalon is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
Major industrial parks in the area are: Toccoa Industrial Park, Meadowbrook Industrial Park, and Hayestone Brady Business Park.
Top employers in descending order: Patterson Pump, ITR (GEM Industries), Standard Register, Sage Automotive Interiors, Habersham Plantation, Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls College is a fully accredited, Christian liberal arts, bible college, located in Toccoa, Georgia, on the edge of the Piedmont region and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The campus occupies , bordering the Chattahoochee National Forest and is home to Toccoa Falls a high...
, Coats & Clark, Eaton Corporation.
Annual cultural events
Currahee Military Weekend, Taste of Toccoa, Cinema on Sage, Costume Parade, Harvest Festival, ChristmasFest, Christmas Parade, Roots Rhythm And Rails Music Fest, and many others.Museums and other points of interest
The Currahee Military Museum, located in downtown Toccoa at the original train station where arriving GIGI
GI , Gi or gi may refer to:In science and measurement:* Galvanized iron, iron that has been electrochemically rustproofed with zinc* Gastrointestinal, a division of the human anatomy in medicine...
s would disembark, is dedicated to the paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
s of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who trained at Camp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army...
. Camp Toccoa was located just outside the city proper, at the foot of Mount Currahee, and was formerly known as Camp Toombs. The museum houses the original Aldbourne
Aldbourne
Aldbourne is a village and civil parish about northeast of Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. It is in a valley in the south slope of the Lambourn Downs, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
stables where paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
s of the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
were housed temporarily in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1944. Only one building remains of the original Camp Toccoa (the building is believed to be a former food supply storage facility, based on its position near the former camp's gates and the foundation's construction), and it was donated to the museum in 2011 by the Milliken company who was using it as a machine shop. The museum intends to restore the building, along with the surrounding grounds.
On the first Saturday of every October, a six-mile race is held along the Colonel Sink Trail, the same trail used by the paratroopers as part of their training for combat. The common refrain is "Three Miles Up And Three Miles Back". The race is part of the larger Currahee Military Weekend, which features World War II military reenactments in a staged military camp, weapons demonstrations, book signings by veterans, a parade through the downtown historic district, a hangar dance at the airport, and a special banquet
Banquet
A banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
featuring key note speakers and veterans.
Local lore includes the Hanging Tree, located on the western side of the Stephens County Courthouse. The actual tree used for the executions is now just a stump on the courthouse lawn, the tree having been removed in 2011. Facing the courthouse, the Hanging Tree was just to the viewer's left.
The clock at the spire of the courthouse was restored to operational condition in 2010 as part of an overall renovation of the building, and is the highlight of the historic district which features several buildings from the American Civil War
American 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...
period.
The Toccoa Casket Company, now out of business, was the largest supplier of caskets to the military until Vietnam. Its building is located on the main road leading into Toccoa from the south, on the route from Toccoa to Mount Currahee.
Stephens County School District
The Stephens County School DistrictStephens County School District
The Stephens County School District is a public school district in Stephens County, Georgia, USA, based in Toccoa, Georgia. It serves the communities of Avalon, Martin, and Toccoa, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 304 full-time teachers and over 4,405 students. The town features one high school, one middle school, and four elementary schools.
Schools
Stephens County High School (SCHS) (Grades 9–12),Stephens County Middle School (SCMS) (Grades 6–8),
Liberty Elementary (Grades Pre-K–5),
Toccoa Elementary (Grades K–5),
Eastonallee Elementary (Grades K–5),
Big A Elementary (Grades K–5).
Stephens County High School is currently having a new facility built.
Crossroads Juvenile Academy is an alternative school in Stephens County, that gives behaviorally impaired students a second chance.
Mountain Education Center is an online night school that gives full Georgia High School Diplomas. This course is designed not only for full time students but also part-time students that are working to recover lost credits.
Transportation
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Crescent
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
connects Toccoa with the cities of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Baltimore, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The Amtrak station
Toccoa (Amtrak station)
The Toccoa Amtrak Station, formerly known as the Toccoa Southern Railway Depot, is a train station in Toccoa, Georgia that is served by Amtrak's Crescent...
is situated at 47 North Alexander St. The picture to the left is how the station appeared prior to the extension of the Currahee Military Museum, which was built to house the Aldebourne Stables and a growing collection of artifacts. That extension was subsequently enlarged in 2009 to include a community room and gift shop.
Toccoa is also home to the Toccoa Airport
Toccoa Airport
Toccoa Airport , also known as R.G. LeTourneau Field, is a public use airport located two nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Toccoa, a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States. It is owned by the Toccoa-Stephens County Authority...
, a small executive airport to the northeast of town.
The nearest interstate highway is Interstate 85
Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
.
Historic Town Mall
Located near the train depot (connecting to Atlanta, etc.), is where the downtown area of Toccoa is located. Also located nearby is the Toccoa courthouse. Around the 1950s leading up towards the 1980s, business was bustling in this "mall" as they called it. Each day people would flood to downtown Toccoa and shop. Back then there were several national retail outlets located in downtown Toccoa, one of those being the Belk GallantBelk
Belk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
department store.
In the early 1960s around the country large shopping malls began to compete with local downtown businesses and many began to fail. As an answer to the depressed conditions in downtowns, not only in Toccoa but in other towns as well, concrete canopies were erected and streets were closed to create a pedestrian mall. In less than ten years it was evident that instead of enhancing businesses and creating a positive downtown image, these canopies actually accelerated the downtown’s decline.
When the Belk Gallant department store announced it was going to move along a four lane road called Big A, community leaders organized Toccoa Main Street in 1990. In 1991, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Resource Team recommended that the canopies be removed and that the street be opened once again to vehicular traffic. However, for many years the project was not supported.
During that time, Toccoa Main Street implemented many changes and improvements to the downtown mall area. Brick pavers were installed and trees were planted. However, the canopies themselves began to deteriorate, and no support was found to repair them. During this time, businesses continued to flounder and many of the buildings were empty and in disrepair.
Over time, however, with growing support, approval was given to start the canopy removal project. Efforts that helped contribute community support for the project include: county-wide public surveys, University of Georgia (UGA) Market Study, a UGA design charrette, and renderings of individual buildings without the canopies provided by the GA Trust for Historic Preservation and UGA Community Design Planning and Preservation. To gather the necessary funds for the project, Toccoa partnered with six state agencies (Appalachian Regional Commission, Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), One Georgia Authority, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) that provided $1.3 million, with additional local funding of $552,000.
During the canopy removal and street re-opening project, private interest in downtown increased. In 2008, downtown saw 33 storefronts renovated (under the guidance of the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center (RDC) Historic Preservation Planner), 11 new business, 17 new jobs, 28 part-time jobs and 68 full-time equivalent jobs retained, and private investment of $3.5 million. Toccoa’s Main Street was re-opened to vehicular traffic. “The change in downtown is stunning,” said (then) Mayor Ron Seib. “Tourists and locals alike are visiting downtown, and parking is now at a premium, especially at lunch.” http://en.db-city.com/United_States/Georgia/Stephens/Toccoa On this webpage you will find many pictures of the renovated Mainstreet Toccoa.
The Currahee Military Museum, featured recently in the PBS Series, GA Traveler, and named as one of the best museums along the East Coast by Blue Ridge Mountain Magazine, is another attraction that continues downtown’s resurgence. Located in the restored historic train depot, the museum features a massive exhibit of 506’s Easy Company memorabilia. This World War II paratrooper company was popularized by the HBO Miniseries Band of Brothers. The depot housing this museum was recently restored to its pre-1940’s appearance. The depot building had previously been used as a maintenance and storage area for Norfolk Southern. Now it has been transformed to a publicly owned building that is home to the Chamber, Welcome Center, Stephens County Historical Society Museum, the Currahee Military Museum, and Amtrak. Funding for the million dollar project was received through Transportation Enhancement Activity (TEA) and GDOT funds of $400,000; local funding of $100,000 and private investment funds of over $500,000 were contributed. The museum just completed its second addition, funded by SPLOST.
Enhancing Toccoa “as a Northeast Georgia destination” is the newly restored Courthouse which anchors the downtown district. The renovation project was overseen by a governmental appointed citizen authority. Funded entirely by SPLOST dollars, the $2 million renovation project brought a historic 1907 building back to life while adding green space to the historic district and retained government offices and downtown customers in the city’s square.
Notable natives and residents
- Paul Edward AndersonPaul Edward AndersonPaul Edward Anderson was a weightlifter, strongman, and powerlifter.- Biography :Anderson was born in Toccoa, Georgia, United States of America....
, (1932–1994) – gold medal winner in Olympic weightlifting - Dan BiggersDan BiggersDan Biggers is an American actor best known for his role as Frank "Doc" Robb on the television series In the Heat of the Night. He was born in Rome, Georgia....
(unknown) – actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
(1933–2006) – singer, songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, dancer and bandleaderBandleaderA bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music.... - Bobby ByrdBobby ByrdBobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
(1934–2007) – musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. - Ida CoxIda CoxIda Cox was an African American singer and vaudeville performer, best known for her blues performances and recordings...
(1896–1967) – bluesBluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and vaudevilleVaudevilleVaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performer. - Dee ClarkDee ClarkDee Clark was an African-American soul singer best known for a string of R&B and pop hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the ballad "Raindrops," which became a million-seller in the United States in 1961....
(1938–1990) – singer - Dale DavisDale Davis (basketball)Elliott Lydell Davis is a former American professional basketball player who played center and power forward. He is 6'11" and weighs 252 pounds....
, (born 1969) – former professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. - DeForest KelleyDeForest KelleyJackson DeForest Kelley was an American actor known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek.-Early life:...
(1920–1999) – actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. - Evan OglesbyEvan OglesbyEvan Shawntell Oglesby is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, (born 1981) -- professional footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. - Oral RobertsOral RobertsGranville "Oral" Roberts was an American Pentecostal televangelist and a Christian charismatic. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University....
, (1918–2009) -- pastorPastorThe word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and televangelist. - Jerry Kenneth "Ken" SwillingJerry Kenneth "Ken" SwillingJerry Kenneth "Ken" Swilling is a former college and professional American football player who played Defensive Back for one season for the Cleveland Browns...
, (born 1970) -- footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and a Safety on the Georgia Tech 1990 National Championship Team. - Pat SwillingPat SwillingPatrick Travis Swilling is a former American football linebacker in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and a delegate in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He earned five Pro Bowl appearances.-College career:...
, (born 1964) -- professional footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Public health controversy
As of the 2000 US census, there is a larger percentage of both physically and mentally disabled individuals in Toccoa than previously believed. Some townspeople, and a handful of city officials, have speculated that it has something to do with the nearby site of the previous World War II campCamp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army...
. In addition, a recent Georgia law allows the state to relocate anyone they deem disabled or mentally retarded. Prominent city officials have kept quiet about the situation, suggesting a possible cover up, but many skeptics have spoken out against the governor of Georgia as well as to the nearby CDC offices.