Gilmer County

THE FACTS

• Population: 19,943
  
• Property tax per $1,000: $18.81 Unincorporated | $03.65 City
  
• Average cost of existing homes: $86,200
  
• Tax Commissioner: 706-635-4762
  
• On the web at: gilmerchamber.com

It's hard to describe Gilmer County as anything other than picturesque. Home to state recreation areas such as Carters Lake.Amicalola State Park, Fort Mountain State Park, the Cohutta Wilderness and the Rich Mountain Wilderness, Gilmer is one of themost beautiful areas in all of north Georgia.

The county seat of Gilmer County is Ellijay, which is joined by its sister city (and the only other incorporated community in Gilmer), East Ellijay. Ellijay is Cherokee for green earth there, and the Cherokee lived in this area until their forced removal to Oklahoma in 1838 via the Trail of Tears.

And the county is likely to stay picturesque, too, as nearly half the territory of Gilmer County is within the Chattahoochee National Forest and is protected from development by the Federal Government.

There are a number of recognized communities within the county, such as Mountaintown, Boardtown, Cartecay and Cherry Log, all of which are population centers and offer small class sizes, affordable housing and scenic communities. And of course, with the local price of a starter home so far below the metro Atlanta average, it's no surprise that so many people are choosing to make their homes here. The 2001 census estimated Gilmer's growth to be booming at nearly 18 percent per decade.

Education
Public Schools
gilmer.k12.ga.us
Board of Education
706-276-5000
Elementary schools 4
Middle schools 1
High schools 1 Gilmer Co.
Pupil/Teacher ratio avg. 16:1
Per-pupil expenditures $5,707
School and bus assignment information:
770-276-5000

Private Schools
Admission requirements, testing and tuition vary with each school. Check with the school of your choice for further details.
Grace Christian School
164 Legion Road
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-2441 * gracechristianschool.us
Enrollment: 94
Grades: PK - 12

Medical
Emergency: 911
Poison: 911
Gilmer County Fire: 911
Gilmer County Police: 911
Rescue: 911

North Georgia Medical Center
1362 South Main Street
Ellijay, GA 30504
706-276-4741
northgeorgiamedicalcenter.com

Utilities
Electricity
Georgia Power
888-660-5890/401-506-6526
Connection Fee: $22
Security deposit required if no credt
georgiapower.com

Gas
For information on establishing your gas connection and the deregulation of the natural gas market in Georgia with a listing
of the residential gas providers, see our utility guide.
Georgia Natural Gas
P.O. Box 723908
Atlanta, GA 31139
770-850-6200 (inside metro Atlanta)
1-877-850-6200 (outside metro Atlanta)

Telephone
Ellijay Telephone Company
224 Dalton St.
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-276-2271, 1-800-660-6826

Water
Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewer Authority
100 Victory Drive
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-4362

Garbage
Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewer Authority
100 Victory Drive
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-4362

Parks
Parks and Recreation Department
Gilmer County Parks
Highway 5 South
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-7700

Other
Georgia Apple Festival
Ellijay, GA 30121
Producing 60,000 bushels of apples each fall, Gilmer County is Georgia's Apple Capital. Handmade arts and crafts, homegrow
entertainment, car show, parade and every apple product imaginable to make the weekends a family adventure.

Libraries
Gilmer County Public Library 706-635-4528
103 Dalton Street
Ellijay, GA 30540
Post Office
usps.gov
Ellijay Post Office
801 Industrial Blvd.
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-4356

Newspaper
The Times-Courier
47 River Street
P.O. Box 1076
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-4313

Car Tag & License
Tag Office
706-635-4762

Miscellaneous
Voter Registration
For information: 706-635-4617

Gilmer-County Chamber of Commerce
368 Craig Street
East Ellijay, GA 30539
706-635-7400
gilmerchamber.com