Dahlonega Georgia GA Warrant Search

Dahlonega, Georgia Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 3,638.Dahlonega is located at the north end of Georgia 400, which connects Atlanta to many affluent suburbs to the north. It is consistently named as a best place to retire by many different publications due to its low cost of living, vibrant activities, continuing education for seniors, festivals, and beautiful setting.In 1828 Dahlonega was the site of the first major gold rush in the United States. The Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site sits in the middle of the town square, housed in the old Lumpkin County Courthouse built in 1836. From its steps in 1849, Dahlonega Mint assayor Dr. M. F. Stephenson tried to persuade miners to stay in Dahlonega instead of joining the California Gold Rush, saying, 'There's gold in them thar hills.' Corey Smith wrote a song about the town of Dahlonega. It is the first track on his second album 'In the Mood.' History This area was occupied by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European contact. When European American settlers arrived, it was the traditional territory of the historical Cherokee nation.In 1828, Dahlonega became the site of the first major gold rush in the USA and became a boom town in the Georgia Gold Rush. The United States Mint built a branch mint here, which it operated from 1838–1861. The Confederate Treasury Department took over the facility after the declaration of secession and operated it until June 1, 1861.Numerous gold mines were illegally developed in the area. Miners coming illegally into the Cherokee Nation as outlined in the treaty between the Federal Government and the Cherokee Nation in The Treaty of Washington 1819 to the area came into conflict with the Cherokee Nation, whose territory they were trespassing on. They raised political pressure against the Cherokee because they wanted to get the gold. The Federal Government forced the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears during Indian Removal. Dahlonega was founded two years before the Treaty of New Echota 1835, which made its founding a violation of The Treaty of Washington of 1819. In 1833 the city was named Talonega by the Georgia General Assembly on December 21st 1833. The name was changed from Talonega by the Georgia General Assembly on December 25, 1837 to Dahlonega, from the Cherokee-language word Dalonige, meaning 'yellow' or 'gold.' The city is just east of Auraria; each claims to be the site of the first discovery of gold. Senator John Calhoun of South Carolina (7th Vice President of the United States) owned the Calhoun Mine, just south of the City Square.The Dahlonega Mint, like the one established in 1838 in Charlotte, North Carolina, only minted gold coins, in denominations of $1.00, $2.50 (quarter eagle), $3.00 (1854 only) and $5.00 (half eagle). This was cost effective in consideration of the economics, time, and risk of shipping gold to the main mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dahlonega Mint was a small operation, usually accounting for only a small fraction of the gold coinage minted annually in the US.The government decided against re-opening the facility after the Civil War. By then, the U.S. government had established a mint in San Francisco, California. Given the large amount of gold discovered in California from the late 1840s on, that mint handled the national needs of gold mint production.As a result, surviving Dahlonega coinage is today highly prized in American numismatics. The mint building burned in 1878. The North Georgia College campus built Price Memorial Hall on its foundation. The building has a gold-leaf steeple to refer to the history of the site.In recent years, Dahlonega and Lumpkin County have been recognized as 'the heart of Georgia Wine Country.' The county features five vineyards and wineries that attract many tourists.The historic Dahlonega Square is also a popular tourist destination, with gift shops, restaurants, art galleries and artists' studios. The city's local festivals draw many tourists. 'Bear on the Square', an annual three-day festival held the third weekend in April, marks the day that a black bear wandered onto the square. It features bluegrass and old-time music. It celebrates the culture of the Southern Appalachians with a juried artists' market and other activities. 'Gold Rush Days', an annual two-day event the third weekend in October, attract over 200,000 people. Historical marker Located at 384 Mountain Drive, WPA Historical Marker 19 B-7 explains:This court house, built in 1836, replaced the small structure used since the establishment of Lumpkin County in 1832. The town was named Dahlonega in October, 1833, for the Cherokee word Talonega meaning 'golden.' From its steps in 1849, Dr. M.F. Stephenson, assayor [sic] at the Mint, attempted to dissuade Georgia miners from leaving to join the California Gold Rush. His oration gave rise to the sayings: 'There's millions in it,' and 'Thar's gold in them thar hills.' Geography Dahlonega is located at 34°31′50″N 83°59′5″W / 34.53056°N 83.98472°W / 34.53056; -83.98472 (34.530471, -83.984705).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), all of it land. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 3,638 people, 1,060 households, and 568 families residing in the city. The population density was 568.1 people per square mile (219.5/km²). There were 1,181 housing units at an average density of 184.4/sq mi (71.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.94% White, 4.95% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.57% of the population.There were 1,060 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.In the city the population was spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 42.9% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 73.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.3 males.The median income for a household in the city was $28,636, and the median income for a family was $44,904. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,572. About 11.4% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over. Lumpkin County School District The Lumpkin County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 215 full-time teachers and over 3,511 students.Lumpkin County Elementary School Long Branch Elementary School Blackburn Elementary School Lumpkin County Middle School Lumpkin County High School Higher education Dahlonega is home to North Georgia College and State University, the Senior Military College of Georgia. The campus has a building, Price Hall, topped with a spire, which is covered with gold leaf from the town. The rotunda dome of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta is also covered with Dahlonega gold. Other educational facilities Hidden Lake Academy, aboarding school Wahsega 4-H Center, an environmental education center and summer camp owned by theUniversity of Georgiaand administered through the UGA Cooperative Extension ServiceGeorgia 4-Hprogram Camp Glisson, a year-round retreat camp owned by the North Georgia Conference of theUnited Methodist Church Famous residents Amy Ray,Indigo Girlssinger and song-writer Max Burns, FormerUnited States House of RepresentativesMember Sara Christian,NASCARfirst female driver John Bell,Widespread Paniclead singer and guitarist Zac Brown,Zac Brown Bandlead singer Dallas Kinney,Pulitzer Prizewinning photographer.