Adairsville, Georgia

Adairsville is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 4,878. Adairsville is approximately halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga on Interstate 75. It is 12 miles (19 km) north of Kingston, 12 miles (19 km) south of Calhoun, 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Rome and 61 miles (98 km) north of Atlanta. History Adairsville used to be a small Cherokee village named after Chief Walter (John) S. Adair, a Scottish settler who married a Cherokee Indian woman before the removal of the Cherokee in 1838. It was part of the Cherokee territory along with Calhoun and including New Echota. After the removal of the Cherokees, the village became part of Georgia, and the residents kept the name Adairsville. One of the town's developers was William Watts, who had a railroad business interest in the town. He had brought the Western and Atlantic Railroad from Atlanta (still in use). He deeded land to the railroad and surveyed business lots including hotels, mills, and blacksmith shops around town. Watts's plan was successful and brought the town the nickname "Granary of the State"; it was incorporated in 1854. He lived in Adairsville in a home built on the foundation of an Indian cabin, on a hill overlooking the town. During the Civil War, Adairsville was involved on the side of the Confederate States of America in 1861 against the Union. On April 12, 1862, the steam locomotive The General was pursued from Atlanta and passed through Adairsville as its people the Great Locomotive Chase. After that, Adairians set a three-day street festival in remembrance of the Chase. The Civil War came to the town in full force on May 17, 1864, when the Confederate army failed to defeat Sherman and his Union army during the Atlanta campaign in the Battle of Adairsville. After the Civil War ended in 1865, Adairsville rebuilt and became a center of the carpet and textile industries, and of farm and transportation services, including its famous railroad. Historic buildings still intact in the town include the original train depot, which was involved in the Great Locomotive Chase. Adairsville is well known for Barnsley Gardens, the site of the now-derelict mansion of Godfrey Barnsley. On January 30, 2013, at approximately 11:30 am, the city was struck by a violent high-end EF3 tornado, leaving one dead, dozens injured, and hundreds of businesses and residences destroyed. Geography Adairsville is an exurban city at the northwest edge of metro Atlanta, at 34°22′6″N 84°55′42″W (34.368925, −84.928212). U.S. Route 41 passes through the city, leading north to Calhoun and south to Cartersville. Interstate 75 runs through the eastern part of the city, with access from Exit 306 (State Route 140). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km2), all land. Climate Adairsville's climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, it has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 census, Adairsville had a population of 4,878, with 1,828 households and 1,267 families residing in the city. The median age was 34.0 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over. 91.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.6% lived in rural areas. There were 1,828 households in Adairsville, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.3% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 1,951 housing units, of which 6.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 2,542 people, 991 households, and 702 families residing in the city. The population density was 411.9 inhabitants per square mile (159.0/km2). There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of 178.7 per square mile (69.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 72.6% White, 22.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population. There were 1,568 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.1% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $71,214, and the median income for a family was $74,828. Males had a median income of $31,123 versus $21,899 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,828. About 16.4% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over. Notable people Godfrey Barnsley, 19th-century cotton magnate after whom Barnsley Gardens is named Vic Beasley, 1st Round Pick for the Atlanta Falcons Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves manager Pretty Boy Floyd, a 1930s Midwestern outlaw, was born in Adairsville shortly before his family left Georgia for Oklahoma Wally Fowler, singer, founder of the Oak Ridge Boys Henry Morgan Green (1877–1939) physician, healthcare leader, and college founder; born in Adairsville Bella Jarrett, actress and author Horace G Martin, inventor of the Vibroplex telegraph key References External links City of Adairsville official website Adairsville Depot at Railga.com Adairsville, Georgia, at Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau Adairsville Elementary Adairsville High School