# Catoosa County, Georgia

Catoosa County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2020 census, the population was 67,872. The county seat is Ringgold. The county was created on December 5, 1853. The meaning of the Cherokee language name "Catoosa" is obscure. "Catoosa" may come from the Cherokee words gatusi ("hill", "small mountain" or "high place") or gatu'gitse ("new settlement place").
Catoosa County is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

On March 14, 2002, due to a one-time sudden fog, about 125 vehicles crashed, causing a pileup in Interstate 75 that killed four people and injured 39.
On April 27, 2011, a devastating tornado touched down in the town of Ringgold, located in Catoosa County, leaving a path of severe destruction.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 162 square miles (420 km$^2$), of which 162 square miles (420 km$^2$) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water. The entire county is located in the Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga sub-basin of the Middle Tennessee-Hiwassee basin.

### Major highways

* Interstate 75
* U.S. Route 27
* U.S. Route 41
* U.S. Route 76
* State Route 1
* State Route 2
* State Route 3
* State Route 146
* State Route 151
* State Route 401 (unsigned designation for I-75)

### Adjacent counties

* Hamilton County, Tennessee (north)
* Whitfield County (east)
* Walker County (west)

### National protected areas

* Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
* Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Catoosa County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 51,013 | 59,149 | 59,280 | 95.74% | 92.50% | 87.34% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 661 | 1,356 | 1,808 | 1.24% | 2.12% | 2.66% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 159 | 191 | 181 | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 370 | 762 | 1,025 | 0.69% | 1.19% | 1.51% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 10 | 30 | 84 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 15 | 49 | 133 | 0.03% | 0.08% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 433 | 936 | 3,020 | 0.81% | 1.46% | 4.45% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 621 | 1,469 | 2,341 | 1.17% | 2.30% | 3.45% |
| Total | 53,282 | 63,942 | 67,872 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 67,872 people, 24,130 households, and 17,293 families residing in the county.

### 2016

As of 2016 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Catoosa County, Georgia are:
| Largest ancestries (2015) | Percent |
| English | 17.6% |
| American | 17.2% |
| Irish | 13.2% |
| German | 11.7% |
| Scottish | 2.6% |
| Italian | 2.3% |
| Dutch | 1.5% |
| Scots-Irish | 1.5% |
| French | 1.5% |
| Polish | 0.8% |
| Welsh | 0.6% |
| Swedish | 0.5% |
| Norwegian | 0.5% |
| Danish | 0.3% |

### 2010 census

According to the 2010 United States census, there were 63,942 people, 24,475 households, and 17,785 families living in the county. The population density was 394.3 inhabitants per square mile (152.2/km$^2$). There were 26,606 housing units at an average density of 164.1 per square mile (63.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 93.6% white, 2.2% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.
Of the 24,475 households, 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.3% were non-families, and 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,544 and the median income for a family was $54,796. Males had a median income of $39,962 versus $31,505 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,563. About 8.5% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

### 2000 census

According to the census of 2000, there were 53,282 people, 20,425 households, and 15,400 families living in the county. The population density was 328 inhabitants per square mile (127/km$^2$). There were 21,794 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White, 1.26% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races; 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 20,425 households, of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,998, and the median income for a family was $45,710. Males had a median income of $31,746 versus $23,790 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,009. About 6.40% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Catoosa County, Georgia :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 27,150 | 77.36% | 7,704 | 21.95% | 243 | 0.69% |
| 2020 | 25,167 | 77.14% | 6,932 | 21.25% | 527 | 1.62% |
| 2016 | 20,876 | 77.49% | 4,771 | 17.71% | 1,293 | 4.80% |
| 2012 | 17,858 | 75.06% | 5,365 | 22.55% | 568 | 2.39% |
| 2008 | 18,218 | 74.04% | 6,025 | 24.49% | 362 | 1.47% |
| 2004 | 16,406 | 73.43% | 5,807 | 25.99% | 128 | 0.57% |
| 2000 | 12,033 | 67.90% | 5,470 | 30.87% | 218 | 1.23% |
| 1996 | 8,237 | 55.89% | 5,185 | 35.18% | 1,317 | 8.94% |
| 1992 | 7,599 | 51.59% | 4,817 | 32.70% | 2,315 | 15.72% |
| 1988 | 9,319 | 72.02% | 3,588 | 27.73% | 33 | 0.26% |
| 1984 | 7,908 | 71.91% | 3,089 | 28.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 5,962 | 53.91% | 4,921 | 44.50% | 176 | 1.59% |
| 1976 | 3,799 | 38.69% | 6,020 | 61.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 6,008 | 87.05% | 894 | 12.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,043 | 21.75% | 901 | 9.59% | 6,449 | 68.66% |
| 1964 | 4,143 | 58.59% | 2,922 | 41.32% | 6 | 0.08% |
| 1960 | 2,074 | 49.52% | 2,114 | 50.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,336 | 38.18% | 2,163 | 61.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,371 | 38.10% | 2,227 | 61.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 268 | 17.43% | 1,051 | 68.34% | 219 | 14.24% |
| 1944 | 395 | 21.37% | 1,453 | 78.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 249 | 14.74% | 1,440 | 85.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 218 | 17.59% | 1,018 | 82.16% | 3 | 0.24% |
| 1932 | 123 | 11.01% | 985 | 88.18% | 9 | 0.81% |
| 1928 | 605 | 51.84% | 562 | 48.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 242 | 25.97% | 661 | 70.92% | 29 | 3.11% |
| 1920 | 33 | 37.50% | 55 | 62.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 32 | 3.70% | 624 | 72.06% | 210 | 24.25% |
| 1912 | 63 | 13.64% | 286 | 61.90% | 113 | 24.46% |

## Education

All of Catoosa County is in the Catoosa County School District.

### Elementary schools

* Battlefield Elementary School
* Battlefield Primary School
* Boynton Elementary School
* Cloud Springs Elementary School
* Graysville Elementary School
* Ringgold Elementary School
* Ringgold Primary School
* Tiger Creek Elementary School
* West Side Elementary School
* Woodstation Elementary School

### Middle schools

* Heritage Middle School
* Lakeview Middle School
* Ringgold Middle School

### High schools

* Heritage High School
* Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School
* Ringgold High School
* Performance Learning Center

## Communities
### Cities

* Fort Oglethorpe
* Ringgold

### Town

* Tunnel Hill

### Census-designated places

* Indian Springs
* Lakeview

### Other unincorporated communities

* Graysville
* Woodstation