Catoosa County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the northwest corner of the state along the Tennessee line. It had a population of 67,872 at the 2020 census and covers 162 square miles (420 km2) centred near 34°54′N 85°08′W.
Ringgold is the county seat, and its postal code is 30736. The county has two incorporated cities, one incorporated town, and about a dozen unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone and is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Catoosa County
Catoosa County has three incorporated municipalities — two cities and one town — plus a cluster of unincorporated communities and subdivisions. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Oglethorpe | City | 10,423 | 30742 |
| Ringgold | City · seat | 3,414 | 30736 |
| Tunnel Hill | Town | — | 30755 |
| Boynton | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Burning Bush | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Catoosa Springs | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Graysville | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Keith | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Mount Pisgah | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Newnan Springs | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Poplar Springs | Unincorp. | — | 30736 |
| Westside | Unincorp. | — | 30742 |
Tunnel Hill sits mostly in neighboring Whitfield County, with a small portion crossing into Catoosa — it is listed here because part of its address range falls inside the county. A number of names from the site’s older list (Blevins Acre, Blue Spring, Boyd Highlands, Brookvale Estates, Cinderella Hills, Cloud Springs, Copeland Crossing, Dafron, Dallondale, Dietz, East Boynton, Ellie Spring, Fairlawn Acres, Foster Hills, Green Acres, Greenwood, Indian Springs, Lakeview, Love Hill, McDonald Acres, Midway, Mitchell Acres, Morris Estates, Mount Vernon, New Liberty, Old Fort Estates, Old Mill Trace, Pinewood Estates, Post Oak, Red Belt, Salem, Scenic Hills, Shookville, Stone Church, Sugartown, Summit Hill, Swanson Mill, Waverly Park) are residential subdivisions or road names rather than recognized census communities and are omitted here — see notes.md.
ZIP Codes
- 30736 — Ringgold (also serves Boynton, Burning Bush, Catoosa Springs, Graysville, Keith, Mount Pisgah, Newnan Springs, Pleasant Grove, Poplar Springs)
- 30742 — Fort Oglethorpe (also serves Westside)
- 30755 — Tunnel Hill
Most unincorporated communities in the county use the Ringgold or Fort Oglethorpe post office rather than having a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Catoosa County lies at the southern end of the Ridge-and-Valley province, where the Appalachian foothills give way to the Chattanooga basin. Chickamauga Creek and its tributaries drain most of the county, and the western edge climbs into Taylor Ridge. The county has 162 square miles of land and about 0.3 square miles of water.
Catoosa County borders Hamilton County, Tennessee to the north, Whitfield County to the east, and Walker County to the southwest, with Dade County, Georgia, and Chattanooga’s southern suburbs also nearby.
Demographics
Catoosa County had 67,872 residents at the 2020 census, making it the county’s largest population on record. Fort Oglethorpe (10,423) and Ringgold (3,414) are the two largest communities; most residents live in unincorporated areas between them. Georgia’s 2023 median household income was the Georgia median of $74,632; Catoosa County, a mostly middle-class commuter county for Chattanooga, tracks close to that figure. Population density is about 419 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Many Catoosa County residents commute north into Chattanooga, Tennessee, for work, and the county functions as a bedroom community for that metro area. Local employment centers on retail and services along the I-75 corridor at Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe, healthcare, and light manufacturing. Fort Oglethorpe grew up around the former U.S. Army post at Fort Oglethorpe, and the county’s southern edge touches Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, a major regional tourist draw.
History
Catoosa County was created on December 5, 1853, from parts of Walker and Whitfield counties. Its name is Cherokee in origin, generally translated as “hill” or “new settlement place.” The county sits near the site of the 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, one of the Civil War’s bloodiest engagements, and Fort Oglethorpe was later established as a U.S. Army cavalry post that trained soldiers through both World Wars before closing in 1946.
Getting There
Interstate 75 runs the length of the county north–south, with U.S. Routes 27, 41, and 76 providing additional access.
- Chattanooga, Tennessee — 12 miles north
- Dalton, Georgia — 15 miles southeast
- LaFayette, Georgia — 20 miles southwest
- Chickamauga, Georgia — 10 miles south
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, just across the state line, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Catoosa County, Georgia?
It is in the northwest corner of Georgia, bordering Tennessee, part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area.
What is the population of Catoosa County?
67,872 at the 2020 census.
How big is Catoosa County?
162 square miles (420 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Catoosa County?
Ringgold is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Catoosa County?
Three incorporated municipalities — the cities of Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold and the town of Tunnel Hill — plus around a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Catoosa County?
Mainly 30736 (Ringgold) and 30742 (Fort Oglethorpe), with 30755 (Tunnel Hill) covering a small northeastern slice.
Why is it called Catoosa County?
The name comes from a Cherokee word generally translated as “hill” or “new settlement place.”
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.