Chattooga County is a county in Georgia, United States, tucked into the state’s northwest corner against the Alabama line. It had a population of 24,965 at the 2020 census and covers 313 square miles (810 km2) of land, centred near 34°29′N 85°21′W.
Summerville is the county seat, and its postal code is 30747. The county has 4 incorporated cities and towns plus roughly a dozen unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and runs on Eastern time. It was created December 28, 1838.
Towns & Villages in Chattooga County
Chattooga County has 4 incorporated places and about a dozen recognized unincorporated communities. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no local government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville | City · seat | — | 30747 |
| Trion | City | — | 30753 |
| Menlo | City | — | 30731 |
| Lyerly | City | — | 30730 |
| Alpine | Unincorp. | — | 30747 |
| Berryton | Unincorp. | — | 30747 |
| Chattoogaville | Unincorp. | — | 30747 |
| Cloudland | Unincorp. | — | 30731 |
| Farmersville | Unincorp. | — | 30731 |
| Gore | Unincorp. | — | 30753 |
| Holland | Unincorp. | — | 30753 |
| Pennville | Unincorp. | — | 30747 |
| Silver Hill | Unincorp. | — | 30747 |
| Subligna | Unincorp. | — | 30747 |
| Teloga | Unincorp. | — | 30753 |
East Trion is simply the eastern side of Trion across the Chattooga River, not a separate community. Names like Kartah, Neal Crossing, Perennial, Poetry, Sprite, Tidings and Welcome Hill from older lists could not be independently confirmed as current place names and are omitted here; see notes.
ZIP Codes
- 30747 — Summerville (also serves Alpine, Berryton, Chattoogaville, Pennville, Silver Hill, Subligna)
- 30753 — Trion (also serves Gore, Holland, Teloga)
- 30731 — Menlo (also serves Cloudland, Farmersville)
- 30730 — Lyerly
Every incorporated town in the county has its own ZIP; unincorporated communities use the nearest post office town’s code.
Geography
Chattooga County lies in the Ridge-and-Valley section of the Appalachians, with Taylor Ridge and Dick Ridge running through the county and the Chattahoochee National Forest along its eastern edge. The Chattooga River (a different Chattooga than the whitewater river on the South Carolina border) drains the county, and the eastern third sits in the Oostanaula River sub-basin while the western two-thirds drains through the Upper Coosa River sub-basin.
The county is bordered by Walker County to the north, Floyd County to the southeast, and by Cherokee County and DeKalb County, Alabama to the west.
Demographics
Chattooga County had 24,965 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 80 people per square mile. Summerville and Trion are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the Georgia median of $74,632, reflecting the county’s rural, manufacturing-dependent economy.
Economy & Local Life
Textile manufacturing anchored Chattooga County’s economy for over a century, centred on the Trion cotton mill on the Chattooga River. Poultry processing and agriculture round out the local economy, and Summerville is the county’s retail and government hub.
History
Chattooga County was created December 28, 1838, from parts of Floyd and Walker counties, and takes its name from the Chattooga River. The county saw Civil War activity in 1863–64, including fighting around the Trion cotton factory, and Union forces under General Sherman passed through the area ahead of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign.
Getting There
US Route 27 runs north–south through the county, with State Routes 1, 48, 100, 114, 157 and 337 providing local connections.
- Rome, Georgia — 20 miles southeast
- Fort Payne, Alabama — 25 miles west
- Chattanooga, Tennessee — 45 miles north
- Atlanta, Georgia — 95 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), about 45 miles north.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chattooga County?
It is in the northwest corner of Georgia, on the Alabama state line.
What is the population of Chattooga County?
24,965 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Chattooga County?
313 square miles (810 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Chattooga County?
Summerville.
How many towns are in Chattooga County?
4 incorporated cities and towns — Summerville, Trion, Menlo and Lyerly — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Chattooga County?
30747 (Summerville), 30753 (Trion), 30731 (Menlo) and 30730 (Lyerly).
What river runs through Chattooga County?
The Chattooga River, which gave the county its name and once powered the Trion textile mill.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.