Whitfield County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the state’s northwest corner along the Tennessee line. It had a population of 102,864 at the 2020 census, making it one of the more densely populated rural counties in the state. The county covers 290 square miles (750 km2) of land plus 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of water, centred near 34°48′N 84°58′W.
Dalton is the county seat, and its postal code is 30720. The county has 3 cities, 1 town, and several unincorporated communities. Whitfield County runs on Eastern time and sits along Interstate 75.
Towns & Villages in Whitfield County
Dalton dominates the county’s population; the rest of Whitfield is a mix of small incorporated towns and unincorporated mill villages and crossroads that grew up around the carpet industry.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton | City · seat | 34,417 | 30720 |
| Tunnel Hill | City | — | 30755 |
| Varnell | City | — | — |
| Cohutta | Town | — | — |
| Rocky Face | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Vernon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prater Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dawnville | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 30720 — Dalton (main office)
- 30755 — Tunnel Hill
Dalton’s addresses also span the neighboring 30719, 30721 and 30722 ZIP codes; most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities share a Dalton ZIP rather than one of their own.
Geography
Whitfield County sits in the ridge-and-valley country of northwest Georgia, where parallel forested ridges run northeast to southwest between farmland and the Conasauga River watershed. Rocky Face Ridge, on the county’s west side, gives its name to the unincorporated community at its base.
Whitfield County borders Bradley County, Tennessee, to the north; Hamilton County, Tennessee, to the northwest; Catoosa County to the west-northwest; Walker County to the west-southwest; Gordon County to the south; and Murray County to the east.
Demographics
The county’s population was 102,864 at the 2020 census. Dalton, the county seat and largest city, and Tunnel Hill are its two largest incorporated communities. Whitfield County’s median household income runs below Georgia’s statewide 2023 ACS figure of $74,632, reflecting the concentration of manufacturing-sector jobs in the local economy. With roughly 290 square miles of land, the county’s population density is among the highest of any rural Georgia county.
Economy & Local Life
Dalton calls itself the “Carpet Capital of the World,” and the floor-covering industry anchors Whitfield County’s economy: roughly 150 carpet and flooring plants operate within the wider Dalton area, and more than 90 percent of the world’s carpet is manufactured within about 65 miles of the city. Manufacturers including Mohawk Industries have long operated plants here. Beyond flooring, the county’s economy includes trucking and logistics tied to the Interstate 75 corridor and a growing Hispanic-owned small-business sector reflecting the area’s demographic shift over the past three decades. Dalton hosts a summer Downtown Farmers Market (May through August) and an annual beer festival.
History
Whitfield County was created on December 30, 1851, from part of Murray County. It was named for George Whitfield, the Methodist evangelist better known by the traditional spelling “Whitefield” — the county dropped the “e” to match how his name was actually pronounced. The carpet industry that now defines the county traces to the early 20th century, when Dalton women began hand-tufting bedspreads, a cottage craft that grew into today’s flooring manufacturing base.
Getting There
Interstate 75 runs the length of Whitfield County, with U.S. Routes 41 and 76 and several state routes (2, 3, 52, 71, 201, 286) providing local connections.
- Chattanooga, Tennessee — 30 miles north
- Atlanta — 85 miles south
- Chatsworth (Murray County seat) — 15 miles east
- Calhoun (Gordon County seat) — 20 miles south
Dalton Municipal Airport handles general aviation only; the nearest commercial airports are Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Amtrak does not serve the county — passenger rail through Dalton ended in 1971.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Whitfield County, Georgia?
It sits in the state’s northwest corner along the Tennessee line, about 30 miles south of Chattanooga.
What is the Dalton postcode?
Dalton’s ZIP codes run from 30719 to 30722, with 30720 as its main office code.
What is the population of Whitfield County?
Whitfield County had a population of 102,864 at the 2020 census.
Why is Dalton called the Carpet Capital of the World?
Roughly 150 carpet and flooring plants operate in and around Dalton, and more than 90 percent of the world’s carpet is made within about 65 miles of the city.
What county seat serves Whitfield County?
Dalton is the county seat.
How did Whitfield County get its name?
It was named for Methodist evangelist George Whitfield in 1851; the traditional spelling of his name is “Whitefield,” but the county’s spelling was chosen to match its pronunciation.
What counties border Whitfield County?
Bradley and Hamilton counties in Tennessee to the north and northwest, Catoosa and Walker counties to the west, Gordon County to the south, and Murray County to the east.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.