Nelson, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nelson, Georgia
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Nelson city hall
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Location in Pickens County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Counties | Pickens, Cherokee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.53 sq mi (3.97 km2) |
| • Land | 1.52 sq mi (3.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,237 ft (377 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,145 |
| • Density | 751.31/sq mi (290.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
30151
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| Area code(s) | 770 |
| FIPS code | 13-54572 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0319244 |
Nelson is a city in Pickens and Cherokee Counties, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,145. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
History
The city is named for John Nelson, an early landowner, farmer, and rifle maker.
The area possesses substantial deposits of marble. The construction of a railway in 1883 made the development of large-scale quarries possible. The quality of the marble has made it favored for federal monuments.
The Marble Museum is located in the Nelson City Hall and features a year-round exhibit that includes "examples of fine marble and shows the history of marble mining in Pickens County". Many stone cutters and other workers who migrated from either Italy or Scotland in the early years of the industry settled in Nelson to work in the area's marble industry. Today the Georgia Northeastern Railroad operates between Tate, Georgia, and the CSX interchange at Elizabeth (Marietta) five days a week. The Georgia Marble rail lines at Tate and Marble Hill, and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad at Blue Ridge, Georgia are also operated by GNRR. Their website also states the "GNRR runs through a Georgia Marble facility that no is no longer served by rail" at Nelson.
On April 1, 2013, the city council voted unanimously to approve the "Family Protection Ordinance". Every head of household must own a gun and ammunition to "provide for the emergency management of the city" and to "provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants." No one is required to buy one if they don't have one and the ordinance doesn't penalize anyone who does not comply. Convicted felons are exempt.
Geography
Nelson is located on the border of Pickens and Cherokee counties at 34°22′54″N 84°22′17″W / 34.38167°N 84.37139°W (34.381562, -84.371303). The original city center is located in Pickens County, but the city limits have recently expanded southward so that more of the city is now located in Cherokee County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km2), of which 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.56%, is water.
Nelson is served through its downtown by the Georgia Northeastern Railroad, and by Canton Road, the town's main street and the former route of Georgia State Route 5. South on old 5 is Ball Ground, and north is Tate. The north end of Interstate 575 and south end of State Route 515 is at the county line just to the west of Nelson. I-575 leads south 52 miles (84 km) to Atlanta, and SR 515 leads north 26 miles (42 km) to Ellijay.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 266 | — | |
| 1900 | 254 | −4.5% | |
| 1910 | 550 | 116.5% | |
| 1920 | 511 | −7.1% | |
| 1930 | 798 | 56.2% | |
| 1940 | 679 | −14.9% | |
| 1950 | 645 | −5.0% | |
| 1960 | 658 | 2.0% | |
| 1970 | 613 | −6.8% | |
| 1980 | 562 | −8.3% | |
| 1990 | 486 | −13.5% | |
| 2000 | 626 | 28.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,314 | 109.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,145 | −12.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,018 | 88.91% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 28 | 2.45% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.26% |
| Asian | 2 | 0.17% |
| Other/Mixed | 46 | 4.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 48 | 4.19% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,145 people, 523 households, and 383 families residing in the city.
Notable person
- Claude Akins, actor
See also
In Spanish: Nelson (Georgia) para niños
