Dahlonega is a town located in Lumpkin County, Georgia, USA, and is its county seat⁶. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 3,638.

Dahlonega was the site of a branch mint between 1838 and 1861, when Confederate troops seized the facility and operations ceased. Numerous gold mines were scattered around the area, a major reason the Cherokee people were forced to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. The city's name since 1833 comes from the Cherokee-language word "talonega", meaning "golden". The city is just east of Auaria where gold was first found. Senator John Calhoun also owned the Calhoun Mine, just south of the City Square. The mint at Dahlonega, like the one established in 1838 in Charlotte, North Carolina, only minted gold coins, in denominations of $2.50 (quarter eagle), $5 (half eagle), $10 (eagle), and after 1849, tiny $1 coins. The mint at Dahlonega was a small operation, usually accounting for only a small fraction of the gold coinage minted annually, and it was deemed unnecessary to reestablish the facility after the Civil War. As a result, surviving Dahlonega coinage is today highly prized in American numismatics. The mint building burned in 1878 - but the North Georgia College campus built another hall on its foundation. The building is clearly identifyable by the gold leaf roof.

Dahlonega is home to North Georgia College & State University, which includes the Military College of Georgia. The campus has a building topped with a spire, which is covered in gold leaf from the town. The rotunda dome of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta is also covered the same way.

Located at the north end of Georgia 400, about an hour's drive from Atlanta, Dahlonega is also a popular tourist attraction for residents of metro Atlanta. The Dahlonega Gold Museum sits in the exact middle of the town square, in the old Lumpkin County Courthouse built in 1836. From its steps in 1849, Dahlonega Mint assayor Dr. M. F. Stephenson tried to persuade miners to stay instead of joining the California gold rush. His oration gave rise to the phrases "thar's gold in them thar hills" and "there's millions in it".

The city's official website is http://www.cityofdahlonega.com/.

Geography

Dahlonega is located at 34°31'50" North, 83°59'5" West (34.530471, -83.984705)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 km² (6.4 mi²). 16.6 km² (6.4 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 3,638 people, 1,060 households, and 568 families residing in the city. The population density is 219.5/km² (568.1/mi²). There are 1,181 housing units at an average density of 71.2/km² (184.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 89.94% White, 4.95% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 6.57% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,060 households out of which 23.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% are married couples living together, 9.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% are non-families. 31.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 2.96.

In the city the population is spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 42.9% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 73.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 69.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $28,636, and the median income for a family is $44,904. Males have a median income of $30,500 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,572. 24.4% of the population and 11.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.4% of those under the age of 18 and 13.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=34.530471&longitude=-83.984705&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.530471&lon=-83.984705&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-83.984705&lat=34.530471&w=750&h=500)