Calhoun
Around Calhoun
Illustration made for Popchat
Town and around · Georgia · 60k people
Calhoun
“The City of Progress”
Where the mountains meet the valley
forest greensteel bluesaddle brown
Welcome to Calhoun, where the Oostanaula flows and the mountains peek over the horizon. Come for the small-town charm, stay for the sweet tea and friendly faces.
Clubs for Calhoun
No clubs for Calhoun yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Calhoun. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Calhoun. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- New Echota Historic Site Capital of the Cherokee Nation, now a state historic site.
- Resaca Battlefield Site of a major Civil War battle with walking trails.
- Oostanaula River Flows through town, popular for fishing and kayaking.
- Calhoun Historic Downtown Tree-lined streets with shops, diners, and historic buildings.
- Calhoun Depot Historic train station, now a community gathering spot.
- Gordon County Courthouse Historic courthouse in the town square.
- Outdoors Hiking in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
- Outdoors Fishing on the Oostanaula River
- With kids Exploring New Echota Historic Site
- With kids Walking the historic downtown
- Evenings Live music at the Harris Arts Center
- Evenings Trivia nights at local bars
- Locals love small-town diners
- Locals love barbecue joints
Through the year
- Gordon County Fair Fall Annual fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
- Harris Arts Center Summer Concert Series Summer Outdoor concerts featuring local and regional acts.
- Calhoun Farmers Market Summer Weekly market with fresh produce and local goods.
- Calhoun Art Walk Spring Downtown stroll with local artists and live music.
- Resaca Battlefield Reenactment Spring Civil War reenactment and living history weekend.
Humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are perfect for being outside.
Talk like a local
- “the Oost”
- The Oostanaula River.
- “the square”
- Downtown Calhoun, especially the town square.
Getaways
- Dalton Carpet capital with a charming downtown and nearby mountains.
- Rome Historic river city with trails and a lively downtown.
- Summerville Small-town feel with access to the Chattooga River.
- Cedartown Known for its historic courthouse and Silver Comet Trail.
Local flavour
Rooting for Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United, Rome Braves
Eat and drink
- chicken mull A Southern stew, often served at gatherings
- sweet tea A staple drink across Georgia
- peach cobbler Georgia's signature dessert
- country ham Cured and salty, a Southern tradition
Where people go
- historic downtown Antebellum buildings and local shops
- Civil War battlefields (Resaca) Site of the Battle of Resaca, 1864
- foothills of the Blue Ridge Scenic mountain views
- Oostanaula River Flows through the area, popular for fishing and kayaking
- small-town diners Family-owned eateries with home-style meals
- barbecue joints Smoked meats and Southern sides
Heritage and traditions
Calhoun is proud of its Cherokee heritage, Civil War history, and small-town Southern charm, set against the foothills of the Blue Ridge.
This time of year in Calhoun
- Fall fair and foliage Fall The Gordon County Fair in September and colorful leaves in October.
- Calhoun Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with fresh produce, baked goods, and crafts.
- Calhoun Art Walk Spring and fall Downtown art stroll with local artists and live music.
- New Echota Heritage Day October Cherokee culture demonstrations and storytelling at the historic site.
Say it like a local: “I'm fixin' to go to the store.” — getting ready to do something
Festivals
- Gordon County Fair September Annual fair with rides, livestock shows, and local food.
- Harris Arts Center Summer Concert Series June–August Outdoor concerts featuring local and regional musicians.
- Calhoun Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with fresh produce, baked goods, and crafts.
- Calhoun Art Walk Spring and fall Downtown art stroll with local artists and live music.
- Resaca Battlefield Reenactment May Living history event recreating the 1864 battle.
- New Echota Heritage Day October Cherokee culture demonstrations and storytelling at the historic site.
Landmarks with a story
- New Echota Historic Site Capital of the Cherokee Nation from 1825 to 1838, where the Trail of Tears began. Reconstructed buildings and museum.
- Resaca Battlefield Site of the first major battle of the Atlanta Campaign in May 1864. Preserved earthworks and interpretive trails.
- Calhoun Historic Downtown A walkable square with 19th-century buildings, the courthouse, and local shops.
- Calhoun Depot Restored railroad depot from the 1850s, now a museum and visitor center.
- Gordon County Courthouse A 1900s neoclassical building in the town square, still in use.
- Harris Arts Center Community arts center in a historic school building, hosting exhibits and performances.
Food traditions
- Chicken mull A thick chicken stew served at community gatherings, church suppers, and political rallies. It's a local comfort food with roots in Southern home cooking.
- Sweet tea Brewed strong and heavily sweetened, served over ice at every meal and gathering. A true Southern staple.
- Peach cobbler Georgia peaches baked under a biscuit crust, often served with vanilla ice cream. A summer dessert that celebrates the state's fruit.
- Country ham Salt-cured and smoked ham, often served at holiday meals or breakfast with biscuits. A tradition from the rural South.
- Boiled peanuts Green peanuts boiled in salty water, sold at roadside stands and gas stations. A quintessential Georgia snack.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass and country music Rooted in Appalachian traditions, with local jams and shows at venues like the Harris Arts Center.
- Gospel singing Church choirs and community singings are a strong tradition, especially in rural areas.
- Cherokee arts and crafts Basket weaving, pottery, and beadwork are showcased at New Echota and local festivals.
- Local visual arts The Harris Arts Center supports painters, potters, and photographers, with regular exhibits.
A little history
- 1825–1838 New Echota served as the capital of the Cherokee Nation, and the Trail of Tears began here in 1838.
- May 1864 The Battle of Resaca was fought here, a key engagement in the Atlanta Campaign.
- 1850 Calhoun was founded and named after John C. Calhoun, with the railroad arriving shortly after.
- 1850 Gordon County was created from Cass County, with Calhoun as its seat.
- Late 1800s–1900s The town grew as a cotton and agricultural center, later diversifying into poultry and manufacturing.
Rivalries
- Calhoun High vs. Gordon Central Local high school football rivalry.
- Calhoun vs. Dalton Cross-county high school matchups.
- Georgia vs. Georgia Tech College football rivalry that divides households.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Hiking in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
- Outdoors Fishing on the Oostanaula River
- With kids Exploring New Echota Historic Site
- With kids Walking the historic downtown
A Southern Appalachian accent with a drawl, common in North Georgia. Locals use 'y'all' for plural 'you' and often drop the 'g' in '-ing' words. The pace is unhurried, and politeness is key.
Only here
- New Echota is the only reconstructed Cherokee capital in the United States.
- The Resaca Battlefield is one of the few preserved Civil War battlefields in North Georgia.
- The Oostanaula River offers calm water for kayaking right in town.
- The downtown square still has a working courthouse and a soda fountain.
New here? A few tips
- You'll need a car – public transit is minimal.
- Summers are hot and humid; stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Try chicken mull at a church supper or community event – it's a local specialty.
- Visit New Echota Historic Site to understand the area's Cherokee heritage.
- Be friendly and wave at neighbors; it's expected.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Atlanta area
Nearby
Every areaDaltonGeorgiaWhere the mountains meet the millsRomeGeorgiaWhere the rivers meet and the hills rememberSummervilleGeorgiaWhere the river runs through the hillsBlue RidgeGeorgiaWhere the mountains meet the orchardsCedartownGeorgiaWhere the trail winds through friendly streetsChattanoogaTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the river, and everyone feels at home.Fort PayneAlabamaWhere the canyon singsClevelandTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the river.
Calhoun, GA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.