Walker County is a county in the northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, its population was 67,654, down from 68,756 in 2010. The county seat is LaFayette. The county was created on December 18, 1833, from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation. Walker County is part of the Chattanooga TN/GA metropolitan statistical area.

History

Walker County was named after Georgia's U.S. Senator, Freeman Walker (1780–1827).

Civil War battles fought in Walker County were part of the Chickamauga Campaign fought between August 21 and September 20, 1863:

  • Second Battle of Chattanooga, August 21
  • Battle of Davis's Cross Roads, September 10–11
  • Battle of Chickamauga, September 19–20

In 2002, the Tri-State Crematory scandal in Noble came to national attention when 339 bodies that were consigned to be cremated were discovered on the property. The owner, Ray Brent Marsh, was convicted of several charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which (0.1%) is covered by water. The northern two-thirds of Walker County is located in the Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga sub-basin of the Middle Tennessee-Hiwassee basin. Most of the southeastern portion of the county is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin), with a very small southeastern sliver located in the Conasauga River sub-basin in the larger ACT River Basin. The rest of the southern portion of Walker County is located in the Upper Coosa River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin.

Adjacent counties

  • Hamilton County, Tennessee - north
  • Catoosa County - northeast
  • Whitfield County - east
  • Gordon County - southeast
  • Floyd County - south
  • Chattooga County - south
  • DeKalb County, Alabama - southwest/CST Border
  • Dade County - west

Natural attractions and features

  • Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
  • Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part)
  • Ellison's Cave (12th deepest cave in the United States)
  • Lookout Mountain (part)
  • McLemore Cove
  • Petty John's Cave
  • Pigeon Mountain
  • Rocktown
  • Rock City
  • Lula Lake Land Trust

Government

Until 2020, Walker County was one of only nine counties in the United States still employing the sole commissioner form of government. Georgia is the last remaining state that allows sole commissioners. In a 2018 referendum, Walker County voters approved with an 80% margin a transition to a five-member board of commissioners, consisting of four commissioners elected by district and a chairperson. The first members of the board were elected in November 2020 and took office in January 2021 with Districts 1 and 2 commissioners serving an initial two-year term and Districts 3 and 4 commissioners and the chairperson serving an initial four-year term. From 2022, every commissioner will serve four-year terms, therefore ensuring that half the commission is up for reelection every two years. The commission meets in LaFayette, the county seat.

The commissioners of each district represent these areas:

  • District 1: Rossville
  • District 2: Chickamauga
  • District 3: LaFayette
  • District 4: Lookout Mountain

Transportation

Major highways

  • 20px U.S. Route 27
  • 20px<br />20px U.S. Route 27 Business
  • 20px State Route 1
  • 20px State Route 1 Business
  • 20px State Route 2
  • 20px State Route 95
  • 23px State Route 136
  • 23px State Route 151
  • 23px State Route 157
  • 23px State Route 189
  • 23px State Route 193
  • 23px State Route 201
  • 23px State Route 337
  • 23px State Route 341

Railroads

Current

  • Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway
  • Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (occasional tourist excursions)

Defunct

  • Chattanooga Southern Railway (became Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway)
  • Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway, then abandoned )
  • Chickamauga and Durham Railroad (merged into Chattanooga & Durham)
  • Chattanooga and Durham Railroad (merged by Chattanooga, Rome and Southern)
  • Chattanooga, Rome and Southern Railroad (merged into Central of GA Railway)
  • Central of Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway)
  • Southern Railway (merged into Norfolk Southern, Walker County line transferred to State of Georgia, leased to Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway)

Demographics