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The City of Woodstock
History
The City of Woodstock, located in southernmost Cherokee
County, is now one of the fastest growing cities in North Georgia. Her
future looks bright, backed by a past glowing with the richness of a
well-preserved history.
Cherokee County was formed
in December 1831 from lands claimed from the Cherokee and Creek
Indians. The discovery of a 10-mile wide gold belt in these parts led
to the Georgia Gold Rush. During this time an estimated 3000 men came
to the area searching for gold. Joined by their families, they settled
into communities that were largely self-sufficient and self-contained.
With the Indians relocated to present-day Oklahoma on the infamous Trail
of Tears, the territory was open for mining and agriculture, especially
of cotton and corn. The rush of settlers to the fertile rolling hills
of Cherokee County led to the establishment of cities.
It is uncertain where Woodstock
derived its name, but it is widely accepted that the city was named for
Sir Walter Scott's book by the same title. Another theory suggests a
connection to the busy train stop established; the trains restocked
their wood supply in Woodstock. Yet another legend claims a Mr.
Woodstock settled in the area and established a school by the same
name. Regardless of its true origin, the name of Woodstock has been
recognized since 1833, almost 175 years!
In the early years, most of the
settlers in the Woodstock and Canton vicinity grew cotton, benefiting
from the rich, fertile soil. The Rope Mill produced cotton ropes that
were used for plow lines and well-water buckets. The Rope Mill and the
first gristmills were powered by water flowing through Little River,
Noonday Creek, and the Etowah River.
The Marietta and North Georgia
Railroad built a depot in Woodstock in 1879 as a stopping point on the
line between Marietta and Canton. At that time, Woodstock had a
population near 300 spread over 960 acres. The City of Woodstock was
incorporated into the State of Georgia in 1897. The current depot,
located in historic downtown Woodstock, was built in 1912 to function as
a passenger and freight depot. The depot also served as a center of
commerce for local items such as rope, cotton, and other agricultural
goods. The depot has since been used as a fire station, city hall,
community center, and is currently the home for the Downtown Development
Association.
The Woodstock Academy, another early
Woodstock institution, was established in 1880. This was the first
school in Woodstock, built near Main Street and present-day Towne Lake
Parkway. Students attended the school for $1.50 to $3.00 monthly, used
outhouses, and kept their mules in the neighbor's barn! The present-day
"granddaughter" of Woodstock Academy is Woodstock Elementary School,
located just blocks from the original site.
The end of the 19th century through
the 1920s saw the development of downtown Woodstock as a commercial
center for southern Cherokee County. The Dean's Store was established
in 1906 and operated as the city’s general store for 75 years. It
remains in the Dean family as the Woodstock Visitors Center. Stop in
The Dean’s Store, "where yesterday lives and tomorrow waits," for
directions, information, or a visit with life-long residents of
Woodstock.
Even in the early 20th century,
Woodstock fostered an attitude of modern development that persists
today. 1925 saw the first automobile in Cherokee County and the first
street lights installed in Woodstock's business district. In 1929 the
City of Woodstock paved Main Street with concrete, making an 18-foot
roadway. The layout of historic downtown Woodstock today remains much
the same as it was in the 1920s.
Through the 1930s and 1940s, the
poultry market developed into a thriving industry, greatly helping
Woodstock's agrarian economy. Lake Allatoona was created in 1951 when
Georgia Power Company constructed a dam on the Etowah River. This
12,000-acre man-made lake is now a center for recreational activities in
North Georgia.
The early 1960s saw the development of
the first subdivision in Woodstock, Cherokee Forest, just south of
Highway 92. Highway 92 became the major thoroughfare through Woodstock
after it was paved in 1963. Fewer than 20 years later, Interstate-575
was opened, connecting Woodstock to greater Metro Atlanta. Highway 92
intersects I-575 in the heart of Woodstock, a location that seen great
commercial development in the past 10 years. As well, downtown
Woodstock is currently being developed and revitalized to celebrate the
city's rich history. These developments, among others, have led to a
steadily increasing population, job market, and available professional
services. Countless possibilities await those who live, work and play
in the City of Woodstock, Cherokee County, and greater Metro Atlanta.
With
a rich history of progress and prosperity, Woodstock continues to be a
benchmark for growth in North Georgia. Would you like
to become part of the promising future of Woodstock, Georgia? Please
contact us
or request a call back
for more Woodstock Georgia Real Estate information and any questions
about Woodstock, Cherokee County, and greater Metro Atlanta real estate!
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