Walker County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the 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 twelve years in prison.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.1%) is 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
As of 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 2-year term and Districts 3 and 4 commissioners and the chairperson serving an initial 4-year term. From 2022, every commissioner will serve 4 year terms, therefore ensuring that half the commission is up for reelection every 2 years. The commission meets in LaFayette, the county seat.
The commissioners of each district represent the following areas: District 1: Rossville District 2: Chickamauga District 3: LaFayette District 4: Lookout Mountain
Transportation
Major highways
U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 27 Business
State Route 1
State Route 1 Business
State Route 2
State Route 95
State Route 136
State Route 151
State Route 157
State Route 189
State Route 193
State Route 201
State Route 337
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)