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<tr><td colspan="3" class="stext"><h5 align="center">Welcome to the Pickens County Georgia Directory of contact information <em>(address, phone, website, etc.)</em> for Businesses, Churches, and Information in <a href="#jasper">Jasper</a>, <a href="#blaine">Blaine</a>, <a href="#tate">Tate</a>, Ludville, <a href="#marblehill">Marble Hill</a>, <a href="#nelson">Nelson</a>, <a href="#hinton">Hinton</a>, Ranger, <a href="#talkingrock">Talking Rock</a>, GA in the North Georgia Mountains. Add your <a href="addbusiness.asp">business</a>, <a href="addchurch.asp">church</a> or upcoming event information for FREE!</h5>
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<tr><td colspan="3" class="stext"><p align="center"><a href="http://estesvr.com/jasperdetail.asp?listing=128" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.estesvr.com/southernliving.jpg" width="500" height="100" border="1"></a><br><br></p><hr width="650" size="3" color="#000080"><blockquote><font size="2">
Pickens County has a rich heritage. The Cherokee Indians, its original populace, the Georgia land lottery and the county’s criticism of the Civil War are just three gripping stories told in the history books about this picturesque north Georgia area.
<p>Yet Pickens County is best known for a mammoth deposit of remarkably pure marble found just beneath the soil in the 1830’s.
Today one can scrutinize such notable buildings and monuments as the Lincoln Memorial and the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and know the marble used in their construction had its origin in Pickens County, Georgia. </p>
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<a name="jasper"></a><p><b>Jasper</b> is the county seat of Pickens County and the largest city with an approximated population in 2006 of 2,400. In 1876, when it was a post village and county seat, the historic city had a population of 110.
Pickens County, noted for its production of marble, has the world’s largest open pit quarry. Jasper is proud of this fact and therefore delights in hosting The Georgia Marble Festival the first weekend in October. Along with arts and crafts, a parade, live music, dancing and a children’s game and play area, there is the rare educational opportunity to take a guided tour of this remarkable quarry. </p>
<p> Jasper, touted as the “First Mountain City” north of Atlanta, boasts a stunning marble courthouse. Jasper is also the home of The Old Pickens County Jail built in 1906 and used until 1982 along with several nature-lovers parks, a city swimming pool and an array of shops and eateries.
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<p>At the outbreak of the Civil War, many citizens were opposed to Secession and therefore the Union flag waved rebelliously from the courthouse months after Georgia seceded.</p>
<p>Pickens County, noted for its production of marble, has the world’s largest open pit quarry. Jasper is proud of this fact and therefore delights in hosting The Georgia Marble Festival the first weekend in October. Along with arts and crafts, a parade, live music, dancing and a children’s game and play area, there is the rare educational opportunity to take a guided tour of this remarkable quarry. </p>
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<a name="nelson"></a><p><b>Nelson</b> - Do not miss the Pickens County Marble Museum when you visit the second largest city in Pickens County. The museum is open year round and features a 15-minute video about Georgia’s “white gold”. There a visitor will see an enlightening display of products made with this handsome stone. The museum is located in the Nelson City Hall. </p>
<p> Nelson has a growing population and functions with an elected mayor and a city clerk. Because the town is located on the railroad line near Cherokee County, it was logical that it would grow. The town kept the name of the original property owner, John Nelson. </p>
<p> Here is where many of the beautiful artistic marble works have been finished. A vast number of the skilled workers and stonecutters that settled in Nelson had a former residence in either Italy or Scotland. </p>
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<a name="tate"></a> <p><b>Tate</b>- This celebrated city, home of The Georgia Marble Company, is one of Georgia’s treasures. It is one of the oldest settlements in the county and features the breath-taking Tate House, a pink marble mansion that was the former home of Colonel Sam Tate and his family. Built in 1926, the stunning residence is constructed from pink Etowah marble mined from the neighboring quarry.
<p> Just a few hundred feet away is the present Tate Elementary School. A notable school first housed a high school and built, of course, from Georgia marble.
<p> The newly restored Tate Gym features a full auditorium that hosts several plays and gathering each year. The adjoining grounds feature an attractive memorial garden.
<p>Tate was the site of the first election and court held in 1832, the then newly organized Cherokee territory. The town called Harnageville after Ambrose Harnage in whose home court was held. </p>
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<a name="talkingrock"></a><p><b>Talking Rock</b> - The town of Talking Rock is today an antique lover’s delight, a town where the conversation is as fascinating as the antiques and collectibles.
<p>As to why the name, well, there are several legendary accounts. One is the unusual echo that came from a nearby rock cliff and yet another tells about how neighbors would sit on their porches in the evenings and “talk” and “rock.”
<p>Boasting a long list of antiquity shops, this amiable town once featured a multi-story hotel frequented by mountain visitors. The hotel is currently home to a charming antique market.
<p>The town of Talking Rock is on the banks of the rushing waters of Talking Rock Creek. In 1877, in nearby Ludville, a school was constructed. Later citizens moved the school to Talking Rock where it is at present The Talking Rock Schoolhouse Teaching Museum. It is certainly worth a visit to this notable learning center.
<p>Every fall this enchanting town displays its wares during Talking Rock Heritage Days, a friendly celebration of music, delicious food and, of course, lots of antiques.</p>
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<a name="hinton"></a><p><b>Hinton</b> is a welcoming community located west of Jasper on Highway 53.
<p>The Cape House, a restored two-story clapboard home, still commands a stately presence. Once home to the famed Cape family it now houses the Seventy-four Ranch and guest cottages.
<p>The citizens of Hinton and surrounding communities worked hard in their quest for funds to provide the west end of Pickens County with fire protection. They are deservingly proud of their new fire station and community center. </p>
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<a name="marblehill"></a> <p><b>Marble Hill</b> so named and largely supported by the mercantile workers from the nearby “marble hill” known as the Georgia Marble Company.
<p>The community is between several mountains and at the head of Long Swamp Valley, a beautiful region of natural beauty.
<p>The first Catholic Church built in Pickens County was located here. A number of Catholic marble-cutters came to the Valley to work for the old Piedmont Marble Company. These workers erected and dedicated this church. When their employment terminated they returned to their former countries and the church decayed. Today it would be hard to find the spot where the original church stood. </p>
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<a name="blaine"></a><p><b>Blaine</b> - Once called "Old Talking Rock"; Blaine is a small community located on the Old Federal Road.
<p>At one time, a cotton factory, built behind the current “Blaine Store”, milled the product from nearby cotton fields. An old Indian village called Sanderstown was also located on the site.
<p>Since the community of Blaine was not near a railroad, it did not grow and passed its population on to the current town of Talking Rock. </p>
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<p align="right">Written by <a href="http://www.mariaboling.com" target="_blank">Maria Boling</a></p>
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