Carrollton is a city in Carroll County, Georgia, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Carroll County. The city is located in western Georgia, about 45 miles (72 km) west of Atlanta. It is also close to the Alabama state line. Carrollton is part of the larger Atlanta area.

The city is home to the University of West Georgia and West Georgia Technical College. In 2020, about 26,738 people lived in Carrollton.

History of Carrollton

Carroll County, where Carrollton is located, was officially created in 1826. At first, the county was run by five elected judges. In 1829, these judges decided to move the county's main town to a new spot. This new spot was about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of the old one.

The judges wanted to name the new town "Troupville" after a former governor. However, the state government didn't like Governor George Troup at the time. So, in December 1829, the Georgia General Assembly officially named the town Carrollton. This name honored Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was the last person to sign the Declaration of Independence still alive.

In 1830, the town was measured and divided into lots. The main part of the town was a central square. This square was later named Adamson Square. It was named after a local judge and congressman, William C. Adamson.

For a long time, Carrollton was the county seat and a market town. But it was hard to move goods and people around. This changed when the railroad arrived in 1874. Before the railroad, Carrollton was mostly a frontier town, even after the Civil War.

The railroad brought new success to Carrollton. Farmers could easily send their crops, mainly cotton, to faraway markets. They could also get the supplies they needed for farming. Plus, people could buy more goods than ever before.

The railroad also helped new businesses grow, especially those making textiles (cloth). These early textile mills used water power. They helped Carrollton stay successful well into the 1900s.

By the early 1900s, Carrollton had modern services. It had running water, electric lights, and telephone service. The town started paving its streets in 1918.

In 1906, Carrollton was chosen for a new school. This school became West Georgia College in 1934. Today, it is the University of West Georgia, with many students. In May 1964, Robert F. Kennedy visited Carrollton. He was there for the opening of Kennedy Chapel at the university.

Panoramic of Carrollton's Adamson Square c. 1912

Carrollton continued to be a center for farming and textile making for many years. But as cotton farming decreased, other businesses became more important. One big example is the Southwire Company. It started in Carrollton in 1950. Today, Southwire is one of the world's largest makers of wire and cable. It is the biggest privately owned wire company. It has over 1,500 employees in Carrollton and 5,000 worldwide.

Carrollton's businesses have continued to grow and change. This is partly because it's easy to reach Interstate 20 and the Norfolk Southern Railway. Today, major employers include companies in airlines, construction, power, food, software, and healthcare.

Carrollton is still an important market town. It has many national stores and restaurants. These serve people in Carroll County and the areas nearby.

Carrollton was mentioned in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 book Gone with the Wind. It was also in the 1939 movie of the same name. Carrollton was featured in the 1983 TV movie Murder in Coweta County. However, the scenes were not filmed there. Other movies filmed in the Carrollton area include Conjurer and The Way Home. The famous actress Susan Hayward used to live in Carrollton.

On August 21, 1995, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 crashed near Carrollton.

Geography

Carrollton is located near the middle of Carroll County. Its coordinates are 33°34′51″N 85°4′36″W / 33.58083°N 85.07667°W / 33.58083; -85.07667. The Little Tallapoosa River flows through the northwest part of the city. U.S. Route 27 goes through the city center. It leads north 9 miles (14 km) to Interstate 20 in Bremen. It goes south 42 miles (68 km) to LaGrange. U.S. Route 27 Alternate goes southeast from the city 23 miles (37 km) to Newnan. Other local roads in the city include Georgia State Routes 16, 113, and 166.

The United States Census Bureau says Carrollton covers about 22.8 square miles (59.1 km2). Most of this is land, about 22.3 square miles (57.7 km2). About 0.5 square miles (1.4 km2), or 2.37%, is water.

Climate and Weather

Carrollton has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Heavy winter weather is rare. The most snow ever recorded was 10-11 inches (25-28 cm) on December 8 and 9, 2017. The previous record was 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) in March 1993. This happened during the Blizzard of 1993. On Christmas Day 2010, Carrollton had its first white Christmas in 17 years.

Thunderstorms can happen in spring and summer. Some of these storms can be strong. The main danger from them is lightning strikes. Any tornadoes from these storms are usually small. An EF3 tornado hit an area west of Carrollton on February 26, 2008. Some of these same areas were hit again by tornadoes on May 11, 2008. These tornadoes caused a lot of damage to homes and businesses. In April 2017, a tornado hit Carrollton. It damaged a fire station, homes, and vehicles. It also hit the University of West Georgia campus.

Strong storms can also come from hurricanes that hit the Florida Panhandle. These storms move north through Alabama and then east into Georgia. Some have brought strong winds and heavy rain to Carrollton. They have caused a lot of property damage. In October 1995, Hurricane Opal brought strong winds to the Carrollton area. Some people lost electricity for almost two weeks. In 2005, a tornado from Hurricane Katrina caused damage just south of Carrollton. Flooding is also a concern. In September 2009, some areas got up to a foot of rain. This flooded many homes and washed away roads and bridges.

Climate data for Carrollton, Georgia (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1904–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	81 (27)	81 (27)	93 (34)	92 (33)	97 (36)	102 (39)	103 (39)	102 (39)	100 (38)	97 (36)	86 (30)	81 (27)	103 (39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	53.6 (12.0)	58.1 (14.5)	65.8 (18.8)	74.0 (23.3)	81.1 (27.3)	87.2 (30.7)	89.6 (32.0)	88.4 (31.3)	83.1 (28.4)	73.5 (23.1)	63.6 (17.6)	55.7 (13.2)	72.8 (22.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	31.6 (−0.2)	34.5 (1.4)	40.5 (4.7)	47.9 (8.8)	56.8 (13.8)	65.3 (18.5)	69.0 (20.6)	68.3 (20.2)	61.9 (16.6)	49.7 (9.8)	38.9 (3.8)	34.2 (1.2)	49.9 (9.9)
Record low °F (°C)	−9 (−23)	2 (−17)	8 (−13)	24 (−4)	30 (−1)	40 (4)	50 (10)	48 (9)	32 (0)	23 (−5)	2 (−17)	0 (−18)	−9 (−23)
Average rainfall inches (mm)	5.0 (130)	5.30 (135)	5.59 (142)	4.59 (117)	3.77 (96)	4.13 (105)	4.45 (113)	3.68 (93)	3.83 (97)	3.66 (93)	4.39 (112)	5.09 (129)	53.48 (1,362)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.2 (0.51)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.4 (1.0)	0.6 (1.51)
Source: NOAA

Population of Carrollton

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	926	—
1890	1,451	56.7%
1900	1,998	37.7%
1910	3,297	65.0%
1920	4,363	32.3%
1930	5,052	15.8%
1940	6,214	23.0%
1950	7,753	24.8%
1960	10,973	41.5%
1970	13,520	23.2%
1980	14,078	4.1%
1990	16,029	13.9%
2000	19,843	23.8%
2010	24,388	22.9%
2020	26,738	9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Topographic map of Carrollton

Carrollton racial composition in 2020
Race	Num.	Perc.
White	12,931	48.36%
Black or African American	8,381	31.34%
Native American	58	0.22%
Asian	452	1.69%
Pacific Islander	5	0.02%
Other/Mixed	1,082	4.05%
Hispanic or Latino	3,829	14.32%

In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 26,738 people living in Carrollton. There were 9,024 households and 5,206 families. This was an increase from 24,388 people in 2010.

Parks and Fun Activities

Carrollton has several parks for everyone to enjoy. These include Longview Park, Knox Park, and Castle Playground. John Tanner State Park is about 6 miles (10 km) west of the city. It has a lake with a beach and a swimming area. There are also tracks for walking or running, and places to camp.

The Carrollton Greenbelt is the longest paved loop trail in Georgia. It is 18 miles (29 km) long. People use it for walking and bicycling. The trail goes all around Carrollton. You can start at places like Laura's Park at Hays Mill, Old-Newnan Road, and Lakeshore Park.

East Carrollton Park is located close to Lake Carroll.

Culture and Arts

Carrollton's downtown area is called Adamson Square. It is named after Congressman William C. Adamson. Many of Carrollton's events happen here. For example, the annual Mayfest takes place in the first week of May. Near the Square is the Carrollton Center for the Arts. This is where the Carrollton Festival of the Arts is held in October. It is a festival for arts and crafts.

In 2012, The AMP at Adamson Square opened. This is an outdoor covered stage area. It can hold 800–1,000 people. It hosts many free music and movie shows. Carrollton is known for its lively live music scene. Many restaurants offer live music. The Lowell Opry House also holds concerts.

One block south of the Square is the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum. It opened in September 2012. The museum shows traditional and modern quilts. It also partners with the University of West Georgia. This allows the museum to show the history of the local textile industry.

Carrollton has about 100 places of worship. The Sacred Harp Publishing Company is here. It is a group that supports Sacred Harp singing. They publish a popular songbook for this type of music. Carrollton is the hometown of Baptist pastor Jerry Vines. It is also home to a small religious group called the National Association of Wesleyan Evangelicals.

Carrollton has a lively local radio scene. Gradick Communications owns several stations. These include B92.1 Country (WBTR) for country hits. WKNG King Country 93.7 FM plays a mix of country music. Great Classics 98.9 (WWGA) plays oldies from the '70s to early 2000s. Kiss 102.7 WCKS is a top station with music from the 1980s to today. WLBB 1330 AM provides local news and community programs. Rejoice 89.1 FM (WKNG FM) plays uplifting Christian music. These stations are important for news and entertainment in Carrollton.

Sports Teams and Venues

Current Sports Teams

Georgia Storm FC - This soccer team started in 2020. They play in the National Premier Soccer League. Their home games are at the University of West Georgia soccer field.

Past Sports Teams

Carrollton Hornets - This was a Minor league baseball team. They played from 1946 to 1950 in the Georgia–Alabama League.

Sports Stadiums

Grisham Stadium - This is a stadium used for many sports. It is the home stadium for Carrollton High School.
University Stadium - This is the home football stadium for the West Georgia Wolves team.

Education

Carroll County School District

The Carroll County School District offers education from pre-school to grade twelve. It has twelve elementary schools, six middle schools, and five high schools. Schools in Carrollton that are part of this district include:

Central High School
Central Middle School
Central Elementary School
Mount Zion High School
Mount Zion Elementary School
Sand Hill Elementary School
Sharp Creek Elementary School

Carrollton City School District

The Carrollton City School District also serves students from pre-school to grade twelve. It has one lower elementary school, an upper elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.

Carrollton High School
Carrollton Middle School
Carrollton Upper Elementary School
Carrollton Elementary School

Carver High School

George Washington Carver High School was the only high school for black students in Carrollton. This was during the time of racial segregation in the South. The school closed in 1969.

Colleges and Universities

West Georgia Technical College - Carroll Campus
University of West Georgia - Main Campus

Private Schools

The Bridge Learning Center
Oak Mountain Academy
Oak Grove Montessori School
Liberty Eagle Academy

Getting Around Carrollton

Main Roads

State Route 1
State Route 16
U.S. Route 27
State Route 113
State Route 166

Walking and Biking

Carrollton Greenbelt
UWG Nature Trails

Famous People from Carrollton

William C. Adamson - a politician and judge.
Margie Alexander - a gospel and soul singer.
Terry Boyd - a former basketball player.
Reggie Brown - a former football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bull Buchanan - a professional wrestler.
Mark Butler - a politician.
Betty Reynolds Cobb - an attorney, author, and activist.
Cooper Criswell - a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
Corey Crowder - a former NBA basketball player.
Richard DeLong - a Sacred Harp singer.
Taylor Clark Duncan - a person who helps people with autism and started Alternative Baseball.
Patrick Gamble - a former NFL football defensive end.
Bill Hamrick - a lawyer, politician, and judge.
Hollis L. Harris - a former president and CEO of several airlines.
Josh Harris - an NFL long snapper.
Julian Hoke Harris - a famous sculptor.
Susan Hayward - an Academy Award-winning actress.
Jamie Henderson - a former NFL football cornerback.
Michael 'Mike' Huey - a professional drummer and record producer.
John Willis Hurst - a personal heart doctor for President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Jonathan Jones - a football cornerback for the New England Patriots.
Nick Jones - a former NFL football center.
Catherine Hardy Lavender - an Olympic gold medalist athlete.
Steve Moore - a racing car driver.
MJ Morris - a college football quarterback.
Dylan Parham - an offensive guard for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Darnell Powell - a former NFL football running back.
Dontavius Russell - an NFL defensive tackle.
Steve Thomas - a former NBA basketball player.
Kin Vassy - a country singer and songwriter.
Don Wix - a politician.
Amy Yates - a person for whom Amy's Law is named.

Carrollton, Georgia facts for kids

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