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LIVING IN PICKENS

Living in Pickens County offers the best of both worlds, easy access to the Atlanta Metro Area and the beauty and lifestyle of the North Georgia Mountains.  With abundant outdoor recreation resources, small town sense of community and dynamic mix of big city resources such as high-speed broadband and rural low-density housing options, Pickens County is a unique and attractive location.

15.2 %

Job

Growth

50

Miles to

Atlanta Metro

97.8 %

National Average

Cost of Living

9.2 %

Population 

Growth

EDUCATION

The Pickens County School System is an unstoppable force when it comes to academic and extracurricular excellence in North Georgia. Pickens teachers and staff keep the standards above expected, and students are continuously raising the bar with a 94.4% graduation rate at Pickens High School, offering 12 Advanced Placement (AP) courses.  Pickens Junior High School has a group of teachers who are part of the Notre Dame Trustey Fellowship Team.

  • Harmony Elementary students won the Georgia Simulated Stock Market competition for our region.

  • Hill City Elementary is a Distinguished Title I school and is among the top 5% of all Title I schools in Georgia based on their recent CCRPI score of 88.

  • Pickens Jr. High BETA Club has earned national invitations two consecutive years.

  • Pickens Jr. High is home to the FFA Quiz State Champion.

  • Hill City Elementary is one of only 20 schools in Georgia to pilot an Elementary Agriculture Program.  Because of the program's success, Frank Brogan from the US Dept of Education visited the school along with State School Superintendent, Richard Woods.

The system is comprised of three elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high school and one high school. With a population of approximately 4,400 students in grades K-12, the resulting student to teacher ratio of 16 to 1 ensures that Pickens County students get plenty of teacher time and attention.

 

Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Pickens County School Grade Report

Pickens County School Board:

Phone: 706-253-1700

Chairman: Tommy Gartrell

Members

pickenshighschoolpic.jpg

Mountain Laurel Academy (MLA) is an accredited, non-traditional learning center offering access to challenging academics for students in grades 5-12. All curriculum is individually designed and implemented by seasoned, certified teachers. 

Mountain Laurel Academy

929 Cove Road, Suite D

Jasper, GA 30143

(770) 893-1064

GOVERNMENT

Pickens County is comprised of two incorporated cities and one incorporated town.  Jasper is the County Seat and the major city in the county.  Links to and contact information for all of the local governing bodies and all of the elected officials as listed below.

CITY OF JASPER

City Hall: 706-692-9100

CITY OF NELSON

City Hall: 770-735-2211

TOWN OF TALKING ROCK

Town Hall: 706-253-5515

PICKENS COUNTY

Pickens County Government: 706-253-8809

Sheriff: Donnie Craig

            Phone: 706-253-8902
 

Tax Commissioner: Daniel Reeves

            Phone: 706-253-8882

 

Courts of Pickens County

Clerk of Superior Court: Jennifer Jordan

            Phone: 706-253-8763

Magistrate Judge: Jeff Davis 

Magistrate Judge: Larry Ray

Probate Judge: David Lindsey

          

HEALTH CARE

PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE – JASPER, GEORGIA

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is a 52-bed, non-profit, acute care community hospital in the Piedmont Healthcare system, dedicated to delivering unsurpassed medical care to Pickens County residents and surrounding communities.

During the COVID19 pandemic, Georgia Trend Magazine named Piedmont Mountainside 2020's top small hospital. 

 

  • 24-hour Emergency: 18 beds and fast-track area

  • Intensive care, plus general surgical and diagnostic services, including:

    • Cardiac imaging, catheterization, rehabilitation

    • Orthopedics

    • Sleep Services

    • Women’s Care

    • Wound Care

  • Staffed by over 500 employees and 300 physicians, with over 85 volunteers

  • Ranked in the top five Atlanta hospitals for patient satisfaction

  • Awarded the Press Ganey Partner of Choice Award, the Best Place to Practice Award and 2011 Small Hospital of the Year.

NORTHSIDE CHEROKEE – CANTON, GEORGIA

Northside Hospital-Cherokee, part of the Northside Hospital System is committed to advancing health care with a 158-bed, full-service community hospital with more than 900 physicians and 2,500 employees. Northside-Cherokee was awarded “2017 Hospital of the Year” by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, alongside with an award-winning cardiology department and cancer center.
 

  • Brand new $340 million dollar hospital serving the entire region (2017)

  • Award-winning cardiology department and cancer center

  • Northside Hospital Cherokee awarded “2017 Hospital of the Year” by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals

  • Dedicated Women’s Center
     

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.jpg

1266 Highway 515 South

Jasper, GA 30143

Phone: 706-692-2441

Northside Cherokee.jpg

450 Northside Cherokee Boulevard

Canton, GA 30115

Phone: 770-224-1000

THINGS TO DO

Welcome to the North Georgia Mountains!  Whether you hike, bike, swim, fish, canoe, kayak, or camp, we are the place to have fun outdoors.  Start making your memories today with us! 

BIKING TRAILS

Talking Rock Nature Preserve

Old Rope Mill Park

Bike Walk Northwest Georgia

North Georgia Mountain Bike Association

Explore Georgia - Places to Bike in North Georgia

Georgia State Parks - Biking

HIKING TRAILS

Burnt Mountain Preserve Trail

Amicalola Falls State Park

Eagle's Rest and Mount Oglethorpe

Anna Ruby Falls

Appalachian Trail

FISHING

Fly Fishing North Georgia

Reel Em In Guide Service

Bowman Fly Fishing

BOATING & CAMPING

Carter's Lake

Young Harris Watersports 

Doll Mountain Campground

Woodring Campground

Fort Mountain State Park & Campground

Best in Boating

KAYAKING, TUBING & WHITEWATER RAFTING

Cartecay River Experience

Wildwater Rafting

Blue Ridge Mountain Kayaking

HORSEBACK RIDING

Bent Tree Stables

Seventy-Four Ranch

Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides

Fancy Mountain Farms

WINERIES

Sharp Mountain Vineyards & Winery

Fainting Goat Vineyards & Winery

Engelheim Vineyards

Cartecay Vineyards

Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard & Winery
Feather's Edge Vineyards

Bent Tree Lodge & Vineyard

Canoe Vineyard & Winery

CULTURAL ARTS & CRAFTS

Funk Heritage Center of Reinhardt University

Talking Rock Pottery

Southern Appalachian Folk School

Nelson Marble Museum

GARDENS, MARKETS & YOU-PICK ORCHARDS

Jasper Farmers Market

Gibbs Gardens

5 Sons Farm

Potts Mountain Farmers Market

Rooster's Farm Fresh Market

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES

Talking Rock Arena

Durhamtown Off Road Resort

Sheriff's JeepFest - Crawl for the Kids

Iron Mountain Off-Road Park

PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS

Jasper City Parks & Recreation

Visit Pickens

Pickens County Recreation Department

Mountain Education Charter High School (MECHS) is system of 17 campuses in 17 north Georgia counties.  MECHS is second chance opportunity for students to earn an accredited High School Diploma in a student-centered, self-paced, evening public high school.

MECHS - Pickens Site
339 West Church Street
Jasper, GA 30143
706-253-1750

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