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.
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Harmony Elementary students won the Georgia Simulated Stock Market competition for our region.
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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.
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Pickens Jr. High BETA Club has earned national invitations two consecutive years.
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Pickens Jr. High is home to the FFA Quiz State Champion.
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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
Phone: 706-253-1700
Chairman: Tommy Gartrell
Members

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 Hall: 706-692-9100
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Mayor: Steve Lawrence
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Mayor Pro Tem: Kirk Raffield
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City Council: John Foust, Sonny Proctor, Jim Looney, Anne Sneve
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City Manager: Sonia Jammes
City Hall: 770-735-2211
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Mayor: Sylvia Green
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Mayor Pro Tem: James Queen
Town Hall: 706-253-5515
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Mayor Pro Tem: James Bryant Jr.
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Town Clerk: Buffy Holcomb
PICKENS COUNTY
Pickens County Government: 706-253-8809
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Commission Board Chair: Kris Stancil
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East Commissioner: Josh Tatum
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West Commissioner: Josh Tippens
Sheriff: Donnie Craig
Phone: 706-253-8902
Tax Commissioner: Daniel Reeves
Phone: 706-253-8882
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.
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24-hour Emergency: 18 beds and fast-track area
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Intensive care, plus general surgical and diagnostic services, including:
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Cardiac imaging, catheterization, rehabilitation
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Orthopedics
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Sleep Services
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Women’s Care
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Wound Care
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Staffed by over 500 employees and 300 physicians, with over 85 volunteers
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Ranked in the top five Atlanta hospitals for patient satisfaction
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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.
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Brand new $340 million dollar hospital serving the entire region (2017)
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Award-winning cardiology department and cancer center
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Northside Hospital Cherokee awarded “2017 Hospital of the Year” by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals
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Dedicated Women’s Center

1266 Highway 515 South
Jasper, GA 30143
Phone: 706-692-2441

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
North Georgia Mountain Bike Association
Explore Georgia - Places to Bike in North Georgia
HIKING TRAILS
Eagle's Rest and Mount Oglethorpe
FISHING
BOATING & CAMPING
Fort Mountain State Park & Campground
KAYAKING, TUBING & WHITEWATER RAFTING
HORSEBACK RIDING
Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides
WINERIES
Sharp Mountain Vineyards & Winery
Fainting Goat Vineyards & Winery
Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard & Winery
Feather's Edge Vineyards
CULTURAL ARTS & CRAFTS
Funk Heritage Center of Reinhardt University
Southern Appalachian Folk School
GARDENS, MARKETS & YOU-PICK ORCHARDS
OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES
Sheriff's JeepFest - Crawl for the Kids
PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS
Jasper City Parks & Recreation
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