Dahlonega, Georgia – Lumpkin County

October 31, 2024

Dahlonega, Georgia

A Dynamic Civic Story

Where History, Nature, and Community Come Together

At the foothills of the Chattahoochee Mountain Preserve, amidst the towering canopy of the Chattahoochee National Forest, sits the city of Dahlonega Georgia, a remarkable place with a story to tell. As the site of the first major U.S. gold rush in 1828, this small mountain city offers a glimpse into the past with its historic downtown, where visitors can explore buildings like the Old Lumpkin County Courthouse, home of the State Historic Site Gold Museum, with its bricks that are still flecked with gold.

Beyond its historic allure, Dahlonega boasts an arts scene deeply rooted in traditional music, where the sounds of old-time tunes fill the air. With a slogan ‘Heart of the Georgia Mountains’, the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape draws nature lovers, while the flourishing local wine industry, celebrated with the Dahlonega Plateau’s AVA designation, attracts wine enthusiasts from near and far. “People come here for the natural beauty, we have many waterfalls, the national forest, and beautiful trails. And they come here really to both enjoy the hospitality industry as well as enjoy all of our local wines and restaurants,” Mayor JoAnne Taylor portrays.

City Manager Allison Martin adds, “We are home to the University of North Georgia, and the fifth ranger training battalion, Camp Frank De Merrill. We have a military housing installation here in the city. We’re proud to be home to the rangers and we see a lot of folks come through as they cycle through that mountain phase of training, and then they come back to live here.”

A Historic and Thriving Downtown

Downtown Dahlonega is a vibrant hub, alive with history and charm. The city’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has made it a priority to support local businesses through facade improvement grants and other programs aimed at ensuring success.

“We’re so proud that we have no vacancies in our downtown area,” touts Martin. “We do have one building that’s getting ready to undergo a renovation, but all the rest of our storefronts are full.” Visitors are welcomed with brick-paved sidewalks, lush tree canopies, and an array of native plantings, all part of the city’s beautification efforts.

The downtown is also a community gathering space, with events like the First Friday concerts attracting both locals and tourists to the area.

“The DDA has a focus on drawing people downtown and connecting with our community to get locals to come back in,” Martin depicts. The city’s dedication to its history is evident in its Historic Preservation Commission, which not only helps maintain the aesthetic integrity of its heritage buildings but also supports upgrades like fire suppression systems with matching grants.

A Unique and Vibrant Community

Part of Dahlonega’s charm lies in its rich culture, deeply rooted in both its Scots Irish heritage and the legacy of the Cherokee tribes that once thrived in the region. “That informs a lot of the music and the sense of place that we have here, which is truly unique,” describes Taylor. “I’ve been to a lot of places, and you can sense it when you come here and people who visit say the same thing.”

At the heart of the city’s vibrancy is the University of North Georgia, a military college that attracts students from around the world. This tapestry of diverse perspectives enriches the culture of the community and promotes a strong sense of responsibility and care among residents. “There are so many volunteers who will turn out to help a family in need, helping somebody whose house has burned down, raising funds for local not for profits that we have. This gift of giving and caring for one’s neighbors is very, very strong here,” Taylor conveys.

With ongoing interest from developers and a growing number of people seeking to call Dahlonega home, the city is poised for growth. With this in mind, the emphasis is on maintaining the sense of place that makes the community so special. “We have to keep what makes us uniquely Dahlonega,” says Martin. “What sets us apart from other small towns is that people want to come back again and again to our community. When you come down over what we lovingly called Crown Mountain into the little valley and you hit Dahlonega, there’s a sense of peace and unity here. It’s just a wonderful little place to be.”

A Vision for Sustainable Growth

Poised for a bright economic future, the city is focused on attracting development. On the commercial side, the mayor says, “We would ideally target small, clean manufacturing. We have the opportunity, and also a potential building, which could serve very easily as a data center. It has all the requirements for power, and the beauty of locating a data center in a town like ours is that we’re way off the grid as far as notoriety is concerned.” The city also recognizes the importance of fostering small businesses to support its thriving tourism economy.

As for residential development, a housing needs assessment has revealed a demand for affordable options, especially for those working in the hospitality industry. With zoning ordinances last updated in 1992, the city is modernizing its regulations to facilitate smart growth. “We’re trying to focus on getting more density without necessarily going up,” asserts Mayor Taylor. “People want to see their mountain views.” One option involves changing the zoning from R1 (one house to an acre) to cottage courts, which allows for multiple small houses on a single acre, surrounding a shared courtyard. “That would suit our community very, very well,” she notes. Opportunities for aging in place are also being considered, supporting residents through various life stages.

Investing in Infrastructure

Dahlonega faces unique infrastructure challenges, largely shaped by its mountainous terrain. “We are somewhat landlocked because of our topography, and we have some challenges because our water and sewer systems are defying gravity,” Taylor details. “We have a lot of pumps throughout our water and wastewater treatment facilities due to the mountainous topography, to serve the people who live here.”

In addition, much of the underground infrastructure, some of which is over a century old, was constructed using materials like clay and stacked stone. “They were not meant to be handling water, sewage and storm water for over 100 years,” she explains. “So, we’re catching up on some deferred maintenance.” Other current projects are focused on critical upgrades, including the ongoing work to create a continuous water loop around the city. This project will enhance fire suppression capabilities by ensuring a reliable water flow at every hydrant.

The city is also installing an equalization (EQ) basin, which will alleviate pressure on its wastewater treatment plant. Taylor recounts, “This is a way to divert the pure storm water to another holding area until you can get through processing all the wastewaters. It reduces the chance of spills, and it increases the life of the facilities you already have.”

In an effort to improve efficiency, a new tower radio frequency leak monitoring system is also being introduced, enabling quicker detection of leaks. “That’s a phenomenal system to make us more efficient in operations from the office and field services,” Martin expands. Taylor continues, “Sometimes leaks are obvious, but here in a more mountainous area, sometimes no one knows where it’s really leaking. It takes a while to figure it out.” This system will allow the city to conserve water that has already been treated, reducing “lost water” , optimizing resources, and attracting businesses.

Planning for the Future

Dahlonega has several ambitious projects on the horizon to enhance the quality of life for residents and accommodate its growing tourism sector. For Mayor Taylor, a top priority is the completion of the $5 million Park Street project, which addresses infrastructure challenges that have persisted for over a century. Sustainable growth is also top of mind, and the city is actively working on improving walkability to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

As Dahlonega is set to welcome a new Publix supermarket, attention remains on preserving the character of the growing community. “One of our biggest challenges is that people move here, and they want the quaint, welcoming and beautiful downtown, but then they also want a car wash, a major supermarket and all these other things that hadn’t been here,” Taylor outlines.

From an operational standpoint, Martin is focused on utilizing a newly adopted sales tax referendum to enhance city facilities, including plans for a new shop facility and an expansion of City Hall. Enhancements to downtown parking is another area of consideration, ensuring a seamless experience for visitors who come to experience Dahlonega’s impressive events, like the Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration, Gold Rush festival, and Fourth of July celebrations.

“There’s a lot of planning to support everything and prepare us for the future,” emphasizes Martin. “We want to leave things better than we found them, and we want to take care of Dahlonega, to make sure that she’s around for future generations to come and enjoy and to still feel that sense of belonging here.”