Eatonton, Georgia

History

The Rock Eagle Effigy Mound, a Native American archaeological site, is located north of the city. It is one of two such sites east of the Mississippi River; both are in Putnam County. The mound and related earthwork constructions were made by Woodland culture peoples, perhaps as long ago as 1,000 to 3,000 years. The site within a 1500-acre park administered by the University of Georgia, which also maintains a 4-H camp nearby. The Mound has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Following the American Revolutionary War, Eatonton was founded in 1807 as the seat of newly formed Putnam County. After the war, settlers were moving west and settling in the upland Piedmont region to develop cotton plantations. Eatonton was incorporated as a town in 1809 and as a city in 1879.
In a 5 hour period in May of 1919, five black churches and two black lodges in Eatonton were burned to the ground, but authorities did not charge anyone with arson.
In the 21st century, Eatonton is known as the "Dairy Capital of Georgia" (in honor of its major industry, dairy farming).

Geography

Eatonton is located at 33°19′35″N 83°23′16″W (33.326302, -83.387798).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.7 square miles (54 km²), of which 20.6 square miles (53 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.63%) is water.

Notable people

Vincent Hancock, Olympic gold medalist in men's skeet shooting at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics and Gatewood Schools graduate, resides in Eatonton.
Dwight York, American cult leader and founder of the Nuwaubian Nation, currently imprisoned at ADX Florence.
The city is the birthplace of several noted writers, such as Joel Chandler Harris (journalist and author of the Uncle Remus stories), 19th century poet Louise Prudden Hunt (Mrs. B. W. Hunt), Henry Grady Weaver, author of The Mainspring of Human Progress, and Alice Walker, author of the novel The Color Purple and other fiction.
S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant and franchise, is a native of the town.
Rick Brewer, former administrator at Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, South Carolina, and current president of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana, is a former resident of Eatonton.

Tornado

On November 22, 1992, an F4 tornado with winds up to 260 mph hit the south portions of the city. The storm caused $27,000,000 in damages to houses and businesses. The tornado killed five locals and injured 86 victims.