Map of Bartow County, Georgia

Bartow County is located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 108,901, up from 100,157 in 2010. The county seat is Cartersville.

Traditionally considered part of northwest Georgia, Bartow County is now included in the Atlanta metropolitan area, mainly in the southeastern part near Cartersville, which has become an exurb more than 40 miles (64 km) from downtown Atlanta on I-75. It has a sole commissioner government, and is the largest county by population of the few remaining in Georgia with a sole commissioner.

Bartow County overview:
Name:	Bartow County
FIPS code:	13-015
State:	Georgia
Founded:	1832
Named for:	Francis S. Bartow
Seat:	Cartersville
Largest city:	Cartersville
Total Area:	470 sq mi (1,200 km²)
Land Area:	460 sq mi (1,200 km²)
Total Population:	108,901
Time zone:	UTC−5 (Eastern)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−4 (EDT)
Website:	www.bartowga.org

Bartow County location map. Where is Bartow County?

Bartow County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Bartow County. — Location of Bartow County in the the United States.

Bartow County location on the Georgia map. Where is Bartow County. — Location of Bartow County in Georgia.

History

Bartow County was created from the Cherokee lands of the Cherokee County territory on December 3, 1832, and named Cass County, after General Lewis Cass (1782–1866), Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson, Minister to France and Secretary of State under President James Buchanan, who was instrumental in the removal of Native Americans from the area. However, the county was renamed on December 6, 1861, in honor of Francis S. Bartow, because of Cass’s support of the Union, even though Bartow never visited in the county, living 200 miles (320 km) away near Savannah all of his life. Cass had supported the doctrine of popular sovereignty, the right of each state to determine its own laws independently of the Federal government, the platform of conservative Southerners who removed his name. The first county seat was at Cassville, but after the burning of the county courthouse and the Sherman Occupation, the seat moved to Cartersville, where it remains.

The county was profoundly affected by the Civil War, setting it back economically for many decades. On May 18 and 19, 1864, General George Henry Thomas led the Army of the Cumberland after General William J. Hardee’s Corps of the Army of Tennessee, and General James B. McPherson led his Federal Army of the Tennessee flanking Hardee’s army to the west. This huge army was disruptive and sought food. Elements were out of control and sacked homes, depleting meager supplies. Property destruction and the deaths of one-third of the county’s soldiers during the war caused financial and social calamity for many.

Slaves gained their freedom, and for over a decade exercised the political franchise through the Republican Party. In 1870, about one black family in 12 owned real estate. More of the blacks lived in white-headed households, working as domestic servants and laborers. The great majority of freed people were day laborers or farm laborers, while a sizable minority occupied skilled positions such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and iron workers. By the late 1870s, hardship was experienced by everyone.

Bartow County Road Map

Bartow CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Bartow County, Georgia. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Bartow CountyMap — Bartow Countypolitical map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 470 square miles (1,217 km), of which 460 square miles (1,191 km) is land and 11 square miles (28 km) or 2.2% is water.

The bulk of Bartow County is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The northeastern portion of the county around Rydal is located in the Coosawattee River sub-basin of the same ACT River Basin, while an even smaller northwestern section around Adairsville is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin of the larger ACT River Basin.

The Etowah is mostly part of Lake Allatoona in southeast Bartow and southwest Cherokee counties, with the Allatoona Dam near Cartersville also impounding Allatoona Creek into northwest Cobb county. The peninsula between the two major arms of the lake is home to Red Top Mountain State Park, east-southeast of Cartersville and just southeast of the dam.