Be Charmed, Be Prosperous, Belong:
The History of Cartersville, Georgia

On the northwest edge of the Atlanta metropolitan area lies a town full of history: Cartersville. Cartersville is perhaps one of the oldest colonized areas in the United States. Around 200 BC, Middle Woodland Indians settled in the region now commonly known as Georgia. Just like many other tribes, the Middle Woodland Indians disappeared into thin air leaving no evidence of their existence behind. If any members remained. then those become the Creek. The Creek lived in that region until 1755, until the Cherokee Indians came over and defeated them in the Battle of Taliwa. They ruled the land until 1833. Although all this sounds realistic, there is no actual proof of these tribes settling down in the region. What we do know for a fact is that there were settlers in 1832. Cartersville was known as Birmingham to the original settlers. In 1846, the name changed from Birmingham to Cartersville. It was named after a wealthy businessman: Farish Carter. Carterville became a fast growing town because of the construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The railroad provided transportation along with exporting materials to other cities. Cartersville was involved in the Civil War as well. General Joseph E. Johnson took control over the depot, and this aided the Confederates as they made their escape across the Etowah River.