Chatsworth is a city in and the county seat of Murray County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its population was 4,874 at the 2020 census, up from 4,299 in 2010. The city is the site of the coldest recorded temperature in Georgia, -17 F on January 27, 1940. According to a popular legend, the town received its name after a road sign with the word "Chatsworth" fell off a passing freight train nearby. Someone put the sign on a post, and the name stuck.

History

Chatsworth was founded in 1905 as a depot on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It was incorporated as a town in 1906 and as a city in 1923. In 1915, the seat of Murray County transferred to Chatsworth from Spring Place which ws once the county seat.

Geography

Chatsworth is located in central Murray County at 34.77222°N, -84.77889°W (34.772336, -84.778977), in northwestern Georgia. It sits at an elevation of 750 ft on the west side of the valley of Holly Creek, with 2840 ft Fort Mountain and 2780 ft Cohutta Mountain rising over the valley to the east. U.S. Routes 76 and 411 pass through the center of town on Third Avenue. US 76 leads 13 mi west to Dalton and southeast 25 mi to Ellijay, while US 411 leads south 24 mi to Fairmount and north 31 mi to Benton, Tennessee. Georgia State Routes 2 and 52 run together out of Chatsworth to the east, climbing into the Cohutta Mountains and passing through Fort Mountain State Park 7 mi east of the city center. According to the United States Census Bureau, Chatsworth has a total area of 5.1 sqmi, of which 0.01 sqmi, or 0.18%, are water. Holly Creek, which runs along the eastern edge of the city, is a south- and west-flowing tributary of the Conasauga River, part of the Oostanaula/Coosa/Alabama River watershed.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,874 people, 1,670 households, and 1,117 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,299 people, 1,587 households, and 1,071 families residing in the city. The population density was 749.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,546 housing units at an average density of 328.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 99.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0% from other races, and 0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0% of the population.

Education

Murray County School District

The Murray County School District holds preschool to grade twelve, and consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, and once had an academy school which became another high school. The district has 451 full-time teachers and over 7,350 students.

Healthcare

AdventHealth Murray purchased Murray Medical Center on December 15th 2020. Advent Health Murray is the only hospital in the Chatsworth/Murray County area.

Notable people