Nelson

History

The city is named for John Nelson, an early landowner, farmer, and rifle maker. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Nelson as a town in 1891. The area possesses substantial deposits of marble. The railway construction in 1883 made the development of large-scale quarries possible. The quality of the marble has made it favored for federal monuments. On April 1, 2013, the city council unanimously approved the "Family Protection Ordinance". Every head of household must own a gun and ammunition to "provide for the emergency management of the city" and to "provide for and protect the safety, security, and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants." Residents are not required to buy one if they do not have one, and the ordinance does not penalize anyone who does not comply. Convicted felons are exempt.

Geography

Nelson is located on the border of Pickens and Cherokee Counties at (34.381562, -84.371303). The original city center is located in Pickens County, but the city limits have recently expanded southward so that more of the city is now located in Cherokee County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.56%, is covered by water. Nelson is served through its downtown by the Georgia Northeastern Railroad, and by Canton Road, the town's main street and the former route of Georgia State Route 5. South on old 5 is Ball Ground, and north is Tate. The north end of Interstate 575 and south end of State Route 515 are at the county line just to the west of Nelson. I-575 leads south to Atlanta, and SR 515 leads north to Ellijay.

Largest nearby schools

• R. M. Moore Elementary School
  Elementary · Waleska · 1,021 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• Macedonia Elementary School
  Elementary · Canton · 745 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• Ball Ground Elementary School
  Elementary · Ball Ground · 592 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Clayton Elementary School
  Elementary · Canton · 307 students · 12.8:1 ratio