If Georgia’s on your mind as a place to live, work, raise your family or retire, you have an exciting future ahead. As the "Gateway to Georgia", Catoosa County welcomes you with rural charms and city ambience. Rolling hills, lakes and meadows are cradled by Northwest Georgia mountains creating natural beauty that is unsurpassed.

Our climate is mild, but residents experience all four seasons. Located about the same distance from Atlanta, Birmingham, Knoxville and Nashville, Catoosa County is within one day’s drive of half the U.S. population and access is easy by interstate or airport. While rich in history and tradition, the county is on the cutting edge with the leadership and technology necessary to move into the future.

Each of Catoosa’s communities has its own unique identity.

Fort Oglethorpe

For more than 50 years, Fort Oglethorpe has been the commercial and retail business hub for Catoosa. With 6,400 residents (1998 Census Bureau estimate), it is located eight miles from Chattanooga and adjacent to historic Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and its unique visitor’s center.

Retail complexes feature grocery, clothing, furniture and specialty stores. Wal-Mart and Lowe’s supercenters, motels, theaters, a bowling complex, a variety of entertainment options and more than 30 restaurants draw people to the area. Hutcheson Medical center, a 228-bed full-service hospital, has both primary care and subspecialty physicians on staff and offers home health and nursing home facilities.

The Sixth Cavalry Museum, polo fields and beautifully restored homes of Barnhardt Circle are on the National Register of Historic Places. A unique gift shop is housed in one of the restored Sixth Cavalry stables. The Captain’s Quarters is an example of classic Renaissance Revival architecture. It now serves as a charming bed and breakfast.

Plans are underway for street-scaping, benches, historic street lights, sidewalks and a pedestrian-friendly park. The battlefield will be linked to Georgia Highway 2 and the new U.S. 27 bypass. Bike trails through the downtown and historical areas will link with trails in the battlefield and eventually, the Tennessee Riverpark in Chattanooga.

Ringgold

As county seat, Ringgold has a variety of businesses and industry. The Catoosa County Courthouse provides a splendid setting for patriotic events and local festivals celebrating its abundant historical heritage. The Old Stone Church, built in 1849, housed a hospital for both Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War and now serves as a museum. Cafes and shops line the main street where Sherman began his "Atlanta Campaign."

Whitman-Anderson House

A wedding chapel and offices offering wedding license and blood tests are located in close proximity, as Ringgold is known as the marriage capital of Georgia.

The Whitman-Anderson House, built in 1858, served as headquarters for Gen. Grant after the Battle of Ringgold. Catoosa Springs was once the site for a Confederate hospital and campground.

Poplar Springs and Keith, located near Ringgold, are both charming rural communities that attract those who want to live in a country setting while being close to the city. Nearby Interstate-75 makes it easy to be on your way to Chattanooga or Atlanta in a matter of minutes.

Other Catoosa Communities

Lake Winnepesaukah, a family amusement park, is located near Lakeview, Duncan Park and Westside. It features the Cannonball Roller Coaster, a beautifully restored antique carousel, other rides and shaded picnic areas. Chattanooga is minutes away and so is access to symphony, opera, ballet and Broadway shows.

Communities like Graysville, Boynton and Burning Bush have experienced phenomenal growth in the last few years as residents from Tennessee and other states have migrated to Georgia. Lower taxes and real estate costs, along with superior public schools, have helped to attract these new residents.

We are building new schools to accommodate population growth. A restored mill in Graysville and Boynton’s recreation areas and ball fields contribute to the flavor and uniqueness of these communities.

Located in more rural areas, residents are attracted to communities like Woodstation, Chambers and Blackstock because of their natural beauty, Southern hospitality and availability of land. Stately homes and horse and dairy farms are nestled in acres of rolling land. Agribusinesses flourish here in the best of all worlds... small towns, with the advantages of big cities a short distance away.