The History of the City of Adairsville

Adairsville is a small southern town that sprang from both historic and technological roots. In 1836, the town of Adairsville was settled by William Watts on land that had orginally been a part of the Cherokee Nation. The land had earlier been seized by the State of Georgia and given to Georgia voters in a land lottery. The new town was almost exactly halfway between Chattanooga, Tennessee and present-day Atlanta, Georgia, on the path of a new state-owned railroad being built, the W&A. Because of the railroad, and because of the rich farm lands in the area, Adairsville grew rapidly, was incorporated in 1854, and was, at one time, called the "Granery of the State" due to the huge of amount of wheat and corn grown in the area.

During the Civil War, Adairsville played an important roll in an event which is today called "The Great Locomotive Chase". For more on this exciting story, please click here or on the Great Chase icon above.

Much of Adairsville was distroyed by Union General William T. Sherman during the battle for Atlanta. Adairsville had the misfortune to be in the direct line of march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and she also furnished a goodly amount of supplies to the Confederate Army including firearms and gun powder from a factory on north Main Street. At word of the approaching battle, the firearms factory moved to a safer city, for fear of being captured by the enemy.

But Adairsville didn't let the war get her down. The determined citizens began rebuilding, improving, and expanding their town. Around the turn of the twentieth century, Adairsville was a very prosperous city with many stores, and mills. Area farmers supported several gins and grain wearhouses. They grew and shipped so many peaches that Adairsville was called "the Peach Center of the World". Adairsville also boasted one of the largest flour mills in the state, the Veach Flour Mill, which was located just north of the Depot. Most of the surplus goods produced here were shipped through the Adairsville depot, via rail, to Atlanta or Chattanooga and then on to points all over the world. One enterprising citizen packed water cress on ice and shipped it to "fancy restaurants in Europe"!

Did you know that "Pretty Boy" Floyd once lived in Adairsville? In 1904, in Dr. Bradley's home near Folsom, Georgia, about nine miles east of Adairsville, Charles Arthur Floyd was born. When he was still just a tot, his family moved to Railroad Street in Adairsville. There they live until Charles (they called him "Choc" then) was about ten years old, then they moved to Oklahoma. Of course, Charles didn't begin his criminal career here, but he did often visit the area. Elders in the Folsom area, only a few years ago, remembered him well. They said he was a very snappy dresser, always well groomed, and he often came and sat on the bench outside one of the stores there and passed a bit of time talking with folks he knew. According to many eye-witness accounts, Charles was a gentleman. Even while he relieved bank employees and customers of their cash, he was said to have been very courteous.

It was the time of the Depression and many were loosing their homes to bank foreclosures. Choc (he didn't like the name "Pretty Boy") often gave a large portion of the money he stole to people he knew needed it. They, in turn, gave it back to the banks to pay their mortgages. Consequently, he had many friends who were happy to hide him and lie to "the Feds" for him. Though Charles Arthur Floyd is long dead, he still has relatives in the area, and many remember when he was once just a little ole Georgia Boy.

So, now, here we are in the twenty-first century, and Adairsville has moved right along with the rest of the planet. We now have citizens from all over the world, such places as Japan, China, Mexico, India, and others....but many of the old original families have remained and flourish today as yesterday. We now have international state-of-the-art industries....but you will still find locally owned,"Mom and Pop" businesses as well. Our schools are becoming more advanced each year.... but the teachers still understand the value of personal attention and dicipline, and know most of the students by their first name. Interstate Highway 75 still roars through our borders at break-neck speeds....but Peacock Alley (Historic Dixie Highway) still carries our families about the neighborhood. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Adairsville is as progressive as you could wish for, but she's still a warm, friendly, home town. So y'all come on over and visit a while. We'll sure be glad to see you.