Gordon County is home to native people called the Cherokee. Not just any Cherokee, they were known as “Cherokee of the Phoenix.” The Cherokee Indians originally occupied all lands that would become Gordon County. The Gordon County area was home to New Echota, capital of the Cherokee Nation. New Echota was the birthplace of the written Cherokee language and newspaper – The Cherokee Phoenix. Calhoun is the one that was home to one of the tribes; their home would soon be called New Echota. Gordon County was created on February 13, 1850 by an act of the Georgia general assembly, after the Cherokee people were moved out. BUT, it wasn’t so pleasant for them.

These people were FORCED on the trail of tears! Today, their local home, called New Echota, is now a historic site for others. The Cherokee Indians originally occupied all lands that would become Gordon County. They lived in new Echota from 1825 to 1835. However in 1838, U.S. army troops rounded up the last of the 15,000 Cherokee in Georgia and forced them to march west, in what came to be known as “The trail of tears.” Its quite simple to know why is was named this.

The trail of tears was quite a long way. From their varying routes it covered about 1,609 kilometers in other words, 1,000 miles. Traversing parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. Other natives travelled over water along the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers, until they reached the eastern edge of present day Oklahoma. Oklahoma is now home to the Native Americans, known as Indian territory. Over 10,000 Native Americans died during removal or soon upon arrival in Indian territory. At last the people were at peace from their new location. Some may have moved on from their past, while others cried silently or with one another missing their old home. For others, New Echota is now a tourist attraction, and you can go to see and learn more about the people who lived there, and what they did. Welcome to Gordon County.

sources: gordoncountyga.gov