The Pickens County Georgia map covers a north-central Georgia county where Jasper, marble communities, mountain ridges, and the Highway 515 corridor meet. Pickens County was created from Cherokee and Gilmer counties on December 5, 1853, and named for Revolutionary War general Andrew Pickens. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 37,167 residents on July 1, 2025.
Jasper is the county seat and service center. Nelson, Talking Rock, Tate, and Marble Hill reflect different parts of the county’s railroad, quarry, small-town, and mountain history, while newer homes and businesses follow the main north-south highway.
Table of Contents
Marble country at the foot of the Appalachians
Rich marble deposits became the county’s most distinctive natural resource. The Tate family expanded quarrying, and the Georgia Marble Company was organized in 1884 as rail access opened national markets for blocks and finished stone.
Tate and Nelson developed around quarrying, finishing plants, worker housing, rail sidings, and related businesses. Georgia marble was used in prominent monuments and public buildings, giving Pickens County its “Marble Capital of Georgia” identity.
Places and map files included
This Pickens County Georgia map identifies Jasper, Nelson, Talking Rock, Tate, and Marble Hill. Color and black-and-white versions retain labels, while the outline file removes names and fills for custom annotation.
Jasper, rail service, and county government
Jasper was incorporated in 1857 and named for Revolutionary War hero William Jasper. It grew slowly until the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad arrived in 1883 and expanded cotton and marble shipping.
The city now concentrates county government, courts, medical services, schools, shops, and highway-oriented development. Historic buildings and the older rail corridor remain visible within a more modern regional service center.
The Federal Road and Cherokee-era travel
Georgia opened the Federal Road across the Cherokee Nation in 1805. Pickens County preserves more surviving traces of the unpaved route than any other Georgia county, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Taverns and trading places served travelers along the road, which was used by future or sitting presidents Andrew Jackson and James Monroe. The route documents a period before county creation, railroad construction, and large-scale marble development.
Three municipalities and several historic communities
- Jasper: county seat and government, retail, and medical center
- Nelson: marble city divided between Pickens and Cherokee counties
- Talking Rock: very small railroad town established in the nineteenth century
- Tate: historic center of Georgia marble quarrying and processing
- Marble Hill: unincorporated eastern mountain and quarry community
Highway 515 and residential growth
Georgia State Route 515 connects Jasper south toward metro Atlanta and north toward Ellijay and Blue Ridge. Retail, medical facilities, subdivisions, and service businesses have expanded along this corridor.
The population rose from an April 2020 estimates base of 33,225 to 37,167 in 2025, an increase of 11.9 percent. Mountain scenery and access to northern Atlanta employment have both contributed to demand.
Mountain terrain and county borders
Pickens County covers about 233 square miles in the North Georgia Mountains region. Jasper stands around 1,463 feet above sea level, while northern ridges exceed 3,000 feet in parts of the Cohutta and Amicalola ranges.
The county borders Gilmer, Dawson, Cherokee, Bartow, and Gordon counties. Its northern side rises toward higher mountain country, while the south connects more directly to the outer Atlanta growth region.
Color map
The color file separates central Jasper, southern Nelson, northern Talking Rock, and eastern Tate and Marble Hill.
Black and white map
The monochrome version retains place names and boundary lines. Jasper, Nelson, Talking Rock, Tate, and Marble Hill remain visible for grayscale reference.
Outline map
The outline file leaves county and internal lines without labels. Users can add marble districts, the Federal Road, rail lines, Highway 515, mountain areas, or custom community markers.
Download the county map
The Pickens County Georgia map is available in color, black-and-white, and outline A3 JPG formats. Choose a labeled version for reference or the outline file for custom annotation.
County Map File Information
The download contains three A3 JPG versions of the Pickens County map.
- Included Versions: Color, Black and White, Outline
- File Type: JPG
- Printable Size: A3
- Map Detail: County boundary, internal lines, and surrounding area
- Intended Use: Printing, classes, presentations, documents, and annotations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the county seat of Pickens County?
Jasper is the county seat and the county’s primary government, retail, and medical center.
How many incorporated municipalities are in the county?
There are three: Jasper, Nelson, and Talking Rock. Nelson also extends into Cherokee County.
How much did the population grow after 2020?
The July 1, 2025 estimate was 11.9 percent higher than the April 2020 estimates base.
References
Pickens County government’s history page documents county creation, Jasper, marble, railroads, and historic communities.
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts provides the 2020 census count and July 1, 2025 estimate.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Pickens County covers the Federal Road, Cherokee-era history, municipalities, railroads, and marble development.
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