Located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, 37 miles northwest of Atlanta, Cartersville is a city of nearly 25,000 people known for its three Smithsonian-affiliated museums, diverse outdoor recreation and theater community. Cartersville's pedestrian-friendly downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its stretch of early 20th-century brick buildings. "We're close enough to Atlanta that if you want to take in a Braves game, you're only 45 minutes away," says Mayor Matt Santini, who has lived in Cartersville since 1991 and been mayor since 2008. "But we're far enough away that you're in a community with a strong hometown feel." Companies like Qcells and Anheuser-Busch have large manufacturing plants in the city's north end, though some residents commute to Atlanta for work.
Residents enjoy dancing at the Black Bartow Day Party.
People at the Spring Interculturalfest Festival dress in clothing dedicated to their heritage.
Residents will find local bars and restaurants in Downtown Cartersville.
Anheuser-Busch, owner of Budweiser, has a manufacturing plant in Cartersville.
Booth Western Art Museum is a museum dedicated to the Western United States.
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Exploring Historic Downtown Cartersville
Downtown Cartersville starts near the Church Street Bridge and follows an active train track along Museum Drive to Main Street. This walkable area is filled with dining and entertainment and is home to events like the weekly farmers market and the Music by the Tracks concert series. Big-box retailers and grocery stores are in the city's north and east sections. "We have a thriving downtown area that's host to concerts, great retail options and fantastic restaurants," Santini says.
Residents will find local bars and restaurants in Downtown Cartersville.
Many vendors offer tastings of their product at the Cartersville Farmers Market.
About 40 trains pass through Downtown Cartersville daily.
Cartersville features big box retailers on the northern end of the city.
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Georgia's "Museum City"
Cartersville is known as Georgia's "Museum City" for its three Smithsonian-affiliated museums; the Tellus Science Museum and Savoy Automobile Museum are in the north, and the award-winning Booth Western Art Museum is downtown. "Many of the artists at the Booth are still alive," Santini says. "Instead of staring at a painting and wondering what the artist was thinking when he painted this, you can have the artist there to tell you what he was thinking." Cartersville's downtown is also home to the 1920s-era Grand Theatre, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which hosts regular live music, comedy and theater performances. "I refer to it as the cultural centerpiece of our city," Santini says. "Everybody's got a story or a memory about being in the space."
According to Santini, the 120-acre Dellinger Park to the south is Cartersville's most popular park, hosting events like the Fourth of July celebration. The Pine Mountain Recreation Area and Red Top Mountain State Park are prominent hiking spots to the east. The 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona, also east of Cartersville, is a go-to spot for boating, fishing and swimming.
Savoy Auto Musuem features 100 cars from different eras and styles.
The Grand Theater is a performing arts theater in Cartersville.
Lake Allatoona is a hot spot for water sports among residents.
Red Top Mountain State Park offers Cartersville residents a place to hike and camp.
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Contemporary properties on the outskirts of Cartersville
The median home price in Cartersville is around $340,000. Large new-traditional style homes are built along the city's edges in suburban neighborhoods, and they sell slightly higher than the citywide median. Closer to downtown, buyers can find a selection of early 20th-century bungalows and midcentury ranch-style homes. Townhouses are also available in the north end.
Single-family homes in Cartersville feature attached car garages.
Homes in the Cartersville reside on lots with shallow front lawns.
You'll find newly constructed modern mansions in Cartersville.
Residents will find modern farm houses situated on many acres in Cartersville.
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Education with Cartersville City Schools
Local kids can attend Cartersville City Schools, which earns an A from Niche. In Georgia, parents have access to school choice, which broadens options beyond assigned schools. Private schools in the area include Excel Christian Academy and North Cobb Christian School. In Cartersville's north side, Georgia Highlands College's Cartersville Campus offers bachelor's and associate degrees in over 40 subjects.
Some college students in Cartersville go to Georgia Highlands College's Cartersville Campus.
Cartersville Elementary School
provides education in the neighborhood of Cartersville.
Cartersville Middle School provides education in the neighborhood of
Cartersville.
Cartersville High School provides education in the neighborhood of
Cartersville.
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Convenience to Interstate 75
Interstate 75 passes through Cartersville's east side, providing clear access to Atlanta. The route often has heavy traffic, though, making a 43-mile commute sometimes as long as two hours. U.S. Route 41 is the main road through Cartersville itself. There's no public transportation here and few bike lanes. The Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center is in the north section of the city. For air travel, it's 53 miles to the central hub of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Cartersville air quality and local weather patterns
The Bartow County Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill to the city's southeast, and Plant Bowen is a coal-fired power plant 8 miles southwest. Both may affect air quality in the area.
Cartersville has a higher-than-average risk of tornadoes, but Santini says the city has a new communications system and tornado sirens to alert residents to dangerous storms. The region experiences four distinct seasons, including hot summers and very mild winters.
Crime statistics for Cartersville
According to FBI data, the rate of violent crime in Cartersville is about the same as the national average based on a population scale of 100,000. Violent crime increased slightly between 2022 and 2024. Property crime, however, is somewhat lower than the national average and has neither increased nor decreased between 2022 and 2024.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
