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Credits

Photo Credits

The short answer

Every photo on Downtown Ellijay is a real photograph of the place it shows, credited here with its photographer, license and a link to the original. Photos of Fort Mountain and Carters Dam were taken in Murray County, the next county west of Gilmer, and their captions say so.

Facts checked October 17, 2026 Ellijay, Georgia (Gilmer County seat, in the north Georgia mountains), not East Ellijay, which is a separate city next door

  • The red-brick Gilmer County courthouse with its white columned portico and clock tower, photographed from the square on a sunny day with trees in leaf.

    The red-brick Gilmer County courthouse with its white columned portico and clock tower, photographed from the square on a sunny day with trees in leaf.

    Photograph Ellijay courthouse by Thomsonmg2000, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized, with a light colour grade.

  • A red-brick courthouse with white columns and a clock tower seen from street level across a quiet two-lane road; a low white stone foundation, small trees at the edges and a clear sky.

    A red-brick courthouse with white columns and a clock tower seen from street level across a quiet two-lane road; a low white stone foundation, small trees at the edges and a clear sky.

    Photograph Gilmer County Courthouse from east by Nyttend, in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A landscaped roundabout with a brick-paved crosswalk, young leafing trees, a black post clock and street lamps in a small-town square; low brick storefronts on the left and a red-brick building with a white-columned portico on the right, under a partly cloudy sky.

    A landscaped roundabout with a brick-paved crosswalk, young leafing trees, a black post clock and street lamps in a small-town square; low brick storefronts on the left and a red-brick building with a white-columned portico on the right, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Photograph Ellijay roudabout 01 by Thomsonmg2000, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A small-town square seen across a curving street: a planted roundabout island with trees and a flagpole flying the U.S. flag, a dark sedan rounding the curve and a row of two-story brick storefronts with awnings behind.

    A small-town square seen across a curving street: a planted roundabout island with trees and a flagpole flying the U.S. flag, a dark sedan rounding the curve and a row of two-story brick storefronts with awnings behind.

    Photograph Ellijay roundabout 02 by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • An elevated view over the low brick commercial buildings of a small town, a parking lot with cars in the foreground and wooded Blue Ridge foothills under a clear sky beyond.

    An elevated view over the low brick commercial buildings of a small town, a parking lot with cars in the foreground and wooded Blue Ridge foothills under a clear sky beyond.

    Photograph Ellijay by Tamparitus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized, with a light colour grade.

  • A red-brick arts-center building at a corner: a one-story glass-fronted storefront porch on the left, a long brick wall in the middle and a taller two-story brick block on the right.

    A red-brick arts-center building at a corner: a one-story glass-fronted storefront porch on the left, a long brick wall in the middle and a taller two-story brick block on the right.

    Photograph Gilmer Arts Front Building by Muisca Santafe, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A wide panorama of a shallow rocky river with small rapids on the left calming toward the right, boulders and rhododendron along the banks and wooded hills behind.

    A wide panorama of a shallow rocky river with small rapids on the left calming toward the right, boulders and rhododendron along the banks and wooded hills behind.

    Photograph CartecayRiverGA panorama by Brian McInturff, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A calm green-brown river in a wooded valley seen from a bridge, with the sky and overhanging trees reflected in the water.

    A calm green-brown river in a wooded valley seen from a bridge, with the sky and overhanging trees reflected in the water.

    Photograph Coosawattee River, Ellijay by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A grassy hillside planted with rows of small pig-shaped plywood signs, with a large orange billboard reading BAR-B-Q, COL. POOLE'S and Pig Hill of Fame on the left, under a blue sky.

    A grassy hillside planted with rows of small pig-shaped plywood signs, with a large orange billboard reading BAR-B-Q, COL. POOLE'S and Pig Hill of Fame on the left, under a blue sky.

    Photograph ColPoole’sBBQ2-EastEllijay (32561666530) by formulanone from Huntsville, United States, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized, with a light colour grade.

  • A red roadside barbecue restaurant with a yellow-trimmed gable sign reading BAR-B-Q, two yellow cars decorated as pigs in the parking lot and green wooded hills behind.

    A red roadside barbecue restaurant with a yellow-trimmed gable sign reading BAR-B-Q, two yellow cars decorated as pigs in the parking lot and green wooded hills behind.

    Photograph ColPoole’sBBQ1-EastEllijay (32901851376) by formulanone from Huntsville, United States, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized, with a light colour grade.

  • Wooded hills in early autumn color with rounded blue mountains and a radio tower on the skyline; light poles and the roofs of a few commercial buildings at the bottom edge.

    Wooded hills in early autumn color with rounded blue mountains and a radio tower on the skyline; light poles and the roofs of a few commercial buildings at the bottom edge.

    Photograph Rich Mountain (21528880133) by Thomson20192, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A two-lane road curving past a field of tall grass and a dark stand of pines, with layered blue mountain ridges under a clear sky and a single pickup truck in the distance.

    A two-lane road curving past a field of tall grass and a dark stand of pines, with layered blue mountain ridges under a clear sky and a single pickup truck in the distance.

    Photograph Rich Mountains (22229661866) by Thomson20192, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A field of dry golden grasses and white wildflowers in the foreground, a band of woods beyond and a long blue mountain ridge with a rounded high point under a clear sky.

    A field of dry golden grasses and white wildflowers in the foreground, a band of woods beyond and a long blue mountain ridge with a rounded high point under a clear sky.

    Photograph Cowpen Mountain, Georgia Oct 2015 by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • Autumn woods of red, orange and green trees in the foreground with two blue mountain summits on the horizon under a pale clear sky.

    Autumn woods of red, orange and green trees in the foreground with two blue mountain summits on the horizon under a pale clear sky.

    Photograph Springer Mountain and Black Mountain seen from East Ellijay by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A leaf-covered dirt track leading through a forest in autumn color, with yellow, orange and red foliage on both sides under an overcast sky.

    A leaf-covered dirt track leading through a forest in autumn color, with yellow, orange and red foliage on both sides under an overcast sky.

    Photograph Rich Mountain Road in fall by Lahti213, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A gravel forest road climbing gently through green woods, with ferns on the banks and a scattering of fallen brown leaves.

    A gravel forest road climbing gently through green woods, with ferns on the banks and a scattering of fallen brown leaves.

    Photograph Rich Mountain Road (22266436591) by Thomson20192, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A rocky footpath winding through a shaded hardwood forest, with fallen logs across the slope and rhododendron along the trail.

    A rocky footpath winding through a shaded hardwood forest, with fallen logs across the slope and rhododendron along the trail.

    Photograph Benton MacKaye Trail, Gilmer County, Georgia by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A cascade of white water sliding over broad, dark rock ledges scattered with fallen autumn leaves, with sunlit woods around the falls.

    A cascade of white water sliding over broad, dark rock ledges scattered with fallen autumn leaves, with sunlit woods around the falls.

    Photograph Falls Branch Falls – panoramio by Thomson M, licensed under CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A view over treetops and ferns toward distant low blue mountains on the horizon, under a wide sky streaked with thin white clouds.

    A view over treetops and ferns toward distant low blue mountains on the horizon, under a wide sky streaked with thin white clouds.

    Photograph Talona Mountain summit, October 2021 5 by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A two-lane road through a small rural community, with a green roadside sign reading CHERRY LOG VOTER PRECINCT, a few low buildings, parked vehicles and dense green trees.

    A two-lane road through a small rural community, with a green roadside sign reading CHERRY LOG VOTER PRECINCT, a few low buildings, parked vehicles and dense green trees.

    Photograph Cherry Log street – panoramio by Thomson M, licensed under CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized, with a light colour grade.

  • Dark still water in the foreground with a rocky shoreline and a wooded hillside of red, orange and yellow autumn trees under a blue sky with white clouds.

    Dark still water in the foreground with a rocky shoreline and a wooded hillside of red, orange and yellow autumn trees under a blue sky with white clouds.

    Photograph Fallcolorcarters by Tamparitus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • An elevated view over green summer treetops to a broad lake ringed by wooded shores, with a mountain ridge on the left horizon and billowing white clouds.

    An elevated view over green summer treetops to a broad lake ringed by wooded shores, with a mountain ridge on the left horizon and billowing white clouds.

    Photograph CartersHR by Tamparitus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A wide blue lake winding between wooded points and islands, seen through bare winter branches, with a mountain ridge on the horizon under a clear blue sky.

    A wide blue lake winding between wooded points and islands, seen through bare winter branches, with a mountain ridge on the horizon under a clear blue sky.

    Photograph Carterswinter by Tamparitus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A calm, wide lake reflecting large white and gray clouds, with a dark wooded shoreline and low mountains along the horizon.

    A calm, wide lake reflecting large white and gray clouds, with a dark wooded shoreline and low mountains along the horizon.

    Photograph Calm Carters by Tamparitus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • An aerial view of a large curved rock-fill dam holding back a wide lake with wooded islands, with a powerhouse, an electrical switchyard and a muddy brown river channel below the dam.

    An aerial view of a large curved rock-fill dam holding back a wide lake with wooded islands, with a powerhouse, an electrical switchyard and a muddy brown river channel below the dam.

    Photograph USACE Carters Lake and Dam by Adrien Lamarre, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • The broad sloping rock face of a large dam rising behind an electrical switchyard and a strip of water, with wooded hills at both sides and white clouds in a blue sky.

    The broad sloping rock face of a large dam rising behind an electrical switchyard and a strip of water, with wooded hills at both sides and white clouds in a blue sky.

    Photograph CartersDam by HowardSF, in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A white clapboard church with a gabled roof beside a grassy cemetery of headstones decorated with flowers, with green trees and a blue mountain ridge in the distance.

    A white clapboard church with a gabled roof beside a grassy cemetery of headstones decorated with flowers, with green trees and a blue mountain ridge in the distance.

    Photograph Cartecay Methodist Church, 1859, Blue Ridge Background by Gwringle, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A view from a mountainside over steep forested ridges and valleys in fresh spring green, with a long blue mountain ridge on the horizon.

    A view from a mountainside over steep forested ridges and valleys in fresh spring green, with a long blue mountain ridge on the horizon.

    Photograph Cool Springs Overlook, Fort Mountain, Georgia April 2016 by Thomson200, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A high view over a broad green valley of farm fields and woods, with a rounded mountain range across the valley under white clouds and dry brush in the foreground.

    A high view over a broad green valley of farm fields and woods, with a rounded mountain range across the valley under white clouds and dry brush in the foreground.

    Photograph Fort mountain view 03 by Thomsonmg2000, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • A tall rough-stone tower with an arched opening and a wooden stair landing at its base, standing among bare trees under a partly cloudy sky.

    A tall rough-stone tower with an arched opening and a wooden stair landing at its base, standing among bare trees under a partly cloudy sky.

    Photograph Fort mountain stone tower by Thomsonmg2000, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

  • Layered forested ridges in fresh spring green rolling toward a long blue mountain range on the horizon under a soft white cloudy sky.

    Layered forested ridges in fresh spring green rolling toward a long blue mountain range on the horizon under a soft white cloudy sky.

    Photograph Looking east from the Cohutta Overlook – panoramio by Thomson M, licensed under CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

The film on the home page

The film at the top of the home page is cut from six photographs credited on this page, slowly panned and cross-faded. Nothing in it is generated or altered beyond cropping, a light colour grade and the motion.

  1. Today's Gilmer County Courthouse in downtown Ellijay, on the site of the old one — Thomsonmg2000, CC0
  2. The roundabout and post clock on the courthouse square — Thomsonmg2000, CC0
  3. The Coosawattee River at Ellijay, formed where the Ellijay and Cartecay rivers meet — Thomson200, CC0
  4. Fall color on Springer and Black mountains, seen from East Ellijay — Thomson200, CC0
  5. Falls Branch Falls near Cherry Log, north of Ellijay — Thomson M, CC BY 3.0
  6. The view from Talona Mountain in Gilmer County — Thomson200, CC0

Dates, hours and fees change. For anything official, the city has the final word: City of Ellijay official site

The red-brick Gilmer County courthouse with its white columned portico and clock tower, photographed from the square on a sunny day with trees in leaf.
Photo: Thomsonmg2000, CC0

Where the rivers meet

Like it here? Ask about living here.

Gold Peach Realty is the North Georgia brokerage behind this guide. If an October weekend at the apple festivals or an afternoon on River Street has you wondering what a house in Ellijay or elsewhere in Gilmer County would look like, the team can walk you through what is on the market and how the mountain towns differ.

Visit Gold Peach Realty Call Gold Peach Realty (770) 283-1223

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