Social Circle is a historic community located some 40 miles east of Atlanta in the Historic Heartlands section of Georgia in rural Walton County. Established in 1818, Walton County is named for George Walton, one of the original signers of America's Declaration of Independence.
In the early 1800's, the settlement which would become Social Circle, was located at the junction of two old Creek Indian paths, today known as Cherokee Road (formerly Rogue Road, now known as Georgia Highway 11) and Hightower Trail. Cherokee Road and Hightower Trail were originally used by the Creek Indians for transporting furs east and south to Augusta. As the area became more inhabited, log dwellings began to appear along the crossroads.
A legend has been passed down about a group of men, meeting at the crossroads, who were sitting around the well having their usual drink. A stranger approached and was greeted with such warm hospitality, he said, "This is surely a social circle." From that time until the present, the name of the village has remained Social Circle. A replica of the original well now stands in the center of Social Circle and is more than just an eye-catcher for passing tourists. It's a symbol of the city's beginnings, and characterizes the spirit of the people of Social Circle and their friendship with others.
In 1820, a group of men obtained land in this area by lottery. Joel Strickland, of Tattnal County, drew Land Lot #96 containing about 250 acres of Social Circle's present site. John P. Blackmon and two others later bought out Mr. Strickland's land interest for $118 and, soon after, Mr. Blackmon acquired full ownership for approximately 13 cents per acre. Blackmon then added his own log dwelling at the junction of the two Creek Indian paths, and donated a parcel of the land for the site of a Methodist Church. A shop, a meeting house, and a small storehouse were quickly added, and the growing settlement was on its way to becoming a village. Being just ten miles south of Monroe, Georgia (the county seat), the area became known as "a likely spot for business" with its two important crossroads and the "well" that attracted travelers. Mr. Blackmon went on to become Social Circle's first postmaster in 1826. The bulk of his land was sold in 1829 to William Cabiness for $1,740, fifteen times the cost of the entire original tract.
Mr. Cabiness sensed the need for organizing the growing settlement. With its population nearing 200, Social Circle was chartered as a village in 1832 by the State Legislature, and the village boundaries were set at one-quarter mile in each direction from the well. Wilson Whatley, Samuel Catlin, Lewis Main, George W. Walker, and S.J.T. Whatley were appointed as the first Commissioners.
With the coming of the Georgia Railroad, the village grew and prospered as the commercial and transportation center for the area. By 1860, Social Circle was fast becoming a shopping hub, and people began coming from as far away as Decatur, Georgia, to do their trading. Stores, schools, several churches, and some forty houses were now clustered about the crossroads.
During the Civil War, in November of 1864, Sherman and his troops marched down West Hightower Trail to destroy the railroad lines at the depot. It is said that Sherman's troops camped under the oak trees on the front lawn of the Gibbs-Burton-Herndon-Rogers-Bertram-Bailes/Johnston House during their "March to the Sea." After the war, the village of Social Circle picked up the pieces, rebuilt, and continued to grow and prosper.
In 1870, Social Circle gave up its title as a village to incorporate as a town. In 1904, due to its continued growth, the community was deemed too big to be regarded as a village. The village surrendered its charter to become a city. The social life of the city, its churches, and its relaxed way of living were strong reasons to join "the circle." With an established bank, hardware store, undertaker, grocer, and soda fountain, life only got better with the installation of electric lights. The electric lights would be turned on from 3:00 in the afternoon until 10:00 at night. After that time, the lights would be shut off and not turned back on until the following afternoon.
Social Circle's fortunes rose and fell with cotton. From 1870 to 1920, the community flourished. Many of Social Circle's present-day homes were built or remodeled during this time.The 1920's and 1930's did little for the community. The boll weevil virtually destroyed all the cotton crops and the Great Depression was not far behind. By the 1950's, a wave of new industry gave a spark to the economic life of Social Circle, peaking interest in the older homes and a more relaxed way of living.
The following information is taken from the 1995 Georgia County Guide and will give the reader a sense of the Social Circle community at present. Walton County has 38,586 citizens, ranking 39th in population among the 159 counties in Georgia. The County includes three primary communities: Monroe, Loganville, and Social Circle/Jersey. Social Circle has a population of about 3,500 citizens. Walton County ranks 39th in per capita income. The median age for Walton County residents is 31.7 years. Slightly more than 42% of the population of Walton County has not completed high school, with almost 18% (89th county rank) not educated beyond the eighth grade. The county has just over 13% of its households living below the poverty level, and more than 36% of all households are headed by females. Walton County has an unemployment rate of 4.4% (32nd county rank).
History of Social Circle Schools