Gumlog, Georgia

Gumlog, Georgia Tsilula Yi
Census-designated place
Motto: Land of Spirits
Location in Franklin County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°30′5″N 83°5′54″W / 34.50139°N 83.09833°WCoordinates: 34°30′5″N 83°5′54″W / 34.50139°N 83.09833°W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Franklin
Area
• Total	16.1 sq mi (41.6 km^2)
• Land	13.4 sq mi (34.8 km^2)
• Water	2.6 sq mi (6.8 km^2)
Elevation	732 ft (223 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	2,146
• Density	160/sq mi (61.6/km^2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
FIPS code	13-35814[1]
GNIS feature ID	1867242[2]

Gumlog is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,146 at the 2010 census.^[3]

Geography

Gumlog is located in the northeast corner of Franklin County at 34°30′5″N 83°5′54″W / 34.50139°N 83.09833°W (34.501493, -83.098341).^[4] It consists of extensive residential neighborhoods along the shores of Lake Hartwell on the Savannah River. The northeast border of the CDP is the centerline of the main stem of the lake, which also forms the state line^[5] with South Carolina. To the northwest, the CDP is bordered by Stephens County, and to the southeast it is bordered by Hart County. The southern edge of the CDP follows Interstate 85, and the southwest corner of the CDP borders the city of Lavonia. Access from I-85 is from Exit 173 (Georgia Highway 17) in Lavonia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Gumlog CDP has a total area of 16.1 square miles (41.6 km²), of which 13.4 square miles (34.8 km²) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²), or 16.32%, is water.^[3] Tugaloo State Park occupies a peninsula on Lake Hartwell in the eastern part of the CDP.

It is said that Gumlog holds the Earth together. Georgia Highway 328 is called Gumlog Road and is nearly the only way in and out of the community of Gumlog. It is 10 miles (16 km) long and crosses over the Gumlog Cove branch of Lake Hartwell. Gumlog Road runs from Highway 59 in Lavonia to a junction with Highway 17 in Avalon. Gumlog Creek also starts near the same junction in Avalon. Avalon was going to be named "Gumlog" after Gumlog Creek, but when the charter came back from the State Legislature, the name had been changed instead to Avalon.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,025 people, 849 households, and 625 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 149.0 people per square mile (57.5/km²). There were 1,430 housing units at an average density of 105.2/sq mi (40.6/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 92.69% White, 4.40% African American, 0.94% Native American, 1.14% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 849 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,609, and the median income for a family was $42,813. Males had a median income of $29,405 versus $25,139 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,859. About 6.0% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

First Court in Franklin County

In 1785, shortly after British rule, the Crackerhead State was roiling with scandal - where pigs would have died of disgust. In this tumultuous era, the Yazoo Land Scandal forced the federal government the take direct control from Georgia of what is now Alabama and Mississippi. South Carolina took advantage of the situation to move the boundary, established by King Charles II, from the main branch of the Keowee River to the Tugaloo branch. On top of that, there were many complaints of Indians stealing horses. The most pressing business of Franklin County's first court was to sort out the infamous Land Grant Fraud. Since there is no honor amongst thieves, over 5 million acres had been granted where only a half million actually existed. This situation was repeated in other Georgia counties. To sort out the legitimate deeds from the fraudulent deeds, a court was held on Gumlog Creek at the home of Warren Philpot. George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the Chief Justice.^[6] The assistant justices were Jesse Walton, Benjamin Cleveland, Larkin Cleveland, and John Gorham.^[7] These are prominent people in the development of Georgia. What today would be referred to as commissioners, or councilmen were referred to as judges in the past.

What is in a name

The name "Gumlog" may come from a rough translation of the Native name Tsilula Yi or "Sweetgum Place". The area was a managed gum tree forest before Georgia exercised its right to expropriate^[8] Native lands. There may have been confusion at the time between the Native words for creek and log. Those doing the translating were not experts. In 1785 an important governmental meeting took place in Gumlog. The participants were provided improvised seating on gum logs.^[9] So it may have been spoken of as the Gum Log Court. Gumlog was the name given to a Georgia military district. These were militia companies of one-hundred men in a similar manner of a Danish Wepntak ("Weapon Take") or English Hundred. The policy of the American and perhaps even that of the earlier British government was to favor Native, Spanish or French names and not to reuse names that belong to the British Isles. The Victorian word for this policy was euphonious to provide a better sense of place.

Attractions

• Tugaloo State Park
• Lake Hartwell
• I-85 Welcome Center

References

1. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Gumlog CDP, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
5. Darney, Joseph Earl(1974), Mountain Spirits, Bright Mountain Books, Asheville, NC, ISBN 0-914875-02-7, p.156,. “The community of Gumlog, located in a remote section of northeast Georgia along the South Carolina boarder, was known far and wide as a prolific producer of corn whiskey.”
6. Lake Living Magazine Volume 5, Issue 2(June 2003) Community News Papers, Inc, Athens, GA How Gumlog Got Its Name by Willis, Ross,. p.16,. “Well, it is said that Gumlog received its name from the gum tree logs that were cut and used as benches during the first sessions of the Franklin County Superior Court which was presided over by George Walton on the banks of a nearby creek.”
7. History of Franklin County, Georgia, Library of Congress 85 52027 copyright 1986, fourth printing 2004. Franklin County Historical Society, POB 541 Carnesville, GA 30521
8. The Treaty of Buford uses the phrase, "the right to expropriate Indian land."
9. Alexander, Jerry L.(2006), Where Have All the Moonshiners Gone, Seneca, SC, ISBN 0-9763844-2-6, p.156,. “”GUMLOG, Georgia! The Land of Spirits!!! Where legends of illegal liquor making will never die... Early settlers held the first court here and sat on “Gum Log” benches, giving the area its name! But the lasting legend of Gumlog sprang from the many moonshine stills a-cooking here in the early to mid-1900s when hundreds of thousands of gallons were made, sold and shipped to nearby towns and cities.””