city, seat of Gordon county, northwestern Georgia, U.S. It lies near the Oostanaula River, 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Rome. Known formerly as Oothcaloga (“Place of the Beaver Dams”) and, later, as Dawsonville, the town was renamed in 1850 to honour the South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun (Calhoun, John C). The town was nearly destroyed during the American Civil War (1864) by General William Tecumseh Sherman (Sherman, William Tecumseh)'s Union army and was subsequently rebuilt.

Calhoun is now an agricultural trading centre (dairy, cattle, and poultry); its manufactures include textiles, outboard motors, and heavy equipment. Nearby is New Echota, location of the last capital (1825–38) of the eastern Cherokee Nation and now a state historic site; the first Native American newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, was printed there (1828–34) using both English and the syllabary developed by Sequoyah. A segment of Chattahoochee National Forest lies to the west of the city. Inc. 1852. Pop. (1990) 7,135; (2000) 10,667.

county, central South Carolina, U.S. It consists of a low-lying Coastal Plain region south of Columbia. At the southeastern extremity is Lake Marion, and the Congaree River forms the northeastern border. More than half the county is wooded, with pine forests predominant.

Congaree Indians were living in the area when it was settled by Palatine German farmers in the 1730s. Fort Motte is located at the site of a battle fought during the U.S. War of Independence (American Revolution). Calhoun county was formed in 1908 and named for statesman John C. Calhoun (Calhoun, John C).

Calhoun county is in an agricultural region, and soybeans, corn (maize), cotton, and livestock are the principal products. Kaolin and other clays are mined, and lumber and prepared meat products also are produced. St. Matthews is the county seat. Area 380 square miles (985 square km). Pop. (2000) 15,185; (2007 est.) 14,777.