city, seat (1851) of Whitfield county, northwestern Georgia, U.S., encircled by the Cohutta Mountains. Although founded in 1837 as Cross Plains, it was renamed, probably, for the mother of Edward White (head of the syndicate that bought the townsite), whose maiden name was Dalton. It developed as a shipping point for copper mined nearby. Several American Civil War battles were fought in the area, and in 1863–64 Dalton served as the headquarters of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston (Johnston, Joseph E) and the Army of Tennessee.

The tufted-textile industry (carpets, bedspreads, and robes), which began in 1895 as a home handicraft, became mechanized in the 1930s; Dalton now produces much of the national output. Dalton State College, a four-year school, opened as a junior college in 1967. The city lies just east of the western segment of Chattahoochee National Forest. In addition, Fort Mountain State Park (east) and the southern unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (northwest) are nearby. Inc. 1847. Pop. (1990) 21,761; (2000) 27,912.