The Valley and Ridge Region of Georgia

Shaped by a collision of continents approximately 250 million years ago and the centuries of erosion since, the Valley and Ridge region of Georgia is located north of the Piedmont, between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Plateau.

The major geographic features of this area are open valleys nestled between narrow ridges, or long elevated strips of land, that were formed as rivers gradually carved the terrain over millions of years.

Like the Appalachian Plateau, mining was also an important economic activity in the Valley and Ridge. However, iron rather than coal was the primary commercial resource in this area. Today, textile and carpet manufacturing are the region’s main industry. Prominent cities include Calhoun, Rome, and Dalton, which is especially known for carpet and textile production.

Rome is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range and is the largest city in northwest Georgia. The city was founded in 1834 where the Etowah and Oostanaula Rivers converge to become the Coosa River.

In 1847, a new railroad connected east Tennessee to the city of Crossing Plains, Georgia. Renamed Dalton, it is now the second largest city in the region.

The geology of the Valley and Ridge region is primarily characterized by limestone and sandstone. There are some iron and coal deposits as well, but these are more abundant in the Appalachian Plateau.

Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock that is composed of calcium carbonate. Two of the calcium-bearing carbonate minerals that make up this rock are calcite and dolomite. Limestone is used widely in construction and as a filler agent for fungicides and floor coverings.

​Sandstone is another sedimentary rock that, unlike limestone, consists mainly of quartz, sand, or feldspar. Like limestone, it is often used in the construction of roadways, bridges, and buildings.

High hills surrounding Lake Allatoona in the Etowah Valley are characteristic of the Valley and Ridge region.

The contrasting hard and soft sedimentary rock deposits in this region help create two different types of landscapes. Soil from soft sedimentary bedrock is ideal for cultivating agricultural products such as corn and wheat, while soil from hard sedimentary bedrock supports the healthy growth of forest ecosystems.

A notable city in the Valley and Ridge region is Dalton, which is often called the “Carpet Capital of the World” because of its commercial production and distribution of textiles, including carpet.

On 5 October 1864, toward the end of the Civil War, the Battle of Allatoona Pass was fought in Bartow County. After losing Atlanta to General William T. Sherman, General John Bell Hood ordered his troops to attack Sherman’s supply line at the pass. However, Confederate forces were unable to defeat the Union garrison that was stationed there to protect the railroad.

Did you know that the watershed in this region drains north instead of south?

The watershed of the Valley and Ridge region is unique to Georgia because it drains north rather than south. Although there are no major rivers in this region, all of the water from its creeks and falls will eventually reach the Tennessee River in the north.​