Sixes, Georgia, Cherokee County, is a fascinating ghost town with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Known for its involvement in the Georgia Gold Rush, Sixes was once a thriving community before it became largely abandoned. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Cherokee County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 34.1798° N, 84.5483° W
Elevation: Approximately 935 feet (285 meters)
Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone (ET)
Established: Mid-1800s
Disestablished: Not formally disestablished, but declined significantly in the late 1800s
Comments: Sixes was originally home to the Sixes Gold Mine, which played a notable role during the Georgia Gold Rush. The Cherokee inhabited this area before their forced removal, and the town’s name is believed to have originated from a Cherokee village or the Sixes Mill, which utilized the water from the nearby Sixes River.
Remains: The area still has remnants of the Sixes Gold Mine and the old Sixes Mill ruins. Some structures and foundations can still be found, silently witnessing its past prosperity. The community is located in the Georgia Gold Belt, which runs southwest to northeast along the southern edge of the Blue Ridge mountains.
The Sixes Gold Mine, a now-defunct gold mine dating back to the early 19th century, was located just to the northwest. In addition, the community is home to the Sixes Mill, originally built around 1820 by early gold prospectors and later rebuilt circa 1880.
Current Status: Sixes is now considered a ghost town, with much of its land incorporated into modern developments and suburban areas. However, those interested in the town’s history and legacy occasionally visit the historical sites.
The mill has been well preserved and is still located off Sixes Road. Two theories exist about how Sixes derived its name. The first theory attributes the name to Fort Hinar Sixes, a Cherokee Indian removal fort located along the Trail of Tears.
The second holds that the name is derived from an old Cherokee village near the Etowah River named “Sutali,” which is the Cherokee word for the number six.
Remarks: Sixes is uniquely located in Georgia’s history due to its connection with the Gold Rush and its Cherokee roots. Despite its decline, the town’s story continues to attract the interest of historians and visitors alike.
Preservation efforts have been minimal, but the spirit of Sixes lives on through its historical significance and the traces left behind. Sixes also lent its name to Fort Sixes, an 1830s US Army fort that served as a removal collection point for the Cherokee before the Trail of Tears.
Sutallee, a community on the opposite side of the Etowah River (now Lake Allatoona) in western Cherokee County, also derives its name from this Native American village. Today, Sixes is a growing suburban community with many large, upscale residential neighborhoods, including BridgeMill.
Two elementary schools (Sixes & Liberty), one middle school (Freedom), and two high schools (Woodstock & Cherokee) serve the area.
