[2] Gordon County comprises the Calhoun, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs, GA-AL CSA.

Gordon County was created on February 13, 1850, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly.

It was not until December 29, 1835, that Georgia had an official basis for claiming the unceded Cherokee lands that included the future location of Gordon County.

Though a majority of Cherokees opposed the treaty and refused to leave, the U.S. and Georgia considered it binding.

In 1838, U.S. Army troops rounded up the last of 15,000 Cherokees in Georgia and forced them to march west in what came to be known as the "Trail of Tears", making this area the starting point of the removal.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 55,186 people, 19,715 households, and 14,653 families living in the county.

Mohawk Industries, a leading manufacturer of flooring, is headquartered in Gordon County.

In addition, Shaw Industries, Beaulieu International Group, LG Chem, and Kobelco Construction Machinery America - a division of Kobe Steel - have significant presences in Gordon, County.

Gordon County was the home of the Georgia Yellow Hammers, an old-time music group from the 1920s.

The Yellow Hammers, chiefly composed of Bill Chitwood, Clyde Evans, Bud Landress, Charles Ernest Moody, and Phil Reeve were one of the most important bands during the heyday of old-time music.

Mr. Moody was the author of songs which are today Southern Gospel standards including "Drifting Too Far From the Shore" which has been covered and recorded by such artists as Jerry Garcia, Emmylou Harris, Phil Lesh, Hank Williams and many others.

Two fatal rail accidents took place in Gordon County in the late 20th century.

Bert Lance, an advisor to Jimmy Carter's successful presidential campaign, served as chairman of the Board of Calhoun First National Bank, later acquired by Trust Company of Georgia, forerunner of SunTrust; it is now part of Truist Financial.