With the onset of European settlers and after gold was discovered in northern Georgia, the federal government forcibly removed the Cherokees to Oklahoma from Chattooga County in the early 1830s in what has become known as "the Trail of Tears."

[citation needed] The coming of the American Civil War saw Chattoogans polarized into pro and anti-union camps.

The front section of the Old Trion Cemetery on First Street contains the remains of fifty-five Union soldiers and seven Confederates killed in this action, but the graves are unmarked.

[4][5] In September 2009, the Chattooga County Camp 507, Sons of Confederate Veterans in conjunction with the Missionary Ridge Camp 63 Sons of Union Veterans, and several local groups erected a memorial monument to remember the "First Battle of Trion Factory" and the soldiers who are buried in unmarked graves at Trion.

In an interesting side note, Confederate General Helm was a brother-in-law to Mary Lincoln and was killed five days after the Battle of Trion Factory on Sept. 20 at the Battle of Chickamauga in Walker County, GA[6] After the fall of Atlanta, Confederate General John Bell Hood led his Army of Tennessee from the Atlanta battleground to the north and west, in an attempt to lead General William Tecumseh Sherman's Army of the Cumberland away from Atlanta and out of Georgia.

Hood's army passed through Chattooga County in September 1864 en route to Gaylesville, Alabama.

"[citation needed] Upon reaching Summerville, Sherman was informed of a Confederate training camp several miles up the river from town.

He proceeded north about two miles and "fired a few shots at the retreating rear guard" of the Confederate force.

[citation needed] Reportedly, every road leading out of Chattooga to the west was filled with retreating Confederate soldiers.

The NW GA region has followed the state, particularly the suburbs of Atlanta, in a dramatic political shift to the right.

[7] The county has supported Republicans for national office, but by much closer margins than most areas of the region.

Blake Elsberry, a local businessman, defeated incumbent Commissioner Jason Winters in the Primary election in 2020.

In 2012, Everett faced a federal lawsuit regarding questionable practices as sheriff, and ended up losing in the 2012 primary, the only incumbent to do so.

Schrader's office is located at 533 Underwood Drive, about 4 miles north of the county courthouse.

Other elected officers include Tax Commissioner Joy Cooper Hampton, Kim Windle James, the first woman to serve as Clerk of Superior and State Courts, Earle Rainwater as Coroner, and Jon Payne as Probate Judge and Election Superintendent.

Buddy Hill serves as Solicitor General and Jon Dennis is the State Court Judge.

Members of the school board include Chair Lori Brady, Vice-Chair Tiffany Lawrence, Eddie Elsberry, Bonnie Fletcher, and BJ Montgomery.

The system, constantly named one of the best public schools in the State of Georgia, is served by Superintendent Dr. H. Phillip Williams.

Members of the board are Chair Randy Henderson, Vice-Chair Kari Maddux, Laura Chesley, Darriel Broome, and Johnny Brimer.