Community | Alliance for Dade

About Dade County

The beautiful and serene Dade Valley extends across the foothills of Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain in the extreme northwest corner of Georgia. It is bordered by Alabama to the west and Tennessee to the north, with Georgia’s Walker County to the east and south.

Dade County has one incorporated city (Trenton), but a variety of close-knit communities distributed geographically around Lookout Mountain, Sand Mountain, and Dade Valley.

On Lookout Mountain, you’ll find West Brow, New Salem, Plum Nelly, Head River, Cloudland, and McLemore. Lookout Mountain is world renowned for its scenic beauty. It is also home to a collection of artists’ studios at Plum Nelly, mak- ing it one of the most robust artist colonies in the country. Drive the winding mountain roads to the historic “Castle in the Clouds,” now Covenant College. Take in a round of golf at The McLemore (Ranked Top 3 “The Best Courses You Can Play in the country” by Golf Digest, or play at Trenton Golf Course on the parkland-style course that is conveniently located near downtown Trenton. Stay a while at Cloudland Canyon State Park or visit Lookout Mountain Flight Park where you can dare to fly or maybe just dare to dream as you quietly bask in the sunset from the western rim of the mountain.

Sand Mountain communities include New Home, Davis, and Fox Mountain. Few places offer the same level of rugged beauty and solitude as Sand Mountain. This is the perfect destination for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bus- tle of modern life and reconnect with nature. Sand Mountain offers panoramic views and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, making it the perfect destination for hikers, photographers, and naturalists.

Nestled in Dade Valley are the communities of Trenton, Rising Fawn, Wildwood, Hooker, Morganville, Slygo, New Eng- land, and Cloverdale. Trenton was first settled in 1830 and was commonly called Salem. However, after the county was carved from Walker County territory in 1837, it became the county seat and was renamed Trenton in honor of the in- dustrial engineers of Trenton, New Jersey who came to the area searching for iron and coal. Trenton was incorporated on February 18, 1854.

Dade County is home to Cloudland Canyon State Park, Covenant College, and the Southeast Lineman Training School (SLTC). Founded in 1999, as the premier training school for apprentice Lineworker training, consistently producing an elite group of highly trained and certified graduates through multiple programs throughout the year. It is also home to the show "Woodwalkers" seen on Apple TV and Prime Video.

More importantly, it is home to a community of people who uphold values rooted in character and tradition, and a caring and uplifting culture that promotes individual success and well-being.

Benefits to living in Dade County include:

Low Cost of Living
Magnificent Scenic Beauty
An Abundance of Outdoor Recreation
Affordable Housing with Breathtaking Views
Proximity to Large Southern Cities like Chattanooga, Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham
Unmatched Southern Hospitality

Communities in Dade County include:

On Lookout Mountain: Lookout Mountain, West Brow, New Salem, Plum Nelly, Head River and Cloudland
On Sand Mountain: New Home, Davis, Fox Mountain
In Dade Valley: Trenton (the county seat and Dade County’s only incorporated city), Rising Fawn, Wildwood, Hooker, Morganville, Slygo, New England, Cloverdale

Education

The mission of the Dade County Public School System is to ensure every one of its 2,000+ students has the opportunity to become an independent, hard-working, competent member of society within a caring and uplifting cultural environment. This mission is achieved through the efforts of:

Dedicated teachers and staff (more than half the teachers hold master’s degrees).
Community and parent commitment.
Safe and orderly environments at two elementary, one middle and one high school.
And strong leadership committed to excellence (the Dade County Board of Education is recognized by the Georgia School Board Association as an Exemplary Board and recipient of the 2021 Governance Team of the Year).

View the latest Dade County School System Annual Report here.

Dade County is also home to Covenant College, a Presbyterian-centered institution of higher education emphasizing liberal arts. It is located in the former Lookout Mountain Hotel, the posh “Castle in the Clouds,” built in 1928. The College has significantly developed the campus and cultivated important ties with Dade County and neighboring northwest Georgia communities.

Parks & Recreation

Dade County’s parks and recreation facilities increase the county’s desirability to live, work, and play here in our beautiful surroundings.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

One of the most scenic parks in the state, Cloudland Canyon’s stunning waterfalls, incredible long-range views, sheer canyon walls, and spectacular sunsets attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to experience the park’s wonders.
Town Creek Trail

In Trenton near the town square, the Town Creek Trail follows gently flowing Town Creek to Jenkins Park.
Jenkins Park & Playground

Bring a picnic to one of the Trenton City Park’s three covered picnic areas and shaded benches, near gently flowing Town Creek, while the kids play on the state-of-the-art playground. The park boasts two softball fields, a basketball court, restrooms, walking track, lovely flower mural, and an accessible pathway that connects with Town Creek Trail. Jenkins Park is also home to the annual 1945 Dade County Fair; a Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show.
Trenton City Pool

When school lets out for summer, Trenton City Pool opens to the public daily (except Sunday). Lifeguards oversee Open Swim from Noon-6 pm, and Senior Swim from 11 am-Noon Mon.-Fri. A concession stand is onsite. Private rentals are available for evenings, 6-9 pm Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri. & Sat. Purchase summer passes for singles or families.
Dade County Sports Complex

The well-maintained 40-acre Dade County Sports Complex is open daily and free to the public (except sports league field rentals). The Complex features: ½-mile accessible walking track with benches; tennis and pickleball courts; baseball, softball, football, and soccer fields; four batting cages; a playground; a concession stand open during league events; several bathrooms; and a sizable building that may be rented for family reunions, birthday parties, or special events.
Veterans Memorial Park

Adjacent to the 1926 Dade County Historic Courthouse, the park is part of the downtown Trenton Square. Dedicated to the veterans of Dade County, the park has a gazebo, picnic tables, park benches, and multiple monuments honoring veterans from several wars.

Additional Services

Civic & Cultural Organizations

Amateur Radio

Join us on the K4SOD repeater on Thursdays at 8pm Eastern time. 146.760 -0.600 with a 141.3 tone.
American Legion Post 106

2nd Tuesday of every month - Meal is at 6p and Meeting is at 7p
Dade County Historical Society

Business Meetings - Quarterly - 2nd Saturday, January, April, July, October
Trenton-Dade Lions Club

Meets 2nd Thursday of every month at noon
Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park

4th Thursday of the month
Friends of the Library
Optimist Club of Trenton-Dade

Meets every Tuesday at noon except the 5th Tuesday
Tree City USA
Tri-state Heritage Arts and Culture Coalition