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, making 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 Georgia” 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 bustle 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. Hike, bike, pick up some produce.

Nestled in Dade Valley are the communities of Trenton, Rising Fawn, Wildwood, Hooker, Morganville, Slygo, New England, 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 industrial engineers of Trenton, New Jersey who came to the area searching for iron and coal. Trenton was incorporated on February 18, 1854.

Folklore has it that Rising Fawn was named by an Indian chief whose tribe made their home in the foothills of Lookout Mountain. He wanted to give his beautiful daughter the perfect name. One morning he spotted a fawn rising out of the brush in a nearby field. As he observed the large eyes and gracefulness of the body, he knew he had found the name for his daughter – “Rising Fawn” – which became the name of the settlement there.

Wildwood is in the far northwestern corner of Georgia, but home to the largest outdoor drive-in theater in the state. The Outdoor Wilderness Theater shows first-run movies and offers a fun family activity for anyone visiting the surrounding area. Check out the WILDWOOD "Hollywood style" sign and pick up some vintage vinyl at Whittington's while you’re in the area.

New England, Georgia was named as such because nearby iron ore deposits were hoped to attract northern capital to the area. A “city” was surveyed, plotted, and mapped, and lots were sold at auction. Northern business interests, however, did not continue. Community members returned to making their living in agriculture.