Kenny Pettway, linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos.Kinne, NFL and Canadian Football League quarterback Manuel Johnson, former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.Curtis Brown, former defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.Kris Boyd, American football defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings.Jason Sellers, country music singer-songwriter.Johnny Mathis, multiple platinum-selling popular music and standards singer Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.Freddie King, guitarist and singer in Blues Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Don Henley, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and founding member of the Eagles.About 15.9% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under the age of 18 and 21.0% of those 65 and older. The per capita income for the city was $16,823. Males had a median income of $32,437 versus $17,910 for females. The median income for a household in the city was $28,487, and for a family was $39,688. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males.
In the city, the population was distributed as 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the 1,926 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were not families. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.42% of the population. The racial makeup of the city was 75.91% White, 20.23% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. The population density was 1,038.5 people per square mile (401.1/km 2). The city and the surrounding area boast a number of impressive specimens.ĭemographics Historical populationĪs of the census of 2000, 4,799 people, 1,926 households, and 1,300 families resided in the city. Gilmer is part of a larger area known as the "Piney Woods". Īccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 mi 2 (12.0 km 2), all of it land.įour miles west of Gilmer is Lake Gilmer, which opened September 29, 2001. Once outside a noose was placed around his neck and he was dragged several blocks before he was hung in the town square. A mob of about 1000 white people stormed the jail and brought him out. On July 24, 1919, Chilton Jennings was arrested for assaulting a white woman. The historic Trail of Tears came through this region. First located near the creek, residents decided to change locations because of frequent floods. The location of Gilmer was determined by a flood on Little Cypress Creek. Sam Houston, when he lived with the Cherokee, travelled the Trace through here. To this day arrowheads and other Native American artifacts can be found with little to no digging. Gilmer is located on the Old Cherokee Trace, a trail used by the Cherokee Indians in their travels. Founded in 1846, the city's namesake is former United States Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Walker Gilmer.