Atco, Georgia


Atco is a small unincorporated community on the northwestern side of Cartersville in southern Bartow County, Georgia, United States. There are numerous baseball and soccer complexes in the area, primarily along Sugar Valley and Cassville Roads, making it a popular destination for subdivisions. The community derived its name from the American Textile Company, which built a mill in the community.

Geography

Atco is located at . The community is at an elevation of and is located inside Cartersville's city limits. Pettit Creek flows to the east of Atco, while Nancy Creek is located on the west side of the community.

History

In 1903, Edward McClain of the American Textile Company bought 600 acres of land north of Cartersville to construct a textile plant to manufacture horse collars. The plant was completed in 1904. In addition to building the plant, the American Textile Company also constructed about 40 homes for its workers. It was from the American Textile Company where Atco got its name. A post office called Atco was established in 1907, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1965.
With the horse collar business declining due to the automobile, the ATCO Mill was bought by Goodyear in 1929. Under Goodyear's control, the mill proceeded to manufacture tire fabric products. Goodyear also expanded the village, building hundreds of homes as well as a school. After being annexed by Cartersville in 1957, Goodyear began selling off its homes. In 1963, Atco's school was closed, while in 2003, Goodyear closed the Atco Mill, laying off the remaining 319 employees. In 2005, the Atco Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable people