Carnesville was founded in 1805 as the seat of Franklin County. It was incorporated as a town in 1819 and as a city in 1901. The town is named after Judge Thomas P. Carnes, a lawyer and congressman of the Revolutionary War era. In the 1850 census, the area around Carnesville had a free population of 9,131, and a slave population of 2,382.
Geography
Carnesville is located in the center of Franklin County in northeastern Georgia. Interstate 85 passes northwest of the city, with access from Exits 164 and 166. I-85 leads southwest to Atlanta and northeast to Greenville, South Carolina. According to the United States Census Bureau, Carnesville has a total area of, of which, or 0.86%, is water. Carnesville is situated in the watershed of the Broad River, a tributary of the Savannah River.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 541 people, 197 households and 131 families residing in the city. The population density was 221.7 per square mile. There were 222 housing units at an average density of 91.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 73.01% White, 24.95% African American, 0.55% Asian, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population. There were 197 households of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.05. 22.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males. The median household income was $36,719 and the median family income was $42,188. Males had a median income of $32,500 compared with $20,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,016. About 13.8% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.
TNS Skatting Rink is also found in Canresville and is open on the weekends.
In the media
In April 2013, Mayor Harris Little expressed concern over the number of American turkey vultures in Carnesville, and how the U.S. Migratory Bird Act prevented locals from killing them.
