Blackjack Mountain is a scenic landmark, located in the very southwest corner of Carroll County, Georgia on the Georgia-Alabama border and Heard County line. The nearest city is Ephesus, Georgia, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) to the south.
While not an impressive mountain, at 1,545 ft (471 m)[1] the summit is the highest point in Georgia south of Interstate 20.[3] Blackjack Mountain is a long north–south trending ridge.[4] The Native Americans used this promontory as a reference point on their east–west trading path and are believed to have used the summit for sacred ceremonies.[5] The mountain was named for its blackjack oak timber.[6]
Conservation
In 2003, Carroll County earmarked about $19 million for land conservation, parks and recreation. Blackjack Mountain was a high land conservation priority. In early 2005, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) helped the county protect Blackjack Mountain. The acquisition of Blackjack Mountain will protect a very scenic viewshed and preserve over 312 acres (1.26 km2) of pines and mixed hardwoods, two small lakes, several small tributaries, a federally designated wetland and a valuable wildlife habitat.[5] Blackjack is named for all of the Blackjack oaks that grow on it.
References
- ^ a b c "Blackjack Mountain, Georgia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ "Blackjack Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ "Parks in Development". Carroll County. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ Lobdell, Fred (2000). "Carroll County High Point Trip Report". County Highpointers. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ a b "Blackjack Mountain Protected". The Trust for Public Land. 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-02-16. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 20. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.