Dade County Public Library
🏢 Cherokee Regional Library System · Trenton, Georgia
Dade County Public Library
Dade County Public Library anchors the courthouse square in Trenton, Georgia — the seat of the only county in the state that briefly seceded from the Union before the Civil War — and serves northwest Georgia's Lookout Mountain corridor through the Cherokee Regional Library System.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–3pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 102 Court Street, Trenton, GA 30752
Phone: (706) 657-7857
Website: chrl.org
Plus Code: 866PVFFR+44 (Trenton, GA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Dade County Public Library
Dade County Public Library stands at 102 Court Street, steps from the Dade County Courthouse in Trenton, the county seat of the smallest county in Georgia by area. Dade County has a singular place in American history as the self-proclaimed "Little Free State" — it symbolically seceded from Georgia ahead of the Confederacy in 1860, and its reconciliation with the Union was not formally commemorated until 1945. The library is a branch of the Cherokee Regional Library System, the second regional library system established in Georgia (1944), which links four branches across Walker and Dade counties in the northwest corner of the state. Inside, the Sue Forrester Local History Room holds genealogical records, Civil War materials, Dade County marriage records dating to 1866, local newspaper archives from 1879 to 1959 (including the Dade County Gazette), and heritage books extending into adjacent Alabama counties — making it a rare cross-state research resource for families tracing roots in the Appalachian foothills. The library also lends Chromebooks and mobile hotspots, making it a connectivity hub in a rural mountain community.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Located on the Trenton courthouse square in the "Little Free State" — the county that symbolically seceded before the Civil War
- Sue Forrester Local History Room with Dade County records from 1866, Civil War archives and Alabama heritage books
- Historical newspaper archive: Dade County Gazette and Dade County Times digitized from 1879 to 1959
- Chromebook and hotspot lending for patrons who need internet access beyond the building
- Open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for after-work visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Cherokee Regional cardholders get 24/7 access to Georgia's statewide and consortium digital collections:
📚 Services
- Sue Forrester Local History Room with genealogy and Civil War research collections
- Chromebook lending for in-library use
- Mobile hotspot lending for take-home internet access
- Public computers, printing, fax and free Wi-Fi
- PINES statewide library card — check out from 300+ Georgia libraries
- Interlibrary loan through the Cherokee Regional Library System
- Georgia Holocaust Commission outreach materials on file
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading programs for children, teens and adults
- Ready to Read story time for young children
- Friends of the Library volunteer and advocacy group
- Genealogy assistance: volunteer researchers available most Tuesdays and some Thursdays in the Local History Room
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northwest Georgia
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sue Forrester Local History Room at Dade County Public Library?
The Sue Forrester Local History Room is the library's dedicated genealogy and regional history collection. It holds Dade County marriage records dating to 1866, Civil War records, cemetery books from local sites, and digitized issues of the Dade County Gazette and Dade County Times spanning 1879 to 1959. It also includes heritage books for Jackson, DeKalb and Etowah counties in adjacent Alabama, making it a cross-state research resource. Volunteer genealogists are available most Tuesdays and some Thursdays to assist researchers.
Why is Dade County called the 'Little Free State'?
Dade County earned the nickname because it symbolically seceded from Georgia in November 1860 — before Georgia itself left the Union — due to frustration with the state legislature. The county's formal reconciliation with the United States was not commemorated until 1945, making it a local point of pride and historical curiosity. The library's Local History Room holds materials documenting this chapter of the county's past.
Can I borrow a hotspot from the Dade County Public Library?
Yes. The library lends mobile hotspots to patrons for home internet access — a key service in a rural mountain community where broadband can be limited. Ask staff about availability and loan periods. Chromebooks are also available for in-library use.
What are the library's hours, and is it closed on Mondays?
The library is closed on Mondays and Sundays. It is open Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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