Elberton is the county seat and largest city in Elbert County, in northeast Georgia, about 33 miles east of Athens and 110 miles east of Atlanta, near the South Carolina line. Incorporated in 1803 and first known as Elbertville, it was named for Revolutionary War general Samuel Elbert and has outlasted several rival early settlements to become the county's commercial and cultural hub. The city's identity is inseparable from granite. Elberton is called the "Granite Capital of the World," and the industry is the community's economic backbone: more than 45 quarries operate within the surrounding area, and over 150 sheds and manufacturing plants turn the region's distinctive blue-gray stone into monuments, markers, mausoleums, and architectural granite shipped across the country and around the world. That industry shapes the landscape, the workforce, and even local landmarks, from granite civic buildings to the monumental Granite Bowl, a 20,000-seat stone stadium used for high school football. Downtown Elberton retains a classic small-town Georgia character, with a courthouse-anchored square, historic homes, and the restored Elbert Theatre. Lake Russell — Richard B. Russell Lake — lies to the east, providing fishing, boating, and camping at the adjacent state park, and golf is available at courses in the area. The region's rolling Piedmont terrain and proximity to Athens and the South Carolina border give the city a quiet, rural character within reach of larger centers. Elberton suits people seeking an affordable small-town lifestyle with a strong industrial and agricultural economy. Housing ranges from historic homes near the square to mid-century neighborhoods and rural acreage, while lakefront and lake-adjacent properties near Lake Russell add a recreational option.