Northwest Georgia's proximity to Chattanooga, combined with scenic, rural landscapes and rich history, has drawn residents to the area over the last decade.

"It is beautiful," said LaFayette resident Mary Smitherman. "The rivers, the mountains, the creeks -- plus you've got a more laid-back environment. It is just a friendly place."

The North Georgia Regional Development Center expects to see an influx of more than 90,000 people to the 15-county area by 2015. The growth has led to the need for new schools in Walker, Catoosa and Whitfield counties.

From Walker County's McLemore Cove to Dade County's Lookout and Sand mountains, Northwest Georgia has a number of natural resources.

The Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management area has an array of plant and animal species whose numbers rival those in rainforests, Walker County Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell said.

The area has both mountains and valleys, and state and national parks offer visitors a variety of options to experience the outdoors.

The Tour de Georgia came through Walker County two years in a row and increased the number of bicycle riders in the area. Equestrian and hiking trails also speckle the land from Lookout Mountain to the Dalton area.

Northwest Georgia is rich with Civil War, American Indian and black history. The region boasts numerous antebellum homes and the largest and oldest national military park, the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

Cherokee Trail of Tears history can be found in Red Clay State Park, and Rossville has the oldest structure in Northwest Georgia, the Chief John Ross House.

Area leaders preserve the history and promote it as heritage tourism, a relatively new trend in the area of touting historical assets as visitor attractions. Heritage tourism is the state's second-largest industry.

Schools near the Tennessee border also attract employees who can retire from Tennessee schools and start a new career in Georgia.

Elaine Womack, spokeswoman for Walker County Schools, said leaders in her system are constantly planning for the future.

"Concentrated focus on the vision in front of us has made Walker County Schools award-winning and trendsetting in public education," she said.

Many residents appreciate the opportunity to live in a rural environment that is only a short drive from the larger city of Chattanooga, Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper said.

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