Getting oriented · Gilmer County
For New Residents
New to Ellijay? The first weeks come down to six things: the license, the tags, the voter registration, the utilities, the library card, and the school enrollment. This page runs them in order.
Ellijay is a small county seat, so most of the answers are a short walk or drive from the square.
The first weeks
The six things to get done
Georgia law gives new residents 30 days to get a Georgia driver's license and register a vehicle. Both run through the tag and license offices that serve Gilmer County, and the lines move best on a weekday morning.
Voter registration goes through the county elections office. Register once and you are set for city and county elections alike.
Utilities follow the address: power, water, sewer, and internet are assigned by the street, and the closing statement lists the providers. Ellijay Telephone Company is the long-time local utility for phone and internet service.
The community layer
The things that make it feel like home
The library card
The Gilmer County Library at 268 Calvin Jackson Drive issues cards free to county residents, and it connects you to the whole Sequoyah Regional Library System. It is the fastest civic habit to pick up.
School enrollment
One district, Gilmer County Charter Schools, serves the whole county. Enroll at the district offices or the school; the schools page has the building list.
The markets and the square
The Ellijay Farmers and Artisans Market runs Saturday mornings in season in the courthouse lot on Sand Street, and the downtown square is where the county gathers.
The rides, if you need them
MATS, the county demand-response transit run by North Georgia Community Action, covers mainly medical and senior rides. There is no fixed-route bus; plan the errands by car.
The orientation pages
Where to go next
The rest of the guide is organized the way a new resident actually thinks: the move, the roads, the schools, and then the living pages.
An editorial guide, not a listings site. Updated September 13, 2026. Real-estate guidance on this page is provided by Rob Dietrich, REALTOR® with eXp Realty, LLC.