Located in east Hall County, Gillsville is adjacent to Jackson County and straddles the Banks County line. It is intersected by GA Hwys 52 and 323. With a population of 196, Larry Poole has served Gillsville as mayor for the past eight years.
Gillsville is the oldest of Hall County’s municipalities. It was a booming town during the cotton era, with three gins, a bank, post office, general stores and a jail. Since the demise of cotton, the town has transformed and poultry, cattle, and pottery industries now support the local economy.
The city of Gillsville recently purchased the old downtown stores and have received a historical grant. The city is in the early stages of refurbishing these buildings.
They have many ideas and plans for renovating the downtown area – the most popular suggestion is to convert the old country store into a pottery showcase and a museum.