Chatooga County was created by Act Dec. 28, 1838 from Floyd and Walker Counties. It was named for the rive which flows through the county, called Chatooga by the Cherokee Indians. Sequoyah (George Guess or Gist), inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet; was born and lived for some time near Alpine in Chatooga County. First county officers, commissioned February 5, 1839, were: G.T. Hopkins, Clerk Superior Court; I.N. Bibb, Clerk Inferior Court; W.T. Kellet, Sheriff; I. McNeally, Coroner.