-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
Spring Place Government and Politics
Spring Place was designated as Murray's County Seat in 1834 although court had been held there a year earlier. Naturally the town was the center of government and politics for the entire county. Perhaps since it was the county seat and administered by county officials almost no "city" government existed until 1885. Prior to this time the only legislative acts concerning governmental functions in Spring Place involved "road hands" (1839) and a tax for roads and streets (1860).
An act of the Georgia General Assembly incorporating the City of Spring Place passed on October 9, 1885. However, few city records exist for the next 100 years. The town's population varied little after the county seat moved to Chatsworth-186 in 1930, 219 in 1940. 214 in 1953, 194 in 1960. and 241 in 1975. The city limits extended ½ mile from the north steps of the courthouse to form a circle. The government consisted of five people. The person receiving the most votes was declared mayor with one of the four remaining councilmen designated as Clerk.
When the county seat moved to Chatsworth, the city government became less and less active as time passed. Some of the mayors of Spring Place were W.K.. Jones, Jason Robinson, D.D. Kemp. C.N. King, Jr. and Floyd Cook. John Cole was once a councilman.
In 1952 the city government was reactivated when residents felt the need to secure water services. In elections held on the first Saturday In January, Floyd Cook won the mayor's office. He served two terms and saw Dalton Utilities bring water to Spring Place. Later natural gas came to the town also. Carl B. Davis was elected mayor in 1956 and served until his death more than a quarter of a century later. Councilmen elected at that time were E.B. Sexton, Leslie Kilgore. Robert Ballew, and John Wilbanks. The city received a new charter in 1957 which re-defined the corporate limits, provided for elections, terms, meetings, salaries, and taxes, and granted powers to the mayor and council. Other tax measures were passed in 1960 and 1961. A Mayor's Court was also provided for under the 1957 legislative act. Another act of the General Assembly authorized "alley closings" in 1953.
Although the city government is considered "inactive," the necessary services of water and natural gas are still provided. There are no taxes, but Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas and Light Company give the city 3% of their revenues from within the city limits. During the last decade the City has provided funds for paving streets, assisted with the establishment of the Spring Place Cemetery perpetual care fund, placed historic markers at old Lucy Hill and at the old courthouse sites, and assisted with the restoration and maintenance of the old Spring Place Methodist Church as a museum/meeting place.
The city is now part of the Spring Place Militia and School District. In 1984 this district had 1.455 registered voters. According to an Atlanta Constitution story on October 30 of that year, the Spring Place voting district was "no longer solid for Democrats," although it had been for most of the past 150 years
Murray County Heritage