Georgia Granite and Georgia Marble: A Homeowner's Guide
Published •5 min read
Georgia has a long history in stone. Georgia marble comes from the area around Tate in Pickens County, north of Atlanta, where the Georgia Marble Company was founded in 1884. Georgia granite is centered on Elberton in the northeast of the state, home to a large granite industry. Countertop slabs sold today come from quarries in many countries, but the local history is worth knowing.
Georgia Marble and the Village of Tate
Samuel Tate bought land with marble deposits in north Georgia in the 1830s, and the Georgia Marble Company was founded in 1884. Under the Tate family, including Colonel Sam Tate, president from 1905 until 1938, the company grew into a major producer. The Georgia Historical Society's marker in Tate notes that the company's stone can be found in monuments and public buildings around the world, including the Lincoln Memorial and the columns on the east front of the U.S. Capitol. The Georgia State Capitol also has many walls of Georgia marble.
Elberton and Georgia Granite
Around Elberton, quarries sit on what's known as the Lexington-Oglesby Blue Granite Belt, and the area supports a large granite industry. Much of that stone has historically gone into monuments and memorials, which is why Elberton is so closely tied to Georgia granite.
What It Means for Your Countertops
- Choose by the slab, not the origin. Color, pattern, finish and how the stone performs matter more than where it was quarried. See how to choose a granite slab.
- Marble behaves like marble, wherever it comes from: it can etch with acids. See marble etching vs. staining.
- Granite performance varies by stone. Some need sealing, some little or none. See our granite buying guide.
- Want a local story? Ask stone yards whether they carry stone quarried in Georgia; availability for countertops changes over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Georgia marble come from?
From the Tate area of Pickens County in north Georgia, where the Georgia Marble Company was founded in 1884.
Was Georgia marble used in the Lincoln Memorial?
The Georgia Historical Society marker for the Georgia Marble Company lists the Lincoln Memorial among the monuments that contain the company's stone.
Where is granite quarried in Georgia?
Georgia's best-known granite industry is centered around Elberton, in the northeast of the state.
Choosing Stone for Your Kitchen?
Mega Solutions installs granite, quartz, quartzite and marble countertops across metro Atlanta. Request a quote, or see finishes and stones together on our colors page.
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