Fort Buffington

Photographed by David Seibert, December 31, 2011

1. Fort Buffington Marker

Inscription. One-half mile north is the site of Fort Buffington, built in the 1830’s by local militia. It was one of about 25 stockades in the Cherokee Indian Nation used by Federal and State troops during the Cherokee Removal in 1838. In May and June, 1838, 7,000 soldiers forced over 15,000 Cherokee Indians from their homes and held them in the stockades until removal west could take place. Many Indians from the local area were held at Fort Buffington. As many as 4,000 Cherokees may have died while in the stockades and on the 800 mile journey west. Their ordeal has become known as the “Trail of Tears.”

Erected 1992 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 028-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society, and the Trail of Tears series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1838.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 34° 14.443′ N, 84° 24.873′ W. Marker was near Canton, Georgia, in Cherokee County. It was at the intersection of Cumming

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Highway (Georgia Route 20) and Dobson Circle, on the right when traveling east on Cumming Highway. The marker is located at the Buffington Elementary School. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 4568 Cumming Highway, Canton GA 30114, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Georgia’s Mountains and in Metro Atlanta.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Historic Stumptown Community (approx. 3.9 miles away); Joseph Emerson Brown (approx. 4.3 miles away); Cherokee County Gold (approx. 4.4 miles away); Cherokee County (approx. 4.4 miles away);

Photographed by David Seibert, December 31, 2011

2. Fort Buffington Marker

Looking east on Cumming Highway, GA Highway 20

Crescent Farm Rock Barn (approx. 4.9 miles away); Thomas B. Newton House (approx. 6.9 miles away); Battle of Taliwa (approx. 7.1 miles away); Nix - Bell House (approx. 7.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.

Additional keywords. Trail of Tears

Photographed by David Seibert, December 31, 2011

3. Fort Buffington Marker

Looking northeast at the intersection of Cumming Highway and Dobson Circle

Photographed by David Seibert, December 31, 2011

4. Fort Buffington Marker

Looking west on Cumming Highway, GA Highway 20, toward Canton

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,516 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 31, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.