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ELLIJAY, GA — The Gilmer County Health Department will move to a new, expanded location at 822 Industrial Blvd, Suite 100, Ellijay, GA 30540, opening Monday, August 18, 2025. After nearly six decades at 28 Southside Church Street, the relocation marks a major milestone in public health services for Gilmer County residents.
To prepare for the move, the health department will close temporarily from Wednesday, August 13, through Friday, August 15.
The Gilmer County Health Department provides a broad range of preventive and clinical services, including immunizations, family planning, child health screenings, nutrition programs such as WIC, and an international travel clinic that serves the entire region. The department is also a key partner in local emergency preparedness and response efforts.
“This move is about much more than a change of address—it’s about honoring our past while building a stronger, healthier future,” said Krystal Sumner, RN, BSN, Gilmer County Nurse Manager. “For nearly 60 years, we’ve been proud to serve this community from our Southside Street location.”
Gilmer County Health Department before moving on Aug. 18, 2025The opportunity now exists to better serve the community in a facility designed to enhance care that remains welcoming to everyone, regardless of language, culture, or background.
“We are here for everyone,” Sumner said, “whether it’s a child coming in for vaccines, a family seeking nutrition support, or someone needing confidential testing and health guidance. Our goal is to ensure that no matter who you are, where you come from, or what language you speak, you feel welcome and receive the care you need.”
Krystal Sumner, RN, BSN, Gilmer County Nurse ManagerPublic health services in Gilmer County have expanded significantly since the early days, when offerings focused mainly on women’s basic health services, vaccines, nutrition assistance, and treatment of communicable diseases. As the county’s population has grown and diversified—attracted by opportunities in industries such as agriculture and food processing—so have its health needs.
The health department has responded by adding programs like early childhood development services, children’s dental care, child safety programs that include car seat safety, and specialized screenings and treatments. Staff members have built strong community partnerships to overcome barriers to care, including language access, ensuring that all residents can receive needed services.
The new Industrial Boulevard facility offers larger clinical areas, improved parking, and enhanced privacy for clients, reflecting the department’s commitment to serving residents efficiently and respectfully.
“Public health is about people, and this new space allows us to do more for every child, parent, and neighbor who depends on us,” Sumner said. “We are grateful to our community for supporting public health, and we’re excited to welcome everyone to our new home.”
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Sidebar: Honoring Six Decades of Local Public Health Service
Gilmer County Health Department, 1990s, before its building expansionThe Gilmer County Health Department first moved into its Southside Street location in the mid-1960s, leaving its original office in the county courthouse. The facility quickly became a cornerstone for local health services, delivering vaccines, maternal and child health programs and nutrition support through WIC, and communicable disease control.
Leigh Ann Dover, RN, a long-term employee of the Gilmer County Health Department, reports that the original building they are currently in was much smaller until the newer addition of the building, where their offices are now, was built years later.
Dover said that during the time the health department has been in its current location, the nurse managers have included Eppie Cagle, Angela Cochran, Mary Fuller, Chrisse Ralston, Katherine Meyer, and the current nurse manager, Krystal Sumner. Each of these dedicated nurse managers has guided public health through times of growth and change.
Former nurse manager, Mary Fuller, who served in the early 1990s, recalls how staff worked alongside community partners to meet the needs of new families arriving to work in poultry and apple production, overcoming language barriers and ensuring access to essential care. “We were a small team, but we adapted,” Fuller said. “Children often helped interpret for their parents, and together, we built trust that still lasts today.”
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Key Details
- New Location: 822 Industrial Blvd, Suite 100, Ellijay, GA 30540
- Phone: (706) 635‑4363 (WIC: 706‑370‑4700)
- Hours: Mon/Wed/Thu 7:30 AM–4:30 PM; Tue 7:30 AM–7:00 PM; Fri 7:30 AM–1:00 PM
- More Info: nghd.org
The Gilmer County Health Department is part of the North Georgia Health District, serving Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.
Note: The Gilmer County Environmental Health office is NOT moving to the new facility but will remain in its location at 1 Broad St # 3, Ellijay, GA 30540.