The city is named for John Nelson, an early landowner, farmer, and rifle maker. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Nelson as a town in 1891.
The area possesses substantial deposits of marble. The construction of a railway in 1883 made the development of large-scale quarries possible. The quality of the marble has made it favored for federal monuments.
On April 1, 2013, the city council voted unanimously to approve the “Family Protection Ordinance”. Every head of household must own a gun and ammunition to “provide for the emergency management of the city” and to “provide for and protect the safety, security, and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.” Residents are not required to buy one if they do not have one, and the ordinance does not penalize anyone who does not comply. Convicted felons are exempt.
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