City History-Originally named "Cross Plains," the city was renamed in honor of founder Edward Dalton White in 1847. As an antebellum railroad crossroads, Dalton was the first major target in the Atlanta Campaign. Joe Johnston and the Confederate Army of Tennessee had spent 6 months reinforcing their lines after the Battle of Chattanooga. But General William Tecumseh Sherman had other plans, outflanking the Rebel stronghold and attacking at Resaca, a small town south of Dalton. In the early 1900's a cottage industry arose. Farmer's wives would weave bedspreads, then sell them to passer-bys. Over many years this evolved into the carpet industry that today calls Dalton home. The area spins almost 90% of functional carpet sold in the world. More information Dalton, Georgia history