Banks, Ralph, Place
Also known as: Coldwater Plantation
Why it's listed
Coldwater Plantation, also called the Ralph Banks Place, is a two-story frame house in rural Elbert County, Georgia. Ralph Banks settled the fertile land between the Savannah and Broad Rivers in 1785, and the house was probably built between 1788 and 1800. It has a central hall and four rooms on each floor, front and rear shed porches, and a jerkin head gable roof. The brick chimneys carry a diaper pattern of glazed headers, a feature rare in Georgia, with similar examples nearby. The four-over-four plan was unusually large for its time and place. Banks became one of the region's wealthiest cotton and tobacco planters, and his 1824 estate inventory lists 63 slaves, a tannery, a sawmill and a blacksmith shop. His son Richard, a surgeon, was born here, and Banks County was later named for him. Local tradition links the house to a 1788 Methodist conference, but the nomination doubts this claim. Two nineteenth-century outbuildings stand behind the house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is of statewide architectural and historical importance. It is one of the oldest and most unusual houses in Georgia, with a jerkin head roof, a large four-room central hall plan and diaper-pattern brick chimneys, all rare for the period. It is also the birthplace of Dr. Richard Banks, for whom Banks County was named, and it remains a remnant of a large, self-sustaining cotton and tobacco plantation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000978, listed May 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Elberton off GA 77, Elberton |
|---|---|
| County | Elbert County |
| Listed | May 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Ralph Banks |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good to excellent condition, with modern bathrooms added; used by Banks descendants on weekends and for family reunions. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 34.22861, -82.85934 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.