Senator Joseph E. Brown maintained a farm in the area, on lowlands near the Etowah River (now Lake Allatoona), and was there harvesting wheat when told of the surprising news that he had been nominated for governor. Sutallee derives its unique name, which is often spelled "Sutalee" or "Suttallee", from an old Cherokee village that was located near the Etowah River named "Sutali" — the Cherokee word for the number six.
Senator Joseph E. Brown had a farm on lowlands near the Etowah River (now Lake Allatoona), where he was harvesting wheat when informed of his surprising nomination for governor. The name Sutallee, which is frequently spelled "Sutalee" or "Suttallee," derives from an ancient Cherokee village named "Sutali," signifying six in Cherokee and situated near the Etowah River.