Blairsville, Georgia | |
---|---|
Nickname: City of Mountains | |
Motto: A Place for All Seasons | |
Coordinates: 34°52′32″N83°57′24″W / 34.87556°N 83.95667°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Georgia |
County | Union |
Area | |
• Total | 1.11 sq mi (2.88 km2) |
• Land | 1.11 sq mi (2.86 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
Elevation | 1,893 ft (577 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 616 |
• Density | 556.96/sq mi (215.08/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 30512, 30514 |
Area code | 706 |
FIPS code | 13-08480 [3] |
GNIS feature ID | 2403875 [2] |
Website | www |
Blairsville is a city and the county seat of Union County, on the northern border of Georgia, United States. [4] It was founded near the Nottely River, which was dammed in 1942 as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority project, forming Lake Nottely. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 616.
During the 1830s, the United States conducted Indian Removal of the Cherokee Nation and other Southeast tribes, to what was designated as Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. This area along the Nottely River was part of the large Cherokee territory and the leader Goingsnake was born here in 1758.
After American settlers moved into this area, in 1835 the Georgia General Assembly designated Blairsville as the Union County seat. [5] The town is named after American Revolutionary War veteran James Blair. [6] [7] [8]
The neighboring city of Dahlonega was known as the first site of gold in the United States, but the Blairsville area was known to have the purest gold in the mountains of northern Georgia. Assayers in Washington, D.C. could tell by looking that gold ore was from the Coosa Mines because it was “the yellowest gold” submitted and its brilliant color set it apart. [9]
This area of northern Georgia was still rural and isolated before World War II. During the Great Depression, under the President Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, the Nottely River was selected as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority projects. The river was dammed in order to form a reservoir to generate hydroelectric power. It also created a lake with recreational opportunities. This was one of the projects that produced electrification in a rural area.
Blairsville's newspaper, the North Georgia News , was first published in 1909. [10] United Community Banks, Inc., one of the largest financial institutions in the Southeast U.S., was founded in Blairsville in 1949.
U.S. Routes 19 and 76, as well as Georgia State Route 515 (Zell Miller Mountain Parkway), are the main highways through the city. U.S. 19 leads north 21 mi (34 km) to Murphy, North Carolina and south 34 mi (55 km) to Dahlonega. U.S. 76 and GA-515 run through the city together, leading northeast 8 mi (13 km) to Young Harris and west 23 mi (37 km) to Blue Ridge. Atlanta is 99 mi (159 km) to the south via U.S. 19.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), all land.
Blairsville has a humid subtropical climate, yet due to its elevation of 1,883 feet (574 m), typically records far lower temperatures at night than what is encountered in much of the Southeastern U.S., and has slightly higher precipitation totals (56 inches or 1,420 millimetres annually) than most locations in the state; the average diurnal temperature variation exceeds 25 °F (14 °C) in each of the spring and autumn months. Snow usually occurs several times every year. The average annual snowfall is 4 inches. [11] The monthly daily mean temperature ranges from 36.8 °F (2.7 °C) in January to 73.3 °F (22.9 °C) in July. There are 7.6 days of 90 °F (32 °C) highs and 4.6 days where the high fails to rise above freezing annually.
Climate data for Blairsville, Georgia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1931–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) | 76 (24) | 89 (32) | 89 (32) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 95 (35) | 91 (33) | 83 (28) | 74 (23) | 100 (38) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.4 (9.7) | 53.2 (11.8) | 60.3 (15.7) | 69.2 (20.7) | 76.1 (24.5) | 81.9 (27.7) | 84.8 (29.3) | 84.1 (28.9) | 79.5 (26.4) | 70.4 (21.3) | 60.7 (15.9) | 52.5 (11.4) | 68.5 (20.3) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 37.4 (3.0) | 40.5 (4.7) | 47.1 (8.4) | 55.0 (12.8) | 63.0 (17.2) | 70.2 (21.2) | 73.5 (23.1) | 72.6 (22.6) | 67.2 (19.6) | 56.7 (13.7) | 47.0 (8.3) | 40.6 (4.8) | 55.9 (13.3) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.4 (−3.7) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 33.9 (1.1) | 40.9 (4.9) | 50.0 (10.0) | 58.5 (14.7) | 62.1 (16.7) | 61.1 (16.2) | 54.9 (12.7) | 42.9 (6.1) | 33.3 (0.7) | 28.7 (−1.8) | 43.3 (6.3) |
Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) | −8 (−22) | −5 (−21) | 16 (−9) | 23 (−5) | 34 (1) | 40 (4) | 42 (6) | 26 (−3) | 14 (−10) | 0 (−18) | −9 (−23) | −16 (−27) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.85 (149) | 4.76 (121) | 5.56 (141) | 5.15 (131) | 4.49 (114) | 5.57 (141) | 4.88 (124) | 5.27 (134) | 4.42 (112) | 4.21 (107) | 4.68 (119) | 5.46 (139) | 60.30 (1,532) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.4 (1.0) | 1.0 (2.5) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.2 (3.0) | 3.1 (7.9) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.3 | 12.1 | 12.6 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 13.7 | 12.9 | 12.1 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 9.8 | 12.2 | 139.6 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 |
Source: NOAA [12] [13] |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 101 | — | |
1890 | 114 | 12.9% | |
1900 | 141 | 23.7% | |
1910 | 203 | 44.0% | |
1920 | 230 | 13.3% | |
1930 | 298 | 29.6% | |
1940 | 458 | 53.7% | |
1950 | 430 | −6.1% | |
1960 | 437 | 1.6% | |
1970 | 491 | 12.4% | |
1980 | 530 | 7.9% | |
1990 | 564 | 6.4% | |
2000 | 659 | 16.8% | |
2010 | 652 | −1.1% | |
2020 | 616 | −5.5% | |
2023 (est.) | 785 | [14] | 27.4% |
U.S. Decennial Census [15] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 486 | 78.9% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 54 | 8.77% |
Native American | 3 | 0.49% |
Asian | 2 | 0.32% |
Other/Mixed | 17 | 2.76% |
Hispanic or Latino | 54 | 8.77% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 616 people, 230 households, and 110 families residing in the city.
As of the census [3] of 2010, there were 652 people living in the city. The population density was 529 inhabitants per square mile (204/km2). The racial makeup of the city was: White alone - 577 (88.5%), African American - 30 (4.6%), Hispanic - 30 (4.6%), two or more other races - 10 (1.5%), American Indian alone - 4 (0.6%), Asian - 1 (0.2%).
There were 226 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.4% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.9% were non-families. 50.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 14.3% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 39.0% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 151.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 167.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,120, and the median income for a family was $24,712. Males had a median income of $21,953 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,865. About 16.8% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 23.7% of those age 65 or over.
Nearby Lake Nottely is a Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir. In addition to helping generate hydroelectric power, the lake serves as a local recreational resource. It was created by damming the Nottely River as part of a regional, large-scale project for rural electrification and development.
The Appalachian Trail in Georgia has elevations that vary from about 2500 to 4,500 feet (1,400 m), with many steep climbs. It extends some 75 miles (121 km) through the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Butternut Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole mountainside public golf course located within the city limits.
Encompassing nearly two-thirds of the county, the Chattahoochee National Forest has a series of winding trails. Visitors may hike through scenic mountains, and by rushing rivers, and cascading waterfalls.
Brasstown Bald is the highest mountain peak in Georgia. It has a park with a picnic area and a small observation tower near the peak. This features a movie chronicling the change of seasons and the effects of pollution on the mountain. The peak may be reached by bus or by walking from a point halfway to the top, beyond which private vehicles are not allowed.
Vogel State Park is a park located on Highway 19/129 approximately eleven miles (18 km) south of Blairsville. It is centered around Lake Trahlyta.
Amenities:
The park has seasonal programs:
Blairsville is in proximity to several colleges. North Georgia Technical College has a campus in town. [19] Young Harris College in Young Harris, [20] and the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega are nearby. [21]
The public education system for Blairsville is supervised by the Union County School District, a relatively small school district, which manages the five schools in the system. [22]
The Union County School District conducts classes for pre-school to grade twelve. Its facilities consist of two elementary schools, a middle school, and two high schools. [23] The district has 172 full-time teachers and over 2,598 students. [24]
Blairsville is home to one alternative school, the Mountain Education Center High School, which is an evening school. [25]
Union County schools are acclaimed for their excellence and influencing the local community through their excellence and dedication. [26]
The Union County Public Library is part of the Mountain Regional Library System, which manages four libraries in the region. It is a member of Georgia Library PINES (the Public Information Network for Electronic Services) along with Mountain Regional Library in Young Harris, Towns County Public Library in Hiawassee, and Fannin County Public Library in Blue Ridge. [27] [28]
There are some private schools nearby as well:
U.S. Route 76 and Zell Miller Mountain Parkway (GA 515) are the main highways that run through Blairsville. U.S. 76 and GA-515 lead northeast from the city 8 miles (13 km) to Young Harris and west 23 miles (37 km) to Blue Ridge. U.S. Routes 19 and 129 also run through the city together, leading north 21 miles (34 km) to Murphy, North Carolina and south 35 miles (56 km) to Dahlonega. Atlanta is 99 miles (159 km) south via U.S. 19/129.
Blairsville Airport ( ICAO : KDZJ [31] , FAA LID : DZJ formerly 46A) is located in the city. [32]
The Blairsville area is served by a few local television stations, one newspaper, magazines, and numerous local radio stations. They broadcast several genres of music, and sports, news, and talk radio.
The North Georgia News is the primary newspaper and legal organ for the area. [33] A member of the Georgia Press Association, the NGN is Blairsville's only accredited media outlet. Montefino Magazine is an aspirational publication based in Blairsville; it covers lifestyle and social news for Blairsville, Union County, and surrounding areas. [34]
Blairsville has 12 local radio stations. WUCG-FM 93.1 is based in Blairsville, 1210-AM (WDGR), 89.5-FM (WNGU), and 104.3-FM (WZTR) are based in Dahlonega. WCVP-AM (600), WCNG-FM (102.7), and WKRK-AM (1320) are based in Murphy, North Carolina. 95.1-FM (WJRB) is based in Young Harris, Georgia, while 105.1-FM (WNGA) and 89.9-FM (WTFH) are based in Helen. 1230-AM/97.7-FM (WJUL) is based in Hiawassee. 103.9-FM (WPPL) is based in Blue Ridge.
The local television station is W50AB (channel 50), based in Hiawassee.
Union County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,632. The county seat is Blairsville.
Towns County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,493. Its county seat is Hiawassee. The county was created on March 6, 1856, and named for lawyer, legislator, and politician George W. Towns.
Lumpkin County is a county located in the northeast portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,488. Its county seat is Dahlonega. Lumpkin County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Blue Ridge is a city in Fannin County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 1,253. The city is the county seat of Fannin County and the largest city in the county as well.
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 16,949. Calhoun is the county seat of Gordon County.
Pine Mountain is a town in Harris and Meriwether counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 1,216.
Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As the principal city of the Valdosta metropolitan statistical area, which in 2023 had a metropolitan population of 151,118, according to the US Census Bureau its metropolitan area includes Brooks County to the west. With a city population of 55,378 in 2020, Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, a regional university in the University System of Georgia with over 12,000 students as of 2021.
Dahlonega is the county seat of Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242, and in 2018 the population was estimated to be 6,884.
Hiawassee is the county seat of Towns County, Georgia, United States. The community's population was 880 at the 2010 census. Its name is derived from the Cherokee—or perhaps Creek—word Ayuhwasi, which means meadow, Hiawassee is also known in the novel "Restart" by Gordon Korman.
Young Harris is a city in Towns County, Georgia, United States. The population was 899 at the 2010 census. Young Harris is home to Young Harris College, after which it was named.
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is located in the northeastern part of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the border between Towns and Union counties south of the city of Hiawassee. The mountain is known to the native Cherokee people as Enotah.
North Georgia is the northern hilly/mountainous region in the U.S. state of Georgia. At the time of the arrival of settlers from Europe, it was inhabited largely by the Cherokee. The counties of north Georgia were often scenes of important events in the history of Georgia. It was the site of many American Civil War battles, including the Battle of Lookout Mountain and the Battle of Chickamauga, leading up to the Atlanta Campaign. Today, particularly in the northeast portion of the region, tourism sustains the local economy.
Union General Hospital is a 160,000-square-foot (15,000 m2) hospital in the mountains of North Georgia, United States, and it is the public hospital for the city of Blairsville and Union County. Operated by the Union County Hospital Authority, it is located in the northeast section of the city.
State Route 325 (SR 325) is an arc-shaped 11.1-mile-long (17.9 km) state highway completely within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Union County in the extreme northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. It hugs the western and northern shores of Lake Nottely, and is known as Nottely Dam Road for its entire length.
State Route 2 (SR 2) is a 165-mile-long (266 km) east-west State highway in the far North-northern part of Georgia. The highway serves southern suburbs of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as much of the mountains in the northern part of the state. It traverses the counties of Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Fannin, Union, Towns, and Rabun. It connects Flintstone, in the northwestern part of the state, with the South Carolina state line southeast of Clayton in the northern part and the northeastern part of the state. It also travels through Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Hiawassee. Parts of the highway in the Whitfield and Murray county area are designated as the Cohutta–Chattahoochee Scenic Byway.
Warne ( "worn") is an unincorporated community in Brasstown Township, Clay County, North Carolina, United States. In 2010, Clay County was the fourth least populated county in North Carolina, inhabited by approximately 10,587 people. The region has added considerably to its population, a 20.6% increase since 2000. Warne is closer to the capitals of five other states than to Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.
The Southern Highroads Trail is a 364-mile-long (586 km) loop of scenic and historic highways in the Southeastern United States. The driving trail traverses 14 counties, four states, and four national forests, providing sightseers and passersby an array of culinary, hotel, shopping, and recreational options along the way.
U.S. Highway 19 (US 19) is a 349-mile-long (562 km) United States Numbered Highway in the U.S. state of Georgia. It travels from the Florida state line south-southeast of Thomasville through Albany and Atlanta, to the North Carolina state line at a point north of Lake Nottely.
U.S. Route 76 (US 76) is a 150.7-mile-long (242.5 km) east–west U.S. highway in the U.S. state of Georgia. It begins at the Tennessee state line, east of Lakeview, Georgia, where the roadway continues concurrent with US-41/SR-8 toward Chattanooga. It ends at the South Carolina state line, where US 76 continues toward Anderson. In Georgia, the highway travels within portions of Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Fannin, Union, Towns, and Rabun counties. It travels through North Georgia and connects Ringgold, Dalton, Chatsworth, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Clayton. Most of the highway is part of the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway, a highway that travels through northern Georgia and through the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
Northeast Georgia is a region of Georgia in the United States. The northern part is also in the North Georgia mountains or Georgia mountain region, while the southern part is still hilly but much flatter in topography. Northeast Georgia is also served by the Asheville/Spartanburg/Greenville/Anderson market.