Towns County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 34°55′N83°44′W / 34.92°N 83.74°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Georgia |
Founded | 1856 |
Named for | George W. Towns |
Seat | Hiawassee |
Largest city | Young Harris |
Area | |
• Total | 172 sq mi (450 km2) |
• Land | 167 sq mi (430 km2) |
• Water | 5.4 sq mi (14 km2) 3.2% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,493 |
• Density | 75/sq mi (29/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 9th |
Website | www |
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. [1] Its county seat is Hiawassee. [2] The county was created on March 6, 1856, and named for lawyer, legislator, and politician George W. Towns. [3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 172 square miles (450 km2), of which 167 square miles (430 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (3.2%) is water. [4] Towns is mostly in the Hiwassee River sub-basin of the Middle Tennessee-Hiwassee basin, with a part of the county in the Tugaloo River sub-basin in the larger Savannah River basin, as well as a small portion of the county's southwestern corner in the Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin), [5] near the source of the Chattahoochee in neighboring Union County. Towns County is inside the Bible Belt.
Towns County is located amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains, (part of the Appalachian Mountains), some of which are protected by the Chattahoochee National Forest. Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in Georgia, rises in southwest Towns County, straddling the Union County line. The source of the Hiwassee River is located in eastern Towns County, from which it flows northward into North Carolina. Chatuge Lake, an artificial reservoir created by the completion of Chatuge Dam by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1940s, dominates the northeastern section of Towns County and extends into North Carolina. State Route 515 from north of Atlanta ends here at the North Carolina state line near Young Harris.
The county was traversed by a road built upon a traditional Cherokee trading path, which ran north to south through the county, passing through Unicoi Gap. It served as a line between European-American settlers and the Cherokee until after the Indian cessions and Indian Removal in the 1830s, when it fell solely into the hands of the whites. When the Cherokee were expelled by US forces from their villages, they were forced temporarily into "removal forts." One had been constructed in what is now Hiawassee, the county seat. They were forced to travel what is known as the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, a journey during which many Cherokee died.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 2,459 | — | |
1870 | 2,780 | 13.1% | |
1880 | 3,261 | 17.3% | |
1890 | 4,064 | 24.6% | |
1900 | 4,748 | 16.8% | |
1910 | 3,932 | −17.2% | |
1920 | 3,937 | 0.1% | |
1930 | 4,346 | 10.4% | |
1940 | 4,925 | 13.3% | |
1950 | 4,803 | −2.5% | |
1960 | 4,538 | −5.5% | |
1970 | 4,565 | 0.6% | |
1980 | 5,638 | 23.5% | |
1990 | 6,754 | 19.8% | |
2000 | 9,319 | 38.0% | |
2010 | 10,471 | 12.4% | |
2020 | 12,493 | 19.3% | |
2023 (est.) | 13,035 | [6] | 4.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1880 [8] 1890-1910 [9] 1920-1930 [10] 1930-1940 [11] 1940-1950 [12] 1960-1980 [13] 1980-2000 [14] 2010 [15] |
As of the census [16] of 2000, there were 9,319 people, 3,998 households, and 2,826 families living in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 6,282 housing units at an average density of 38 units per square mile (15 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.80% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,998 households, out of which 20.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 16.30% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 20.50% from 25 to 44, 28.30% from 45 to 64, and 25.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 89.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,950, and the median income for a family was $37,295. Males had a median income of $28,657 versus $21,813 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,221. About 8.80% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,471 people, 4,510 households, and 2,981 families living in the county. [17] The population density was 62.9 inhabitants per square mile (24.3/km2). There were 7,731 housing units at an average density of 46.4 units per square mile (17.9 units/km2). [18] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. [17] In terms of ancestry, 16.3% were Irish, 15.4% were German, 13.8% were English, 11.7% were American, and 8.3% were Scotch-Irish. [19]
Of the 4,510 households, 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.9% were non-families, and 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.65. The median age was 51.1 years. [17]
The median income for a household in the county was $39,540 and the median income for a family was $48,020. Males had a median income of $31,668 versus $27,127 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,527. About 5.6% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over. [20]
As of 2016 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Towns County were: [21]
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 11,469 | 91.8% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 124 | 0.99% |
Native American | 28 | 0.22% |
Asian | 81 | 0.65% |
Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed | 373 | 2.99% |
Hispanic or Latino | 415 | 3.32% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,493 people, 4,898 households, and 3,240 families residing in the county.
Towns County's Sole Commissioner is Cliff Bradshaw, who has served since 2017. [23]
As of December 16,2023 [update] , Towns County's Sheriff is Kenneth Henderson. [24]
Towns County's Judge of Magistrate and Probate Court is D. David Rogers, who was elected in 2008. The Towns County Probate and Magistrate Courts are combined with a single judge presiding over both Courts. This combination court is one of very few in the State of Georgia (Long County is another example).[ undue weight? ]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 6,384 | 80.01% | 1,550 | 19.43% | 45 | 0.56% |
2016 | 5,383 | 79.16% | 1,210 | 17.79% | 207 | 3.04% |
2012 | 4,876 | 78.09% | 1,273 | 20.39% | 95 | 1.52% |
2008 | 4,292 | 74.46% | 1,391 | 24.13% | 81 | 1.41% |
2004 | 3,823 | 72.34% | 1,430 | 27.06% | 32 | 0.61% |
2000 | 2,902 | 64.53% | 1,495 | 33.24% | 100 | 2.22% |
1996 | 2,030 | 48.58% | 1,664 | 39.82% | 485 | 11.61% |
1992 | 1,674 | 45.19% | 1,487 | 40.15% | 543 | 14.66% |
1988 | 1,783 | 65.12% | 942 | 34.40% | 13 | 0.47% |
1984 | 1,960 | 66.06% | 1,007 | 33.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 1,475 | 48.12% | 1,510 | 49.27% | 80 | 2.61% |
1976 | 1,175 | 39.68% | 1,786 | 60.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 1,573 | 79.56% | 404 | 20.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 1,492 | 52.33% | 770 | 27.01% | 589 | 20.66% |
1964 | 1,140 | 46.88% | 1,289 | 53.00% | 3 | 0.12% |
1960 | 1,272 | 54.73% | 1,052 | 45.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 1,096 | 55.33% | 885 | 44.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 983 | 46.94% | 1,111 | 53.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 302 | 36.65% | 516 | 62.62% | 6 | 0.73% |
1944 | 674 | 37.22% | 1,137 | 62.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 830 | 48.14% | 894 | 51.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 732 | 48.96% | 763 | 51.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 790 | 51.57% | 742 | 48.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 857 | 62.37% | 517 | 37.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 765 | 55.76% | 604 | 44.02% | 3 | 0.22% |
1920 | 398 | 60.86% | 256 | 39.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 481 | 56.92% | 358 | 42.37% | 6 | 0.71% |
1912 | 89 | 16.95% | 230 | 43.81% | 206 | 39.24% |
The Towns County Herald newspaper has been published weekly in Hiawassee since 1928. [26] It was preceded by The Young Harris News which was first published around 1900. [27]
Clay County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,848, making it the fourth-least populous county in Georgia. The county seat is Fort Gaines.
Whitfield County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census shows a population of 102,864. The county seat is Dalton. The county was created on December 30, 1851, and named after George Whitefield, Methodist evangelist. The "e" was omitted to reflect the pronunciation of his name.
White County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,003. The county seat is Cleveland. The county was created on December 22, 1857, formerly a part of Habersham County and most likely was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an act creating the new county.
Walker County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,654, down from 68,756 in 2010. The county seat is LaFayette. The county was created on December 18, 1833, from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation.
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.
Rabun County is the north-easternmost county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,883, up from 16,276 in 2010. The county seat is Clayton. With an average annual rainfall of over 70 inches (1,800 mm), Rabun County has the title of the rainiest county in Georgia and is one of the rainiest counties east of the Cascades. The year 2018 was the wettest on record in the county's history. The National Weather Service cooperative observation station in northwest Rabun's Germany Valley measured 116.48 inches of rain during the year. During 2020, the Germany Valley NWS station reported a yearly precipitation total of 100.19 inches.
Paulding County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. Part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, it had an estimated population of 168,661 in 2020. The county seat is Dallas.
Murray County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,973. The county seat is Chatsworth.
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.
Hall County is a county located in the northeast portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 203,136, up from 179,684 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Gainesville. The entirety of Hall County comprises the Gainesville, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, Combined Statistical Area.
Habersham County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,031. The county seat is Clarkesville. The county was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War.
Gordon County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 57,544. The county seat is Calhoun. Gordon County comprises the Calhoun, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs, GA-AL CSA.
Gilmer 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 31,353. The county seat is Ellijay. It was based on a historic Cherokee town also spelled as Elejoy in the eighteenth century. The county was created on December 3, 1832, and was named for George Rockingham Gilmer, a politician who served two non-consecutive terms as governor of the state. Gilmer County is home of the annual Apple Festival, which is held in mid-October. Ninety percent of the land is in cropland and forest. Poultry raising and processing makes up the largest portion of the agricultural economy, which generates 33.2% of the total revenues. Manufacturing is about 20%.
Floyd County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 98,584. The county seat is Rome.
Fannin 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 25,319. It is one of the most rural counties in Georgia due its location in the Appalachian Mountain Range, with about 90% of the population of Fannin County living in unincorporated lands. The county seat and largest city is Blue Ridge. The county was created on January 21, 1854, and is named after James Fannin, a veteran who fought in the Texas Revolution.
Cherokee County is located in the US state of Georgia. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 266,620. The county seat is Canton. The county Board of Commissioners is the governing body, with members elected to office. Cherokee County is included in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
Chattooga County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,965. The county seat is Summerville. The county was created on December 28, 1838.
Catoosa County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,872. The county seat is Ringgold. The county was created on December 5, 1853. The meaning of the Cherokee language name "Catoosa" is obscure: "Catoosa" may come from the Cherokee words gatusi or gatu'gitse.
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.
Ducktown is a city in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 461 at the 2020 census and 475 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area.