Towns County, Georgia

County in Georgia, United States

County in Georgia

Towns County

County

Towns County courthouse in Hiawassee

Location within the U.S. state of Georgia

Georgia's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 34°55′N 83°44′W﻿ / ﻿34.92°N 83.74°W﻿ / 34.92; -83.74
Country|  United States
State|  Georgia
Founded| 1856; 168 years ago (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.townscountyga.com

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]

## Geography[edit]

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.

### Major highways[edit]

* U.S. Route 76
* State Route 2
* State Route 17
* State Route 66
* State Route 75
* State Route 180
* State Route 288
* State Route 339
* State Route 515

### Adjacent counties[edit]

* Clay County, North Carolina (north)
* Rabun County (east)
* Habersham County (southeast)
* White County (south)
* Union County (west)

### National protected area[edit]

* Appalachian Trail (part)
* Chattahoochee National Forest (part)

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population 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]

### 2000 census[edit]

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.

### 2010 census[edit]

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]

### 2016[edit]

As of 2016 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Towns County were:[21]

* English - 15.2%
* German - 15.1%
* American - 14.7%
* Irish - 13.3%
* Scottish - 5.2%
* Scots-Irish - 3.6%
* Italian - 3.4%
* French - 3.4%
* Swedish - 1.8%
* Polish - 1.7%
* Welsh - 1.6%
* Dutch - 1.6%

### 2020 census[edit]

Towns County racial composition[22] 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.

## Government[edit]

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? - discuss]

### Politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Towns County, Georgia[25] 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%

## Education[edit]

Towns County's public schools are located on a unified campus east of Hiawassee

### Towns County School District[edit]

Towns County School District offers pre-school to grade twelve on a unified campus. One elementary school, middle school and high school share the same grounds east of Hiawassee.[26] The district has over 2,408 students and 144 full-time teachers.[27]

* Towns County Elementary School
* Towns County Middle School
* Towns County High School

### Young Harris College[edit]

Higher education is offered at Young Harris College in Young Harris. The private Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college was founded in 1886 and served 1,425 undergraduate students as of 2020.[28][29] It offers degrees in more than 30 majors and 22 minors.[30]

## Media[edit]

The Towns County Herald newspaper has been published weekly in Hiawassee since 1928.[31] It was preceded by The Young Harris News which was first published around 1900.[32]

## Communities[edit]

### Cities[edit]

* Hiawassee
* Young Harris

### Census-designated place[edit]

* Tate City

## Notable natives[edit]

* Zell Miller – former Georgia governor and U.S. senator.

## See also[edit]

* State of Georgia portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Towns County, Georgia
* List of counties in Georgia

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Towns County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 230\. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
8. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
9. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
10. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
11. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
12. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
13. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
14. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
18. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
19. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
20. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
21. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
22. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
23. ^ The man in the driver’s seat of Towns County Archived May 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Hiawassee River Watershed Coalition
24. ^ Eller, Austin (February 17, 2023). "Towns County Sheriff, Hiawassee Police Department dispute over recent police chase". AccessWDUN.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
25. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
26. ^ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link], Retrieved June 28, 2010.
27. ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 28, 2010.
28. ^ "A History of YHC" Young Harris College website
29. ^ "About YHC: Quick Facts" Young Harris College website
30. ^ "Young Harris College". U.S. News & World Report. 2017.
31. ^ "Towns County Herald (Hiawassee, Towns County, Ga.) 1928-Current". Directory of U.S. Newspapers in American Libraries. Library of Congress. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
32. ^ "The Young Harris news. (Young Harris, Ga.) 18??-19??". Georgia Historic Newspapers. Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Towns County, Georgia.

* Georgia Mountain Beacon (online news) Website
* Towns County Herald (local newspaper) Website

Places adjacent to Towns County, Georgia

|  | Clay County, North Carolina |

|
|

|  |
Union County |

Towns County, Georgia

| Rabun County
|  |
| White County | Habersham County

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34°55′N 83°44′W﻿ / ﻿34.92°N 83.74°W﻿ / 34.92; -83.74
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