Habersham County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Habersham County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Fire Tower on Chenocetah Mountain.
|
||
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
|
||
 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Georgia |
|
| Founded | 1818 | |
| Named for | Joseph Habersham | |
| Seat | Clarkesville | |
| Largest city | Cornelia | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 279 sq mi (720 km2) | |
| • Land | 277 sq mi (720 km2) | |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6 km2) 0.8%% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 46,031 | |
| • Density | 166/sq mi (64/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 9th | |
Habersham County is a place in the northeastern part of Georgia, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 46,031 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Clarkesville.
The county was created on December 15, 1818. It was named after Colonel Joseph Habersham, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. Habersham County is also part of the Cornelia, GA area, which is a group of towns that are connected.
Contents
Exploring Habersham County's Geography
Habersham County covers about 279 square miles (723 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Mountains and Rivers
The county is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These mountains are part of the larger Appalachian Mountains chain. A part of the beautiful Chattahoochee National Forest is also found here.
The highest point in the county is near Tray Mountain. This mountain is one of the tallest in Georgia. The Appalachian Trail, a famous long hiking path, runs along the top of the ridge between Tray Mountain and Young Lick.
Most of Habersham County is in the Upper Chattahoochee River area. The Chattahoochee River actually starts in what used to be Habersham County. The poet Sidney Lanier wrote about this in his poem "Song of the Chattahoochee":
- Out of the hills of Habersham,
- Down the valleys of Hall,
- I hurry amain to reach the plain,
- Run the rapid and leap the fall,
- Split at the rock and together again.
How the County Changed Over Time
Habersham County used to be much larger. Over many years, as more people moved to the area, new counties were formed from its land. For example, White County and Banks County were created from parts of Habersham. Later, Stephens County was also formed using land from Habersham and Banks counties.
Main Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Habersham County, connecting its towns and linking it to other areas.
U.S. Route 23
U.S. Route 123
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441 Business
State Route 15
State Route 15 Connector
State Route 15 Loop
State Route 17
State Route 17 Alternate
State Route 105
State Route 115
State Route 197
State Route 197 Connector
State Route 255
State Route 255 Alternate
State Route 356
State Route 365
State Route 384
State Route 385
Neighboring Counties
Habersham County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Rabun County - to the north
- Oconee County, South Carolina - to the east
- Stephens County - to the east
- Banks County - to the south
- Hall County - to the southwest
- White County - to the west
- Towns County - to the northwest
Education in Habersham County
All schools in Habersham County are part of the Habersham County School District.
There are also other learning places in the county:
- Tallulah Falls School is located in Tallulah Falls.
- Piedmont University and North Georgia Technical College are also in Habersham County.
People of Habersham County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 3,145 | — | |
| 1830 | 10,671 | 239.3% | |
| 1840 | 7,961 | −25.4% | |
| 1850 | 8,895 | 11.7% | |
| 1860 | 5,966 | −32.9% | |
| 1870 | 6,322 | 6.0% | |
| 1880 | 8,718 | 37.9% | |
| 1890 | 11,573 | 32.7% | |
| 1900 | 13,604 | 17.5% | |
| 1910 | 10,134 | −25.5% | |
| 1920 | 10,730 | 5.9% | |
| 1930 | 12,748 | 18.8% | |
| 1940 | 14,771 | 15.9% | |
| 1950 | 16,553 | 12.1% | |
| 1960 | 18,116 | 9.4% | |
| 1970 | 20,691 | 14.2% | |
| 1980 | 25,020 | 20.9% | |
| 1990 | 27,621 | 10.4% | |
| 2000 | 35,902 | 30.0% | |
| 2010 | 43,041 | 19.9% | |
| 2020 | 46,031 | 6.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 48,757 | 13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
|||
In 2020, there were 46,031 people living in Habersham County. These people lived in over 15,000 households.
Population Details from 2020
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 30,486 | 34,621 | 34,694 | 84.91% | 80.44% | 75.37% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,551 | 1,412 | 1,722 | 4.32% | 3.28% | 3.74% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 89 | 81 | 83 | 0.25% | 0.19% | 0.18% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 664 | 955 | 990 | 1.85% | 2.22% | 2.15% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 30 | 47 | 35 | 0.08% | 0.11% | 0.08% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 34 | 109 | 0.01% | 0.08% | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 327 | 558 | 1,518 | 0.91% | 1.30% | 3.30% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,750 | 5,333 | 6,880 | 7.66% | 12.39% | 14.95% |
| Total | 35,902 | 43,041 | 46,031 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Lee Arrendale State Prison
Habersham County is home to the Arrendale State Prison. This facility was built in 1926. It was first a hospital for people with tuberculosis. Later, it became a place for young male offenders.
In 2005, it became a prison just for women. This change helped improve the prison's standing.
The First All-Female Fire Department
Lee Arrendale State Prison is special because it has the first all-female fire department in the United States. It is also the first inmate fire department in Georgia. Inmates who are trained as firefighters help protect nearby rural communities. They also help other parts of Georgia during emergencies like wildfires. These inmates are trained and certified just like regular firefighters.
Towns and Communities
Habersham County has several towns and communities:
Cities
Towns
Census-Designated Place
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities not officially part of a city or town:
- Batesville
- Habersham Mills
- Hollywood
- Turnerville
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Habersham para niños
