Hiawassee, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hiawassee, Georgia
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Hiawassee on Chatuge Lake
Towns County Courthouse in Hiawassee
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Location in Towns County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Towns |
| Settled | 1856 |
| Incorporated | May 17, 1956 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.077 sq mi (5.379 km2) |
| • Land | 1.629 sq mi (4.220 km2) |
| • Water | 0.448 sq mi (1.160 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,969 ft (600 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 981 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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1,002 |
| • Density | 615.0/sq mi (237.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
30546
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| Area code(s) | 706 and 762 |
| FIPS code | 13-38124 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0328122 |
| Sales tax | 8.0% |
Hiawassee is the county seat of Towns County, Georgia, United States. The population was 981 at the 2020 census. Its name is derived from the Cherokee—or perhaps Creek—word Ayuhwasi, which means meadow, (A variant spelling, "Hiwassee," is used for the local river and some other Appalachian place names.) Hiawassee is also known in the novel "Restart" by Gordon Korman.
Contents
History
Hiawassee was established along the route of the Unicoi Turnpike, a 1,000-year-old Native American trail. In the early 18th century, deerskins and furs were transported along the route from Tennessee to Savannah and Charleston for shipping to Europe. A United States fur trade factory was built in present-day Hiawassee between 1807 and 1811.
Settled by whites circa 1820, Hiawassee was designated seat of the newly formed Towns County in 1856. It was incorporated as a town in 1870 and as a city in 1916, after settlers violently removed the Cherokee communities living there prior in a night of massacre in 1776. Hiawassee was originally inhabited by predominantly Cherokee-people’s. The name of Hiawassee was originally derived from the Native American word ayuhwasi, meaning river and or valley. Hiawassee’s name is nature-based, as mentioned above.
The historic Towns County Jail was built in downtown Hiawassee around 1935. The two-story rock building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. President Jimmy Carter visited Hiawassee in July 1980, landing by helicopter to go trout fishing with friends.
Geography
Hiawassee is located on the Hiwassee River at 34°56′58″N 83°45′27″W / 34.94944°N 83.75750°W (34.949428, -83.755078).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.077 square miles (5.38 km2), of which, 1.629 square miles (4.22 km2) is land and 0.448 square miles (1.16 km2) is water.
Hiawassee is approximately 1969 feet (600 meter) above sea level.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 104 | — | |
| 1910 | 226 | — | |
| 1920 | 146 | −35.4% | |
| 1930 | 169 | 15.8% | |
| 1940 | 163 | −3.6% | |
| 1950 | 375 | 130.1% | |
| 1960 | 455 | 21.3% | |
| 1970 | 415 | −8.8% | |
| 1980 | 491 | 18.3% | |
| 1990 | 547 | 11.4% | |
| 2000 | 808 | 47.7% | |
| 2010 | 880 | 8.9% | |
| 2020 | 981 | 11.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 1,002 | 13.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 906 | 92.4% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0.0% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 2 | 0.2% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 23 | 2.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 4.0% |
| Total | 981 | 100.0% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 981 people, 497 households, and 215 families residing in the city. There were 754 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other races and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0% of the population.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 880 people, 456 households, and _ families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% White, 0.3% Black, 0.1% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% Other Races, and 0.6% from two or more races. 2.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Education
Towns County School District
The Towns County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 144 full-time teachers and over 2,408 students.
- Towns County Elementary School
- Towns County Middle School
- Towns County High School
Media
The Towns County Herald newspaper has been published weekly in Hiawassee since 1928.
Points of interest
- Fred Hamilton Rhododendron Garden
- Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
- Lake Chatuge
See also
In Spanish: Hiawassee para niños
