Photo by Blake Arledge, Alto, GA

Quick Facts About Habersham County

Habersham County was formed by the Cherokee Cessions of July 8, 1817, and February 27, 1819.
The county is named for Colonel Joseph Habersham.
It is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Georgia.
In general, the county sits between 1,400-2,000 feet above sea level. The highest point in the county, the summit of Young Lick Mountain (called Young Lick Knob), reaches 3,800 feet above sea level. The Appalachian Trail runs through Habersham County at Young Lick Knob.
Original size was 713 square miles; present size is 279 square miles. The county ranks 111th of 159 in total area.
County population is estimated at 43,000 today; compared to the 1990 census count of 27,621.
The climate here is mild. Average rainfall is about 57.23 inches with an average snowfall of 4.5 inches. The median temperature is 69.7 degrees.
Minerals found here are gold, kyanite, mica, graphite, garnets, cornelians, augite, asbestos, tourmaline, rubies, plumbage, iron, and diamonds
Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the county. The main crops are peaches and apples, and the main industries are poultry and beef.
Tourism continues to be an integral factor in the county's economic development and growth. The county is also experiencing a steady growth in retirees.
Main landmarks are Tallulah Gorge and the Big Red Apple.
Major rivers are the Chattahoochee, Soque, Tugaloo and Tallulah.
The largest lake is Lake Russell. Parts of Lakes Yonah and Tugaloo are in Habersham County. Other regional lakes include Lake Burton, the largest of Georgia Power's north Georgia lakes, with 62 miles of shoreline; Tallulah Falls Lake; the 834-acre Lake Rabun; and Lake Seed.
Major highways are Hwy. 365 (divided four lane), Hwy. 441, Hwy. 23, Hwy. 17, and Hwy. 115.
The county seat is Clarkesville, and other cities and towns are: Alto, Baldwin, Cornelia, Demorest, Mt. Airy and Tallulah Falls. There is one unincorporated community, Turnerville. Other named communities are View, Hollywood and Batesville.
Habersham County Medical Center and the Habersham County Health Department serve local public health care needs.
Public education facilities include 14 schools.
Top Employers are: Fieldale Farms, 2,035; Habersham County Board of Education, 930; Habersham County Hospital Authority, 650; Mt. Vernon Mills, 550; Ethicon, 500; Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute, Alto, 500; Scovill, 380.
Annual events in Habersham County include the Mountain Laurel Festival each May in Clarkesville, the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair each September in Clarkesville, and the Big Red Apple Festival during October in Cornelia.
Several famous individuals have roots in Habersham County. Johnny Mize, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was born in Demorest. Robert Toombs was a U.S. Senator from 1848 to 1852 and lost the bid for president of the Confederacy to Jefferson Davis by one vote.
The newly-expanded Habersham Airport's main runway is 5,500 feet long.
Tallulah Falls was once a popular destination for honeymooners; some historians say second only to Niagara Falls. The gorge has been called "the Grand Canyon of the East."
Clarkesville was incorporated as a village and designated the county seat in 1823.
Several museums are located in Habersham County: the Cornelia Railroad Depot Museum; the Johnny Mize Museum; the Loudermilk Boarding House Museum, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home of the Panoramic Encyclopedia of Everything Elvis; and the Mauldin House Visitors Center.