general info
demographics
tax information
hospital info
annual events
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GENERAL
INFORMATION
Geography
Georgia's mountains, lakes and rivers make it a nature
lover's paradise. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, the county is crossed by parts of the
Chattahoochee National Forest, and the Tallulah and Tugaloo
Rivers.
Part of Tallulah Gorge, considered to be the Grand Canyon of
the South, is located in Habersham County. Previously
diverted underground for hydroelectric purposes by the
Georgia Power Company, the Tallulah River is once again
flowing through the gorge over a series of breathtaking
waterfalls.
The Eastern Continental Divide runs through downtown
Cornelia on South Main Street. Water falling on the north
side of the street runs into the Chattahoochee River and the
Gulf of Mexico; water draining to south of the street winds
up in the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean.
History
Habersham County was created in 1818 from Indian treaty
lands. Georgia's 43rd county was named for Major Joseph
Habersham. He fought in the Revolutionary War, was Mayor of
Savannah, served in Congress and was President George
Washington's Postmaster General. |
|
Clarkesville, the county seat, was named for Revolutionary
War hero, and former governor, John Clarke. Other county
municipalities are Alto, Baldwin, Cornelia, Demorest, Mount
Airy, and Tallulah Falls.
A Civil War iron works in the county produced guns and
cannons for the Confederacy. Most of Habersham County was
spared from pillage after Confederate troops turned back
Union calvary in a skirmish near Currahee Mountain.
Media
Habersham County is considered part of the Atlanta
television market. The newspaper with the largest daily
circulation in Habersham County is the Atlanta
Journal/Constitution.
Noteworthy Citizens
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. |
