Union County, Georgia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Union County
state = Georgia


founded year = 1832
founded date =
seat wl = Blairsville
largest city wl = Blairsville
area_total_sq_mi = 329
area_total_km2 = 852
area_land_sq_mi = 323
area_land_km2 = 835
area_water_sq_mi = 6
area_water_km2 = 17
area percentage =
census yr = 2000
pop = 17289
density_sq_mi =
density_km2 =
time zone =
UTC offset =
DST offset =
footnotes =
web =
named for =

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 17,289. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,968 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-13.xls] . The county seat is Blairsville, GeorgiaGR|6.

It is currently a dry county. Its Sole Commissioner is Lamar Paris, who has served since 2001. [ [http://www.georgiatrend.com/our-state/200701-blairsville-union.shtml Blairsville-Union County: Guiding Growth] , "Georgia Trend", January 2007.]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 329 square miles (852 km²), of which, 323 square miles (835 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (17 km²) of it (1.97%) is water. The highest point in the county is Brasstown Bald(which also reaches into towns county) is the summit of Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia.

tate Highways

*. Overlaps with U.S. 129 and S.R. 11
*. Overlaps with S.R. 2 and S.R. 515
*. Overlaps with U.S. 19 and S.R. 11
*
*. Overlaps U.S. 76 and S.R. 515
*. Overlaps U.S. 19 and U.S. 129
*.
*. Overlaps U.S. 76 and S.R. 2

econdary Highways

*Blue Ridge Highway (Old U.S. 76/Old S.R. 2)
*Skeenah Gap Road
*Town Creek School Road
*Mulky Gap Road
*Owltown Road
*Owltown Spur
*Gumlog Road
*Loving Road
*Nottely Dam Road (Old S.R. 325). Not all of Nottely Dam Road remains a state route.
*Pat Haralson Memorial Drive
*Trackrock Gap Road

Adjacent counties

*Cherokee County, North Carolina (north)
*Clay County, North Carolina (northeast)
*Towns County (east)
*White County (southeast)
*Lumpkin County (south)
*Fannin County (west)

National protected area

* Chattahoochee National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,289 people, 7,159 households, and 5,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 10,001 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.94% White, 0.58% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,159 households out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.90% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.00% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 28.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,893, and the median income for a family was $39,776. Males had a median income of $29,127 versus $20,871 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,845. About 9.30% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.

History of Name

Union County was carved from Cherokee County territory during the Georgia Land Lottery of 1832. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, the area became more desirable to white settlers with the discovery of gold in the 1820’s.

The Union Party, a political group that supported removing the Indians and opening the area to white settlers, is the probable inspiration for the county’s name. Since it was founded almost 30 years before the Civil War, Union County obviously wasn’t named in sympathy for the North as is sometimes mistaken.

Interestingly, though, prior to the Civil War the county’s residents were largely pro-Union and the county delegates to the state convention of 1861 voted against secession. When the state seceded, however, the majority of Union County residents supported the Confederacy, though some fought and died for the Union.

Union County is also called "The Top of Georgia" because of the peak of Brasstown Bald being in Union County.

Cities and towns

*Blairsville
*Suches

External links

* [http://www.unioncountyga.gov/ Union County Government Website]
* [http://www.blairsville-ga.gov/ City of Blairsville Government Website]
* [http://www.blairsville.com/ Blairsville and Union County Website]
* [http://www.blairsvillechamber.com/ Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/Counties/Union.html Documents from Union County in the Digital Library of Georgia]

References