Blairsville, Georgia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Blairsville, Georgia
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Union County and the state of Georgia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Georgia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Union
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area_total_km2 = 2.8
area_land_km2 = 2.8
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.1
area_land_sq_mi = 1.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 659
population_density_km2 = 235.4
population_density_sq_mi = 599.1
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 34 |latm = 52 |lats = 32 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 57 |longs = 24 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 574
elevation_ft = 1883
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 30512, 30514
area_code = 706
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 13-08480GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0331184GR|3
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Blairsville is a city in Union County, Georgia, United States. The population was 659 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Union CountyGR|6.

Geography

Blairsville is located at coor dms|34|52|32|N|83|57|24|W|city (34.875554, -83.956581)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.7 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 659 people, 226 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density was 619.7 people per square mile (240.0/km²). There were 261 housing units at an average density of 245.4/sq mi (95.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.04% White, 2.00% African American, 0.10% Asian, 2.12% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.64% of the population.

There were 226 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.4% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.9% were non-families. 50.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 14.3% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 39.0% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 151.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 167.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $14,120, and the median income for a family was $24,712. Males had a median income of $21,953 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,865. About 16.8% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 23.7% of those age 65 or over.

History of Name

At the top of the state of Georgia lies Union County, named after the Union Party who strongly supported President Andrew Jackson for his policy of Indian removal. On Dec. 26, 1835, the Georgia General Assembly designated Union’s county seat in an act that read, “lot No. 273 of the ninth district and first section of, originally Cherokee, now Union county, and at a place now known by the name of Blairsville” (Ga. Laws 1835, p. 113). It is believed that the town was named after Francis P. Blair, who was not only a prominent and influential man of his time but was a strong supporter of the Union Party, for which the county itself had been named. Adjacent towns and counties in the area have similar ties to the Union Party that help to support this connection.

Attractions

Brasstown Bald is the highest mountain peak in Georgia. It has a park with a picnic area and a small observation tower near the peak with a movie chronicaling the change of seasons and the impact of pollution on the mountain. The peak may be reached by bus or by walking from a point halfway to the top beyond which private vehicles are not allowed.The Mountain's Address: Highway 180, Blairsville, GA.

Nearby Lake Nottely is a TVA reservoir that is a local recreational resource.

The Appalachian Trail in Georgia has elevations that vary from about 2500 to 4500 feet with many steep climbs and extends some 75 miles through the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Butternut Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole mountainside public golf course located within the city limits.

Encompassing nearly two-thirds of the county, the Chattahoochee National Forest has winding trails that lead visitors through scenic mountains, rushing rivers, and cascading waterfalls. This is where you can step back in time with nature and walk where the Cherokee Indians' once lived and where major battles of the Civil War were fought.

Climate

Blairsville is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, however, it does resemble the humid continental climatic zone. Blairsville, being 1,883 feet above sea level, gives it a more temperate climate compared to other southern locations. Areas of higher elevation around the Blairsville region of have climates similar to that of New England. The average annual precipitation is 57.94 inches. The average annual snowfall is 3.4 inches. Snow generally falls every year, although not always in large amounts. The Storm of the Century (1993) brought 18 inches to the area with drifts measured in feet. The coldest temperature recorded in Blairsville was -16F(-27C) in 1985, and the warmest temperature ever recorded was 100F(38C) in 1934 and 1936.

Events

* The [http://www.blairsville.com/sorghum.asp Sorghum Festival] is held every year, on the second, third, and fourth weekends in October, celebrating the sorghum harvest.

Vogel State Park

Vogel State Park is located on Highway 19/129 South, heading towards Lumpkin County and the Appalachian Trail. It is a beautiful park that is centered around Lake Trahlyta and has about five miles of trails and walkways which wind their way around the central lake and into the woods. One trail offers access to the Appalachian Trail. The lake itself has paddleboat rentals and allows fishing (license and trout stamp required). There is also a miniature golf course. There are 35 cabins (6 log type cabins originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's and 29 cabins of more modern vintage) and 103 campsites (85 conventional campsites with water and electrical connections and 16 "walk-in" sites). The park has seasonal programs (fall festival, pioneer Christmas, kids fishing rodeo, and Saturday music events during the summer). There is an all-day Mountain Music Festival in September. Parking is free on Wednesday and the park is an eleven mile, fifteen minute drive from Blairsville. Of Historical note: parts of Vogel State Park were constructed during the Great Depression under Franklin Roosevelt's CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) worker project.

Notable citizens

* Joseph E. Brown, Georgia's governor during the American Civil War
* Bill Elliott, NASCAR driver
* Arthur Woody, the "Barefoot Ranger", a forest ranger from 1911 to 1945

References

External links

* [http://www.blairsville.com/ Blairsville, GA Website]
* [http://www.blairsvillechamber.com/ Blairsville Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.downtownblairsville.com/ Blairsville Downtown Development Authority]
* [http://www.blairsvillecity.com Blairsville City Website]
* [http://gastateparks.org/net/go/parks.aspx?locationid=100&s=0.0.1.5 Vogel State Park] Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites