Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County | |
|---|---|
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
 Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 34°52′37″N 83°24′30″W / 34.8769°N 83.4082°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Seat | Clayton |
| Population (2000) | |
• Total | 15,050 |
| Website | www |
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population is 15,050. The county seat is Clayton, Georgia6.
History
Rabun County orginally extended much further southwest, including everything between the Chattahoochee River and Chestatee River, downstream to their confluence. The northern border is latitude 35°N, against North Carolina.
As early as 1760, explorers came to the now known as Rabun County, inclduding explorer and naturalist William Bartram about the time of the American Revolution. The Georgia General Assembly passed an act to create the county in December 1819. It is named for William Rabun, governor of Georgia from 1817 to 1819. During the Civil War, it was one of only five Georgia counties that did not secede from the Union.[1]
The Tallulah Falls Railway used to run north and south through the county. A popular stop along the railway was Tallulah Gorge.
Starting in the 1920's, many of the improvements in the county can be attributed to the establishment, growth and expansion of the Chattahoochee National Forest in the county. One of the key figures in the establishment and growth of the Chatahoochee National Forest was "Ranger Nick" Nicholson, Georgia's first forest ranger. Among other things, Ranger Nick was responsible for arranging for telephone lines to be run from Clayton, Georgia to Pine Mountain, Georgia. With 148,684 acres (601.7 km²) within its boundaries, Rabun County has the largest portion of the Chattahoochee National Forest of any of the 18 counties within the boundaries of the Forest.
Law and government
The county is governed by a five member Board of Commissioners.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 976 km² (377 mi²). 961 km² (371 mi²) of it is land and 15 km² (6 mi²) of it (1.58%) is water.
Geographic features
The county's three major lakes were created in the early 20th century by Georgia Power for hydroelectric power generation. The three lakes today provide recreation as well as power generation: Lake Burton covers 11.23 km² (2775 acres or 4.33 mi²) and has 100 km (62 mi) of shoreline, Lake Rabun covers 3.38 km² (835 acres) and has 40 km (25 mi) of shoreline, and Lake Seed covers 0.97 km² (240 acres) and has 21 km (13 mi) of shoreline. [2] The county also boasts a number of trout streams, including the Tallulah River and its tributary, the Coleman River.
The Eastern Continental Divide runs through the county, roughly from southwest to northeast. The county's eastern border with South Carolina is formed by the Chattooga River, the largest tributary of the Tugaloo River and then Savannah River (which forms the rest of the border of the two states). The other half is in the watershed of the Little Tennessee River, which flows northward from Clayton. The high elevation along the divide gives Rabun County the most snow of any in county in Georgia. This also gives it mild weather throughout the warmer months of the year, leading to the county's slogan, Where Spring Spends the Summer.
Mountains
The Eastern Continental Divide provides Rabun County with the second and third highest peaks in Georgia: Rabun Bald at 4,696 feet and Dick's Knob at 4620 feet. Places in Rabun County with elevations higher than 3,600 feet are:
- Rabun Bald (summit), 4696 feet
- Dick's Knob (summit), 4600 feet
- Grassy Ridge (ridge), 4420 feet^
- Flint Knob (summit), 4240 feet
- Steeltrap Knob (summit), 4160 feet
- Flat Top (summit), 4142 feet
- Alex Mountain (summit), 4100 feet^
- Wolf Knob (summit), 3979 feet
- Fodderstack (summit), 3960 feet
- Dismal Knob (summit), 3920 feet
- Ford Mountain (summit), 3920 feet
- Chestnut Mountain (summit), 3883 feet
- Whiteoak Stomp (summit), 3880 feet
- Southern Nantahala Wilderness (park), 3850 feet
- Powell Mountain (summit), 3840 feet
- Oakey Mountain (summit), 3826 feet
- Penson Knob (summit), 3800 feet
- Gulf Knob (summit), 3760 feet
- Scaly Knob (summit), 3750 feet
- Buzzard Knob (summit), 3720 feet
- Rattlesnake Knob (summit), 3720 feet
- Double Knob (summit), 3684 feet
- Rock Mountain (summit), 3680 feet
- Blacks Creek Knob (summit), 3680 feet
- Glade Mountain (summit), 3672 feet
- Blackrock Mountain (summit), 3640 feet
- Queen Mine Knob (summit), 3615 feet
^Marked elevations are derived from topographical maps and may not match listed elevations.
Sources for elevations:
Hiking Trails
The county boasts many hiking trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail and a 37 mile portion of the Bartram Trail.
Major highways
U.S. 441 goes due north-south through the county, and Georgia 246 begins at Dillard on its way to Sky Valley. Georgia 28 runs for an extremely short distance in the northeastern tip, between the Carolinas.
Adjacent counties
- Macon County, North Carolina - north
- Jackson County, North Carolina - northeast
- Oconee County, South Carolina - east
- Habersham County, Georgia - south
- Towns County, Georgia - west
- Clay County, North Carolina - northwest
Economy
As of early 2006, the county's two largest employers are textile manufacturers: Rabun Apparel, with over 900 jobs, and National Textiles, with 410.[3] In March 2006, Fruit of the Loom announced it would close the Rabun Apparel plant and lay off all 930 employees. National Textiles has also announced layoffs, but so far, those have only targeted plants in North Carolina and Tennessee. [4]
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 15,050 people, 6,279 households, and 4,351 families residing in the county. The population density was 16/km² (41/mi²). There were 10,210 housing units at an average density of 11/km² (28/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.88% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.63% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 4.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,279 households out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% 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 2.82.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,899, and the median income for a family was $39,992. Males had a median income of $28,105 versus $21,164 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,608. About 8.10% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
See also
References
- ^ Rabun County Comprehensive Plan - Chapter 7 - Historical Cultural
- ^ "The Northeast Georgia Lakes". North Georgia Internet Magazine. Retrieved February 4.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Rabun County Major Employers". Rabun County, Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved March 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Fraser, Donald (March 23, 2006). "Fruit closing, 930 jobs lost". Clayton Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2006.