Union County, Georgia

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Union County, Georgia
Map
Location in the state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	1832
Seat	Blairsville
Largest city	Blairsville
Area - Total - Land - Water	329 sq mi (852 km²) 323 sq mi (835 km²) 6 sq mi (17 km²),
Population - (2000) - Density	17,289

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 [1]. The county seat is Blairsville, Georgia^[1].

It is currently a dry county. Its Sole Commissioner is Lamar Paris, who has served since 2001.^[2]

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History of Name
4 Cities and towns
5 External links
6 References

[edit] 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.

[edit] State Highways

U.S. Highway 19. Overlaps with U.S. 129 and S.R. 11
U.S. Highway 76. Overlaps with S.R. 2 and S.R. 515
U.S. Highway 129. Overlaps with U.S. 19 and S.R. 11
Georgia State Route 60
Georgia State Route 2. Overlaps U.S. 76 and S.R. 515
Georgia State Route 11. Overlaps U.S. 19 and U.S. 129
Georgia State Route 325. Also known as Nottely Dam Road.
Georgia State Route 515. Overlaps U.S. 76 and S.R. 2

[edit] Secondary 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

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] 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.

[edit] 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.