Towns County GA
Lake Chatuge Looking from Hayesville towards Hiawassee
Towns County is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in North Georgia, just across the North Carolina State line from Hayesville. Towns County was the 117th county formed in Georgia. It was created in 1856 from parts of Union and Rabun counties and named for George Washington Bonaparte Towns, governor of Georgia from 1847 to 1851. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 172 square miles, of which 167 square miles is land and 5 square miles is water. Brasstown Bald is the highest mountain in Georgia. It rises in southwest Towns County, straddling the Union County line. The source of the Hiwassee River is located in eastern Towns County. It flows northward into North Carolina. Lake Chatuge, a reservoir created by the completion of Chatuge Dam by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1940's, dominates the northeastern section of Towns County. State Route 515 from north of Atlanta ends here at the North Carolina state line near Young Harris.
Mountain View, Young Harris GA
Young Harris was originally named Young Harris College in honor of Judge Young Loftin Gerdine Harris of Athens. It soon shortened to Young Harris. Young Harris College is still located there. It's a private, four year residential liberal arts college. Young Harris is located on the eastern side of Towns County.
Hiawassee is a Cherokee word meaning "meadow". It is the Towns County Seat. Hiawassee sits around 2000 feet above sea level. It has a good variety of restaurants, a movie theater, children's play center, a marina, the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds offering big name concerts, the Georgia Mountain Fair and the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, the Fred Hamilton Rhododendron Garden and a very nice town square. Summertime brings concerts, dances, and various festivals to the square.
Lake Chatuge, Hiawassee GA
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