Hiawassee, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Hiawassee is a town in and the county seat
of Towns County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 810 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Cherokee
word Ayuhwasi, which means a meadow.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (21.86%) is water.
Hiawassee is approximately 2000 feet (609 m) above sea level.
of 2000, there were 810 people, 355 households, and 203 families residing in the town. The population density
was 479.5 people per square mile (184.6/km²). There were 527 housing units at an average density of 312.7 per square mile (120.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.40% White, 0.25% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.37% from other races
, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 355 households out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.8% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86 and the average family size was 2.39.
In the town the population was spread out with 10.0% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 13.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 46.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 62 years. For every 100 females there were 70.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 65.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,615, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $28,929 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,957. About 12.6% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 144 full-time teachers and over 2,408 students.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Towns County
Towns County, Georgia
Towns County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on March 6, 1856. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,319. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,894. Its county seat is Hiawassee.-History:...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 810 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
word Ayuhwasi, which means a meadow.
Geography
Hiawassee is located at 34°56′58"N 83°45′18"W (34.949428, -83.755078).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (21.86%) is water.
Hiawassee is approximately 2000 feet (609 m) above sea level.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 810 people, 355 households, and 203 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 479.5 people per square mile (184.6/km²). There were 527 housing units at an average density of 312.7 per square mile (120.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.40% White, 0.25% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.37% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 355 households out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.8% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86 and the average family size was 2.39.
In the town the population was spread out with 10.0% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 13.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 46.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 62 years. For every 100 females there were 70.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 65.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,615, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $28,929 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,957. About 12.6% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Towns County School District
The Towns County School DistrictTowns County School District
The Towns County School District is a public school district in Towns County, Georgia, USA, based in Hiawassee, Georgia. It serves the communities of Hiawassee, Tate City, and Young Harris, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 144 full-time teachers and over 2,408 students.
- Towns County Elementary School
- Towns County Middle School
- Towns County High School
Points of interest
- Fred Hamilton Rhododendron GardenFred Hamilton Rhododendron GardenThe Fred Hamilton Rhododendron Garden is a botanical garden specializing in rhododendrons, located within the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road , Hiawassee, Georgia...
- Georgia Mountain FairgroundsGeorgia Mountain FairgroundsThe Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, which opened in 1978, is home to several popular events throughout the year including the Georgia Mountain Fair, Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruiz-In, Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Superstar concerts, and Georgia's Official State Fiddlers' Convention...
- Lake ChatugeChatuge DamChatuge Dam is a flood control and hydroelectric dam on the Hiwassee River in Clay County, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The dam is the uppermost of three dams on the river owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the early 1940s for flood storage and to...