Mountain City, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Mountain City is an incorporated town in Rabun County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 829 at the 2000 census. The town straddles the Eastern Continental Divide
in a deep gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain front. The gap allows U.S. Highway 441 to cross the range at an elevation of 2168 feet without the significant grade required by roadways at most other mountain passes along the Georgia Blue Ridge.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.56% is water. Mountain City was home to Chet Atkins
during his adolescence, as a result of a near fatal asthma attack that prompted him to leave his home in Tennessee
and live with his father. It was during this time that his interest in music, especially guitar, was honed.
Mountain City is also home to one of the most popular teenage camps, Camp Blue Ridge. Camp Blue Ridge is a Jewish-based camp for adolescents, located in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. Teens attend Camp Blue Ridge during the summer months of June–August, and come from populated southern states, such as Florida and Georgia, but there have been a lot of campers from far away places, and various other countries.
of 2000, there were 829 people, 363 households, and 238 families residing in the town. The population density
was 464.1 people per square mile (178.8/km²). There were 462 housing units at an average density of 258.6 per square mile (99.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.83% White, 0.60% African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 4.46% from other races
, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.60% of the population.
There were 363 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,531, and the median income for a family was $35,060. Males had a median income of $23,571 versus $23,182 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,235. About 16.1% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
, 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 829 at the 2000 census. The town straddles the Eastern Continental Divide
Eastern Continental Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
in a deep gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain front. The gap allows U.S. Highway 441 to cross the range at an elevation of 2168 feet without the significant grade required by roadways at most other mountain passes along the Georgia Blue Ridge.
Geography
Mountain City is located at 34°55′3"N 83°23′6"W (34.917466, -83.384877).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 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.56% is water. Mountain City was home to Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
during his adolescence, as a result of a near fatal asthma attack that prompted him to leave his home in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and live with his father. It was during this time that his interest in music, especially guitar, was honed.
Mountain City is also home to one of the most popular teenage camps, Camp Blue Ridge. Camp Blue Ridge is a Jewish-based camp for adolescents, located in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. Teens attend Camp Blue Ridge during the summer months of June–August, and come from populated southern states, such as Florida and Georgia, but there have been a lot of campers from far away places, and various other countries.
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 829 people, 363 households, and 238 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 464.1 people per square mile (178.8/km²). There were 462 housing units at an average density of 258.6 per square mile (99.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.83% White, 0.60% African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 4.46% 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 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.60% of the population.
There were 363 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,531, and the median income for a family was $35,060. Males had a median income of $23,571 versus $23,182 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 $15,235. About 16.1% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.