The Mountains

Only one word can define what's so compelling about living in the mountains of North Georgia and Western North Carolina~ LIFESTYLE. If  you are tired of the rat race, escape to the mountains. Life in the Smokey Mountains brings along a slow pace and a casual lifestyle. The lifestyle is defined not only by the stunning natural environment, but also by a strong sense of community. Unlike most places in America, the mountains of North Georgia and Western North Carolina continue to be the quiet communities like the communities most of us grew up in. While the natural beauty and freedom of wide open space have lured many to visit, it has been the LIFESTYLE that they found or made for themselves that has kept them coming back to the mmountains.

HIAWASSEE, GA (TOWNS COUNTY)  

Tucked away at the Northeast corner of Georgia and bordering the Southwestern edge of North Carolina, Towns County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia. Hiawassee is located in Towns County. Of the 106,240 acres, USFS and TVA make up almost two thirds of the land mass. Although small, there are numerous ways to spend your days relaxing in the mountain paradise of Hiawassee.

Hiawassee, Georgia is within two hours of Atlanta, GA; Knoxville, TN; Chattanooga, TN; and Asheville, NC.

SOME HIAWASSEE, GA ACTIVITIES  

Brasstown Bald, rising 4,784 feet, and located on the Towns/Union County line, is the highest peak in Georgia. From the observation tower on the summit you can see four states. http://www.fs.fed.u s/conf/rec/btb_overview.htm

The Appalachian Trail, a 75 year old, 2,174 mile wilderness footpath along the crest of the Appalachian mountains. It extends through fourteen states, beginning forms the eastern boundary of the county. http://georgiatrails.com/features/apptrail.html 

Lake Chatuge, one of the most scenic lakes in the Tennessee Valley Authority system, was formed in 1942 when the construction on the earth-filled dam was completed. The dam is located off Myers Chapel Road, about 3 miles southeast of Hayesville, at the BarnettBridge in North Carolina just over the TownsCounty, GA. line. Chatuge Dam is 144 feet high and stretches 2,850 feet across the HiawasseeRiver. Chatuge reservoir covers about 7200 acres, with approximately 133 miles of shoreline, and a flood-storage capacity of 62,619 acre-feet. Although Chatuge was originally built to for water storage to help prevent flooding downstream, it currently serves many purposes, including flood control, electric power generation, augmentation of water flows for navigation downstream, and provides numerous recreational opportunities, including boating, swimming, skiing, camping, hiking and fishing. Thirty-two species of fish inhabit Lake Chatuge, with smallmouth bass, large-mouth, spotted, white, and hybrids are stocked annually. Lake Chatuge is located in Hiawassee, GA and Hayesville, NC.www.tva.gov/sites/chatuge.htm

Schools

Towns Couny Schools enjoys being recognized for its implementation of innovative education initiatives.   Students score among the highest in the state and score above the national average on Stanford 9 tests.  and Towns County students continue to score in the top 5% on graduation tests.  90% of its graduates continue their education beyond high school.  There are approximately 309 students in grades 9-12. 

Towns County Elementary School  1150 Konahetah Road, Hiawassee, GA 30546

                                                            (706) 896-4131

Towns County Middle School          1400 US Hwy 76 East, Hiawassee, GA 30546

                                                            (706) 896-4131

Towns County High School              1400 US Hwy 76 East, Hiawassee, GA 30546

                                                            (706) 896-4131

Higher Education

Tri-County Community College

Tri- County Community College is located  in Peachtree, NC, just 8 miles from Hayesville, NC.   The campus covers 77 square acres in Murphy, NC and 6 acres in Robbinsville, NC.  There is a ratio of fifteen students to one faculty member.  Students in local high schools can dual enroll to earn early college credit. 

Tri-County Community College     4600 East US 64, Murphy, NC 28906

                                                          (828) 837-6810

Young Harris College

Nestled in the beautiful North Georgia mountains, Young Harris College is a two year private Methodist affiliated liberal arts college.  It has approximately 600 students and offers year round classes.  It's campus provides a gymnasium, pool, spectacular athletic fields and the third largest planetarium in the state.  35 student organizations are available in which students can choose to participate.  Young Harris College is fully accredited.

Young Harris College                    Young Harris, GA 30582

                                                         (800) 241-3754

North Georgia Technical College  

North Georgia Technical College's main campus is located in Clarkesville, GA.  However, its satellite campus is located in Blairsville, GA.   Credit and non-credit courses can be conveniently taken in the classroom, in the workplace, on the internet or through video conferencing.  NGTC provides technical and adult eduction.                                                                             

North Georgia Technical College    434 Meeks Avenue, Blairsville, GA 30512

                                                             (706) 439-6300 or (706) 781-2300

HOSPITALS

Chatuge Regional Hospital

110 Main Street, Hiawassee, GA  30546

(706) 896-2222

 Union General Hospital

214 Hospital Circle, Blairsville, GA  30512

Founded in 1861, Clay County is settled within 62,200 acres of U.S. Forest land. Clay County's generations of hospitible people are grounded in history. Clay county was named after Kentucky Statesman Henry Clay and the city of Hayesville was named after state legislature George Hayes. Hayes was instrumental in getting the state to recognize the area as a county.  Despite considerable growth over the past decade, traditional values still abound in  the Western North Carolina smokey mountain town of Hayesville.  Because Hayesville is near the Georgia border, residents and vacationers can take advantage of both the Carolina mountains and the many attractions North Georgia has to offer. The county, one of the smallest in North Carolina, contains 220 sqaure miles.