White County, Georgia

White County, Georgia
Seal
Location in the state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1857
Seat	Cleveland
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	242.16 sq mi (627 km²) 241.58 sq mi (626 km²) 0.58 sq mi (2 km²), 0.24%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	19,944 83/sq mi (32/km²)
Website	www.whitecounty.net

White County is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 22, 1857, from part of Habersham County. The county was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an act creating the new county. As of 2000, the population was 19,944. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,020. The county seat is Cleveland.

Geography

Unicoi State Park.

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 242.16 square miles (627.2 km²), of which 241.58 square miles (625.7 km²) (or 99.76%) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km²) (or 0.24%) is water.

Geographic features

The highest point in White County is 4,430-foot Tray Mountain, shared with Towns County to the north. Tray is the 6th-highest mountain peak in Georgia. Another very prominent White County peak is Yonah Mountain, also known as Mount Yonah. This 3,143-foot peak, located between Helen and Cleveland, is dramatically rimmed by sheer cliffs and has the distinction of being the highest point on Georgia's Piedmont Plateau.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 129
• Georgia State Route 11
• Georgia State Route 17
• Georgia State Route 75

Adjacent counties

• Towns County, Georgia - north
• Habersham County, Georgia - east
• Hall County, Georgia - south
• Lumpkin County, Georgia - west
• Union County, Georgia - northwest

Protected areas

• Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
• Unicoi State Park

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,944 people, 7,731 households, and 5,782 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 9,454 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.16% White, 2.17% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,731 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,084, and the median income for a family was $40,704. Males had a median income of $29,907 versus $22,168 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,193. About 8.40% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 15.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Helen
• Cleveland

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in White County, Georgia

External links

• White County Chamber of Commerce website
• White County Government Website
• White County Historical Society Website
• History of White County, Georgia