. Union County Facts For Clients Moving into the Union County - Blairsville Area.
Union County, the 88th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1832 from the Cherokee Indian territory. Union County was not named for its support of the North in the Civil War. The county received its name from a then emerging political party called the "Union Party" that was in existence 28 years before the Civil War started.
The county seat of Union County is Blairsville, which is the only incorporated community in the county. Blairsville was named for Captain James Blair, a negotiater with the Indians.
The county is rich in Indian lore. Of particular note was a battle between Creek and Cherokee Indians near Blairsville, the site of which was given the name of Slaughter Gap.
The area increasingly has become a recreational destination since the Tennessee Valley Authority created Nottely Lake on the Nottely River; and the development of Vogel State Park, a popular vacation facility.
Much of Union County lies within the Chattahoochee National Forest and, thus, is under Federal ownership.
Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald at 4,784 feet, is in Union County. An observation platform offers a spectacular view of the surrounding Smoky Mountains.
The festivals in the county include the Sorghum Festival in October and the Indian Summer Festival.
Information provided by Union County Chamber of Commerce
Population:
Union County: 19,000 (2002) estimate)
Blairsville: 670
County Information:
Union County Acreage, 204,736 (97,843 acres within Chattahoochee National Forest).
Lake Nottely - 4,180 acre body of water (Managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority).
Shoreline on Lake Nottely is 106 miles.
Housing:
Union County had 10,001 housing units in 2000, with a home ownership rate of 82.3%,
well above the state average of 67.5%. In 2000, 401 housing units were authorized by
building permits. The county averages close to 500 new units a year.
Elevations:
County Elevation Range: 1,600-4,784 feet - Blairsville Elevation: 1,900 feet
Demographics (Averages):
High Temperature - July:84F; Low Temperature - January:25F; Annual Rainfall - 65 inches;
Annual Snowfall - 3 inches.
Employment and Industry:
- Union County lists 50 manufacturing firms employing, 1,028, the largest being Aviagen,
a poultry breeder, employing 156.
- Tourism has an annual economic impact of $37 million, supporting 23 businesses and
541 jobs (fiscal year 2001).
- The largest non-manufacturing employers in the Union County area are: Union County Schools,
300; United Community Banks Inc., 290; Global Employment Solutions, Inc., 168; Brasstown
Valley Resort, 150; Union County Government, 150; Home Depot, 150;
Union General Hospital, 145; Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, 145.
Unemployment:
Union County's unemployment rate in March was 3.2%, compared to 4.6% for the state, tying
Union County for 17th lowest in Georgia.
Education:
The Union County Public School System operates five schools and is the fiscal agent for the
Union County Head Start Program and Pre-Kindergarten Program.
Personnel:
400 certified and classified; 70% of the 210 certified staff hold advanced degrees; 26% have
Master's Degrees; 37% have Educational Specialist Degrees and 1% have Doctorate Degrees.
Facilities:
A new middle school building was completed in 1992 and a new $11 million High School opened in
2002. Woody Gap school was renovated in 2000.
Accreditation:
All Union County schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and
by the Georgia Accrediting Commission.
More information:
Please call the Union County Board of Education at (706) 745-2322 (706) 745-2322 or
website www.union.k12.ga.us
Worth Noting:
Last year's county-wide third-grade class finished first in the state in the Stanford Achievement Test
(reading and math), which compares student scores in third, fifth and eight grades to students
nationwide. Union County's children finished in a tie with third graders from Fayette County.
Higher Education:
North Georgia Technical College, Blairsville,; Young Harris College (9 miles from Blairsville);
North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega (30 miles); Brenau University,
Gainesville (55 miles); Gainesville College (55 miles)
Hospital Information:
Union General Hospital (UGH), one of the top-rated rural hospitals in the state, and was named
Georgia Rural Hospital of the Year in 2001 and Small Hospital of the Year in 2000. Among the
wide range of services offered: chronic dialysis clinic, 147-bed nursing home, and a new cancer
treatment center.
More Information:
Union General Hospital (706) 745-2111 (706) 745-2111 or www.uniongeneralhospital.com; Union County Nursing
Home (706) 745-4948- the Nursing home is included in the Union County General Hospital website;
Cancer Treatment Center (706) 835-3030 (706) 835-3030 ; and the Union County Dialysis Center (706) 835-1925 (706) 835-1925 .
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