White County is a county in the Northeast region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,003. The county seat is Cleveland. The county was created on December 22, 1857, formerly a part of Habersham County and most likely was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an act creating the new county.
Geography
thumb|right|200px|[[Unicoi State Park]]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water.
The county is mostly located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Northern parts of the county have the highest elevations, being in the mountains themselves. The highest point in White County is Tray Mountain, shared with Towns County to the north. Tray Mountain is the 6th-highest mountain in Georgia. Another very prominent White County peak is Yonah Mountain, also known as Mount Yonah. This peak, located between Helen and Cleveland, is rimmed by sheer cliffs and is the highest point on Georgia's Piedmont Plateau.
All of White County is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).
Adjacent counties
- Towns County - north
- Habersham County - east
- Hall County - south
- Lumpkin County - west
- Union County - northwest
Protected areas
- Chattahoochee National Forest (part)
- Unicoi State Park
Transportation
Major highways
- 23px U.S. Route 129
- 20px State Route 11
- 20px State Route 17
- 20px State Route 75
- 20px State Route 75 Alternate
- 23px State Route 115
- 23px State Route 254
- 23px State Route 255
- 23px State Route 284
- 23px State Route 348
- 23px State Route 356
- 23px State Route 384
Pedestrians and cycling
- River Bridge Trail
- River Hiking Trail
- Unicoi State Park Trail
- Yonah Preserve Trail
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+White County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 1980
!Pop 1990
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|9,648
|12,453
|18,804
|25,453
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24,959
|95.34%
|95.75%
|94.28%
|93.77%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |89.13%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|390
|359
|432
|454
|style='background: #ffffe6; |467
|3.85%
|2.76%
|2.17%
|1.67%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.67%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|19
|37
|80
|120
|style='background: #ffffe6; |105
|0.19%
|0.28%
|0.40%
|0.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|15
|58
|95
|124
|style='background: #ffffe6; |159
|0.15%
|0.45%
|0.48%
|0.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.57%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|x
|x
|18
|9
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|x
|x
|0.09%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|0
|1
|6
|12
|style='background: #ffffe6; |116
|0.00%
|0.01%
|0.03%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|x
|x
|198
|325
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,284
|x
|x
|0.99%
|1.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.59%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|48
|98
|311
|647
|style='background: #ffffe6; |913
|0.47%
|0.75%
|1.56%
|2.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.26%
|-
|Total
|10,120
|13,006
|19,944
|27,144
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,003
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,003. The census also counted 8,581 families, though county officials are challenging the accuracy of the count.
The median age was 45.9 years, 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.9 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 10,942 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 16,062 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 1.7% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population.
Of the 10,646 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.2% were non-families, and 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 42.3 years.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,944 people, 7,731 households, and 5,782 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 9,454 housing units at an average density of . 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.
Communities
Cities
- Cleveland
- Helen
Census-designated places
- Sautee-Nacoochee
- Yonah
Unincorporated communities
- Mossy Creek
- Robertstown
- Scorpion Hollow
- Benefit
- Leaf
Politics
As of the 2020s, White County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 83.7% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, White County is part of Georgia's 9th congressional district, currently represented by Andrew Clyde. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, White County is divided between District 50 and District 51. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, White County is divided between District 8 and District 9.
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Education
The White County School District has seven schools, including the White County High School.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in White County, Georgia
- Lanier Meaders
- List of counties in Georgia
References
External links
- White County Chamber of Commerce website
- White County Government Website
- White County Historical Society Website
- History of White County, Georgia