Hiawassee, Georgia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Hiawassee, the county seat of Towns County, was incorporated May 17, 1956 (earlier the city was incorporated as the town of “HIWASSEE”, October 24, 1870). Hiawassee, a Cherokee word meaning “meadow”, is the only incorporated municipality in the county.

The City of Hiawassee and the Hiawassee River have long been popular tourist areas. In the 1800s through the 1930s, wealthy families from the lowlands would “summer in the mountains” to escape the heat and disease more prevalent in the larger populated areas.

The Fred Hamilton Rhododendron Garden is a Hiawassee attraction that features 2,000 rhododendron and azalea plants and wildflowers.

The city hosts a number of events including the Georgia Mountain Fair held in early August and the Fall Country Music/Bluegrass Festival held in mid-October.

Population: 808. Estimated population in July 2024: 844 (+4.5% change)
Males: 334 (41.3%), Females: 474 (58.7%)

Towns County

Zip code: 30546

Demographics

Median resident age: 62.3 years
Median household income: $26,615
Median house value: $141,100

Population by Race

Races in Hiawassee:

• White Non-Hispanic (96.2%)
• Chinese (1.7%)
• Hispanic (1.6%)

Ancestries: United States (22.8%), English (16.1%), Irish (9.7%), German (5.1%), Scotch-Irish (4.8%), French (4.0%).

Elevation: 1980 feet

Land area: 1.7 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Hiawassee

• High school or higher: 68.1%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9%
• Graduate or professional degree: 10.4%
• Unemployed: 3.5%
• Mean travel time to work: 16.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Hiawassee town

• Never married: 14.2%
• Now married: 44.1%
• Separated: 2.7%
• Widowed: 27.2%
• Divorced: 11.8%

6.1% Foreign born (4.2% Latin America, 1.2% Europe, 0.6% North America).

Population change in the 1990s: +259 (+47.2%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Hiawassee:

• CHATUGE REGIONAL HOSPITAL (110 EAST MAIN STREET)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Hiawassee:

• DISTRICT MEDICAL CENTER (about 18 miles; ANDREWS, NC)
• UNION GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 18 miles; BLAIRSVILLE, GA)
• RABUN COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 24 miles; CLAYTON, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Hiawassee:

• MC GHEE TYSON (about 61 miles; KNOXVILLE, TN; Abbreviation: TYS)
• ATHENS/BEN EPPS (about 77 miles; ATHENS, GA; Abbreviation: AHN)
• ANDERSON RGNL (about 80 miles; ANDERSON, SC; Abbreviation: AND)

Other public-use airports nearest to Hiawassee:

• BLAIRSVILLE (about 18 miles; BLAIRSVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: 46A)
• ANDREWS-MURPHY (about 18 miles; ANDREWS, NC; Abbreviation: RHP)
• MACON COUNTY (about 30 miles; FRANKLIN, NC; Abbreviation: 1A5)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hiawassee:

• NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY (about 33 miles; DAHLONEGA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,119)
• WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY (about 48 miles; CULLOWHEE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 5,843)
• GAINESVILLE COLLEGE (about 50 miles; OAKWOOD, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,181)
• GWINNETT TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 68 miles; LAWRENCEVILLE, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,215)
• TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 72 miles; PENDLETON, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,343)
• CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (about 73 miles; CLEMSON, SC; Full-time enrollment: 15,962)
• THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE (about 73 miles; KNOXVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 23,333)

Schools

Public high school in Hiawassee:

• TOWNS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 322; Location: 1400 U.S. HIGHWAY 76; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Hiawassee:

• TOWNS COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 566; Location: 1150 KONAHETAH ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
• TOWNS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 271; Location: 1400 HIGHWAY 76; Grades: 06 – 08)
• ALPINE PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (Location: BOX 1400 HWY 76 EAST; Grades: 00 – 00)