Blue Ridge, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Blue Ridge is a city in Fannin County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 1,210 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Fannin County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land. Blue ridge is the physiographic region in the north east corner of georgia.
of 2000, there were 1,210 people, 553 households, and 319 families residing in the city. The population density
was 557.2 people per square mile (215.3/km²). There were 631 housing units at an average density of 290.6 per square mile (112.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White, 0.41% African American, 0.41% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 553 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples
living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,214, and the median income for a family was $35,259. Males had a median income of $25,859 versus $17,941 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,149. About 13.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 179 full-time teachers and over 3,212 students.
Blue Ridge is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Georgia. With key water features, such as Lake Blue Ridge
and the Toccoa River, as well as being surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, near the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail
, the area draws tourists and outdoorsmen from all over the United States and abroad.
Outdoor activities include fishing, kayaking, boating, tubing, swimming, hiking, camping and blueberry picking, to name a few. The downtown area of the city is populated with several shops and antique stores. The tracks for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
bisect the downtown, with the Scenic Railway itself operating out of the town's historic 100 year old Depot
. The downtown area also serves as host for several seasonal festivals.
Fannin County, Georgia
Fannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,210 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Fannin County
Fannin County, Georgia
Fannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...
.
Geography
Blue Ridge, GA is located at 34°52′6"N 84°19′16"W (34.868344, -84.320991).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land. Blue ridge is the physiographic region in the north east corner of georgia.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,210 people, 553 households, and 319 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 557.2 people per square mile (215.3/km²). There were 631 housing units at an average density of 290.6 per square mile (112.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White, 0.41% African American, 0.41% Asian, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 553 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,214, and the median income for a family was $35,259. Males had a median income of $25,859 versus $17,941 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,149. About 13.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.
Fannin County School District
The Fannin County School DistrictFannin County School District
The Fannin County School District is a public school district in Fannin County, Georgia, USA, based in Blue Ridge, Georgia. It serves the communities of Blue Ridge, McCaysville, and Morganton, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 179 full-time teachers and over 3,212 students.
- Blue Ridge Elementary School
- East Fannin Elementary School
- West Fannin Elementary School
- Fannin County Middle School
- Fannin County High SchoolFannin County High SchoolFannin County Comprehensive High School is located at 360 Rebel Circle in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Fannin High offers a large array of classes and offers seven Advanced Placement classes, including: English Literature, English Language, Biology, Calculus, Studio Art, Art History, European History,...
Tourism
Lake Blue Ridge
Lake Blue Ridge is a reservoir in Fannin County, in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. The lake encompasses of water, and a "full summer pool" of approximately above mean sea level...
and the Toccoa River, as well as being surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, near the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
, the area draws tourists and outdoorsmen from all over the United States and abroad.
Outdoor activities include fishing, kayaking, boating, tubing, swimming, hiking, camping and blueberry picking, to name a few. The downtown area of the city is populated with several shops and antique stores. The tracks for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a heritage railroad in northern Georgia.Based in Blue Ridge, Georgia, United States it follows the former Marietta and North Georgia Railroad line along the Toccoa River north to McCaysville, Georgia, and its Twin city of Copperhill, Tennessee...
bisect the downtown, with the Scenic Railway itself operating out of the town's historic 100 year old Depot
Depot
Depot is from the French dépôt which means a deposit or a storehouse. In English, depot can mean any one of a number of things, with minor variances between the different English speaking countries:Transport* Train station...
. The downtown area also serves as host for several seasonal festivals.
Notable Blue Ridge natives
- Cohutta Lee Grindstaff, from the MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality shows The Real World: SydneyThe Real World: SydneyThe Real World: Sydney is the nineteenth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships...
, Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The IslandReal World/Road Rules Challenge: The IslandReal World/Road Rules Challenge: The Island is the sixteenth season of the reality television game show, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, which aired on the American cable tv network MTV. It premiered on September 10, 2008 at 10pm ET/PT...
, and Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The RuinsReal World/Road Rules Challenge: The RuinsReal World Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins is the eighteenth season of the MTV reality television game show, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, and follows The Duel 2. The Ruins took place in Phuket, Thailand, with former cast members from MTV's The Real World and Road Rules competing along with... - Kirk KirkpatrickKirk KirkpatrickHarold W. "Kirk" Kirkpatrick is the founder and CEO of MDS America Inc. Corporation, a telecommunications services company that designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains proprietary Digital Wireless Broadcasting systems for telecommunications operators worldwide.- Information systems...
, CEO MDS AmericaMDS AmericaMDS America, Inc is a wireless Internet and wireless cable TV technology provider based in Stuart, Florida. MDS America was the primary party responsible for the invalidation of Northpoint Technology Inc's patents having to do with terrestrial rebroadcast of satellite signals.MDS Operations, an...
, Executive - Mark Wills- Country Singer
- Drew Blake - Author