Union County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the mountains along the North Carolina line. It had a population of 24,632 at the 2020 census and covers 329 square miles (852 km2), of which 322 square miles (830 km2) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km2) is water, centred near 34°50′N 83°59′W.
Blairsville is the county seat, and its postal code is 30512. The county has one incorporated city and a handful of unincorporated communities, sits in the Eastern time zone, and is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Georgia counties have no civil townships, so this profile groups places by incorporation status only.
Towns & Villages in Union County
Union County has one incorporated city, Blairsville, and a set of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads scattered through the surrounding mountains. Population and ZIP figures are shown only where independently confirmed; unconfirmed cells read —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blairsville | City · seat | 769 | 30512 |
| Suches | Unincorp. | — | 30572 |
| Choestoe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ivy Log | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Baxter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethlehem | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunker Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Canal Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ebenezer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gaddistown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jones Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lance Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lewner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Notalee Orchards | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Owltown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pearl | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sarah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spile | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thomas Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Town Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Townsend Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Youngstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
Suches, in the county’s southwestern corner, sits at a high mountain crossroads near the Fannin County line and is sometimes called “the valley above the clouds” locally; it is not a Fannin County place despite the shared trade area.
ZIP Codes
- 30512 — Blairsville (standard delivery, covers most of the county)
- 30514 — Blairsville (PO Box only)
- 30572 — Suches
Every other community on the list above uses one of these three Blairsville or Suches ZIP codes; none has its own dedicated post office.
Geography
Union County lies in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northeast Georgia, almost entirely within the Chattahoochee National Forest. Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest point at 4,784 feet, rises in the southeastern part of the county, and the Appalachian Trail crosses its southern edge. Lake Nottely, formed by a TVA dam on the Nottely River, covers much of the county’s water area and shapes development around Blairsville.
Union County borders Cherokee and Clay Counties, North Carolina, to the north; Towns County to the east; White County to the southeast; Lumpkin County to the south; and Fannin County to the west.
Demographics
Union County had 24,632 residents at the 2020 census. Blairsville, the only incorporated place, held 769 of them; the rest of the county’s population lives in unincorporated communities such as Choestoe, Suches, Ivy Log, and Baxter. The county’s median household income runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, reflecting its rural, retirement- and tourism-driven economy. Population density is roughly 76 people per square mile of land area.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism, retirement living, and small-scale agriculture drive Union County’s economy. Union General Hospital and Blairsville’s downtown square anchor local services, while Lake Nottely and the surrounding national forest draw seasonal visitors for boating, hiking, and fall leaf viewing. The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee (neighboring Towns County) also pulls regional traffic through Union County along US 76. The county hosts the Sorghum Festival each October in Blairsville, one of the region’s longest-running fall events.
History
Union County was created December 3, 1832, from land taken from Cherokee County as Georgia carved up the Cherokee Nation ahead of forced removal. The county’s name is generally attributed to the Union Party, a political faction of the era. Cherokee residents were displaced from the area during the Trail of Tears removals of 1836–1839. In the 20th century the Tennessee Valley Authority’s construction of Lake Nottely and Chattahoochee National Forest land purchases reshaped the county’s land use from farming toward tourism and, later, retirement migration.
Getting There
US Routes 19, 76, and 129 and Georgia Routes 2, 11, 60, 180, 325, and 348 cross the county; Blairsville sits at the junction of US 19/129 and US 76.
- Hiawassee (Towns County) — 12 miles east
- Dahlonega (Lumpkin County) — 30 miles south
- Blue Ridge (Fannin County) — 25 miles west
- Murphy, North Carolina — 22 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina, about 65 miles northeast; Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International is roughly 105 miles south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union County, Georgia?
It is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northeast Georgia, on the North Carolina border, about 100 miles north of Atlanta.
What is the population of Union County?
24,632 people, at the 2020 census.
How big is Union County?
329 square miles total — 322 square miles of land and 7.1 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Union County?
Blairsville is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns and communities are in Union County?
One incorporated city, Blairsville, plus about two dozen unincorporated communities including Suches, Choestoe, Ivy Log, and Baxter.
What ZIP codes are in Union County?
30512 and 30514 (both Blairsville) and 30572 (Suches).
What is Georgia’s highest point, and is it in Union County?
Yes — Brasstown Bald, at 4,784 feet, rises in southeastern Union County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.