Blue Ridge, Georgia

Blue Ridge is a city in Fannin County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 1,290.[5] The city is the county seat of Fannin County.[6]

Blue Ridge, Georgia
City
Downtown Blue Ridge
Location in Fannin County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°52′6″N 84°19′16″W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyFannin
Area
 • Total2.68 sq mi (6.93 km2)
 • Land2.68 sq mi (6.93 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,762 ft (537 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,290
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
1,461
 • Density545.76/sq mi (210.74/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30513
Area code(s)706/762
FIPS code13-08928[3]
GNIS feature ID0331197[4]
Websitewww.cityofblueridgega.gov

History

Blue Ridge was laid out in 1886 when the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad was extended to that point.[7] It was incorporated in 1887.[8] In 1895, the seat of Fannin County was transferred to Blue Ridge from Morganton.[9]

Geography

The city of Blue Ridge is located south of the center of Fannin County at 34°52′6″N 84°19′16″W (34.868344, -84.320991).[10] The city sits on the divide between the Tennessee River watershed to the north (via the Toccoa River) and the Alabama River to the south (via Crooked Log Creek, the Ellijay River, and several downstream rivers).

U.S. Route 76 and Georgia State Route 515 (Zell Miller Mountain Parkway) pass through the west side of the city, leading east 22 miles (35 km) to Blairsville and southwest 15 miles (24 km) to Ellijay. Georgia State Route 5 leads north from Blue Ridge 10 miles (16 km) to McCaysville at the Tennessee line. Atlanta is 93 miles (150 km) to the south via GA-5/515.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all land.[11]

Climate
Climate data for Blue Ridge, Georgia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23)		 78
(26)		 85
(29)		 91
(33)		 94
(34)		 100
(38)		 103
(39)		 101
(38)		 98
(37)		 92
(33)		 83
(28)		 76
(24)		 103
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 50
(10)		 54
(12)		 61
(16)		 71
(22)		 78
(26)		 84
(29)		 88
(31)		 87
(31)		 81
(27)		 72
(22)		 62
(17)		 52
(11)		 70
(21)
Daily mean °F (°C) 38
(3)		 41
(5)		 48
(9)		 56
(13)		 64
(18)		 71
(22)		 76
(24)		 75
(24)		 68
(20)		 57
(14)		 48
(9)		 40
(4)		 57
(14)
Average low °F (°C) 26
(−3)		 28
(−2)		 34
(1)		 40
(4)		 49
(9)		 58
(14)		 63
(17)		 62
(17)		 54
(12)		 42
(6)		 34
(1)		 28
(−2)		 43
(6)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)		 −5
(−21)		 2
(−17)		 17
(−8)		 29
(−2)		 37
(3)		 47
(8)		 46
(8)		 30
(−1)		 19
(−7)		 −1
(−18)		 −8
(−22)		 −16
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.8
(150)		 5.5
(140)		 6.4
(160)		 4.9
(120)		 5.0
(130)		 4.6
(120)		 5.4
(140)		 4.8
(120)		 4.5
(110)		 3.3
(84)		 5.0
(130)		 5.0
(130)		 60.2
(1,534)
Source: [12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890264—
19001,148334.8%
1910898−21.8%
19209040.7%
19301,19031.6%
19401,36214.5%
19501,71826.1%
19601,406−18.2%
19701,60213.9%
19801,376−14.1%
19901,336−2.9%
20001,210−9.4%
20101,2906.6%
2019 (est.)1,461[2]13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,290 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 92.1% White, 1.2% Black, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.7% from some other race and 0.9% from two or more races. 4.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[3] 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.

LGBT community

In the late 2000s and continuing through the 2010s, the city has seen a surge in new business, particularly from the LGBT community which constitutes a larger percentage of the population than is typical for a rural community and one of the highest in Georgia.[14]

Despite some recent reports of Blue Ridge rivaling Atlanta as the most LGBT-friendly city in Georgia, there are notable facts that challenges this notion.[15][16]

As of 2020, there are over 30 LGBT-centric public gathering spaces in the Atlanta area.[17] There are none in the Blue Ridge area.

In 2019, heavy opposition followed students wanting to create a Gay-Straight Alliance club at Fannin County High School.[18][19] In contrast, hundreds of public high school students in the Atlanta area are active members of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and this has been commonplace for decades.[20]

In 2018, Atlanta's mayor established the city's first LGBT Advisory Board.[21] The Blue Ridge mayoral office never had any type of LGBT advocacy group.

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, 82% of Fannin County voted for Republican Donald Trump, the most anti-LGBT candidate according to GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign. Only 27% of Fulton County (Atlanta) voted for him in the 2016 election.[22][23][24]

In 2016, notable backlash came from the local community over Fannin County High School considering to allow transgender students utilize restrooms that match their gender identity. During a Fannin County Board of Education meeting discussing the matter, a 2012 transgender graduate of the high school stated he was often beaten and harassed by students who were strangely consumed and misinformed about his identity. Throughout the meeting, hundreds cheered on speakers who called LGBT people "perverts" and "pedophiles".[25][26]

Education

Fannin County School District

The Fannin County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.[27] The district has 179 full-time teachers and more than 3,212 students.[28]

  • Blue Ridge Elementary School
  • East Fannin Elementary School
  • West Fannin Elementary School
  • Fannin County Middle School
  • Fannin County High School

UNG Blue Ridge campus

In 2015, the University of North Georgia (UNG) opened a campus in Blue Ridge.[29]

Lake Blue Ridge

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. United States Census
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. "History". Town of Blue Ridge. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  8. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 21. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  9. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 221. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Blue Ridge city, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  12. "Average Monthly/Record Temperatures". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "Why this Georgia town has become a gay-friendly hot spot". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  15. https://www.ajc.com/events/festivals/why-this-georgia-mountain-town-has-become-gay-friendly-hot-spot/jszaFCR3jmKjsNjbcsb8WJ/
  16. https://www.projectq.us/atlanta/atlanta_blue_ridge_battle_for_most_queer_friendly_city_title?gid=20087
  17. https://atlanta.gaycities.com/restaurants
  18. https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/community-divided-over-gay-straight-alliance-high-school-club/992395869
  19. https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/community-divided-over-gay-straight-alliance-high-school-club/992395869/
  20. https://thesoutherneronline.com/73593/lifestyle/gay-straight-alliance-marches-in-atlanta-pride-parade/
  21. https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-announces-establishment-of-lgbtq-advisory-board/
  22. https://www.glaad.org/tap/donald-trump
  23. https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/georgia/
  24. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-endorsement-lgbt-rights_n_569e2aa5e4b0cd99679b3e74
  25. https://www.projectq.us/atlanta/trans_students_attacked_as_perverts_in_north_georgia
  26. https://www.projectq.us/atlanta/restrooms_for_trans_students_tears_apart_north_georgia_county
  27. Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  28. School Stats, Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  29. https://ung.edu/campuses/blueridge/index.php
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