Located in the Appalachian Mountains, Blairsville, county seat of Union County, combines mountain culture, history and tradition with dynamic but governed, economic growth and contemporary prosperity. Quality of life is so excellent in this charming mountain town that since 1994 some 15 new industries and over 100 new businesses have moved to Union County. Among the latest arrivals, Cushman Fruit Company, based in West Palm Beach, FL, has opened a new seasonal inbound call center to respond to catalog inquiries for their fruit. The county's 50 manufacturing firms employ more than 1,000, the largest being poultry breeder Aviagen, employing 156.


Facilities enhancing transportation are being improved. Recently upgraded and enhanced, the Blairsville Airport will soon have a new terminal.


So life in Blairsville is at once soothed by the strains of mountain music, yet vibrant with the energy of contemporary life. Residents leave behind the traffic hassles and stresses associated with large urban areas, yet live just 83 miles north of Atlanta, an easy two-hour drive. .


Blairsville enjoys a population growth rate that is double that of the rest of the state, having grown more than 43% over the past 10 years. Many of its newcomers are retirees, eager to make their retirement dollars stretch in this low-cost economy, whose median house value was $98,300 in 2000. The homeownership rate in Union County is more than 82%, higher than the state figure of 62.5%.


But the cost of living also draws families, who arrive in Blairsville at the rate of about 50 per week. The median resident age as of 2000 was 33.4 years, thanks largely to the region's vitality and appeal. This expansive growth has created business opportunities in a variety of areas, especially retail, hospitality, and leisure and professional services. The Union County unemployment rate as of March 2005 was only 3.2%, lower than that of the state.


Families also require good education values, and Blairsville-Union County provides them. In 2004 Union County's third-graders finished first in the state in the Stanford Achievement Test (reading and math), tying with third graders from metro Atlanta's Fayette County. Nearby institutions include the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, and North Georgia Technical College in Clarksville, just east of Blairsville. Home to the late mountain bard Byron Herbert Reece, Young Harris College is just nine miles east of Blairsville.


A small town, Blairsville (population 679) is perched at 1,900 feet above sea level, allowing dramatic mountain vistas. Yet average snowfall in winter is just three inches. Mountain colors in autumn are spectacular.


Most of the county's 19,000 residents live outside Blairsville's city limits. The Union County housing market is vigorous, averaging 500 new units a year. With employment so close by, the median travel time to work is just over 20 minutes.


Intimately connected to mountain life, Blairsville is close to Georgia's highest mountain, Brasstown Bald, rising 4,784 feet, and offering majestic views at its peak. Occasionally, mountain musicians gather on the front porch of the visitors' center to play some of the traditional tunes.


Recreational venues to numerous to list enrich the region, from 4,180-acre Lake Nottely, with its 106 miles of shoreline, to the Chattahoochee National Forest. Of Union County's total more than 204,000 acres, more than 98,000 acres lie within this national forest. The 52-acre Trackrock Archeological Area harbors ancient Native American petroglyphs. Mountain Crossing at Walasi-Yi Center, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937, today offers hostel services to hikers headed to Maine. Nearby facilities offer white water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, as well as hiking and fishing.


Local events, such as the annual fall Sorghum Festival, showcase not only this traditional product, but also local arts and crafts festival. Visitors may join in the "Biskit Eatin", "Log Sawin, or Rock Throwin contests, all designed to foster awareness of local culture. And have some fun.