History

White County, the 123rd county formed in Georgia, was created in 1857 from a part of the original landlot county of Habersham. The county was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an act creating the new county.

Gold was found in White County in the late 1820s on the Nacoochee River, then known as Duke's Creek. This area originally belonged to the Cherokee Indians. However, miners and settlers pressured the U.S. government to such a degree that eventually the Cherokee were totally removed from North Georgia to a reservation in Oklahoma.

During the gold mining years, nine gold mines operated in the county. Commercial gold operations remained profitable until as late as 1940.

Points of Interest

Helen, in the northern part of the county, had formerly been a summer resort but was destroyed by fire. Later, the town was rebuilt and transformed into an alpine village. It has become a major North Georgia tourist attraction and thriving community.

Cleveland is the site of Babyland General Hospital where all of the Cabbage Patch Kids baby dolls are "born."

Higher Education

Truett-McConnell College

Annual Events

Helen is home to one of the nation's largest Oktoberfests, held in September and October of each year.

Hot-air balloons in Alpine Helen

Indian mound in Sautee Nacoochee Valley