History

Founded on what was once Cherokee Indian land (the mountains, valleys and rivers are still known by their Cherokee names), Habersham County was created in 1817-1818. The county was named in honor of Colonel Joseph Habersham, who was an American Revolutionary war hero, a member of the Continental Congress and the United State's first Postmaster General. Colonel Habersham's summerhouse is located in Clarkesville on a historic highway, and is one of 33 area buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the early 1800s, English and Canadian farmers found the area ideal for growing fruit trees, especially apples. The area owes so much to the apple industry that a 5,200-pound statue of an apple was erected in downtown Cornelia in 1925. The statue remains a treasured landmark, and many orchards are still in operation today.

By the 20th century, Habersham was still largely agricultural, but a large part of the county's economy now relied on tourism. Residents of the coastal area of Georgia started flocking to Habersham to escape the summer heat. Many of the towns in Habersham County had large resort-style hotels, and a booming tourist business flourished for several decades. However, the Depression and then World War II drove many large hotels out of business.

Today, there are many historical buildings, homes, landmarks, churches and museums in Habersham County. Two outstanding public libraries are available for historical research and genealogical study.