Helen, Georgia

Helen is a city in White County, Georgia, United States, located along the Chattahoochee River. The population was 510 at the 2010 census.

Helen
City
Motto(s): 
"Georgia‘s Alpine village"
Location in White County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°42′9″N 83°43′39″W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyWhite
Area
 • Total2.17 sq mi (5.63 km2)
 • Land2.17 sq mi (5.61 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
1,447 ft (441 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total510
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
560
 • Density258.42/sq mi (99.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP Code
30545
Area code(s)706
FIPS code13-37788[3]
GNIS feature ID0331948[4]
WebsiteHelenGeorgia.com

History

Helen was platted in 1912, and named after the daughter of a lumber official.[5] The town was incorporated in 1913.[6]

Formerly a logging town that was in decline, the city resurrected itself by becoming a replica of a Bavarian alpine town, in the Appalachians instead of the Alps. This design is mandated through zoning first adopted in 1969, so that the classic south-German style is present on every building, even on the small number of national franchisees present (such as Huddle House and Wendy's).

In 1975, DOCUMERICA photographer Al Stephenson documented the life, recreation, and economy of the Helen area before and during the construction of Alpine Helen.

Modern day

Tourism is a key economic activity in Helen, catering mostly to weekend visitors from the Atlanta area and also motorcyclists who enjoy riding the roads in Helen and its surrounding areas. Helen can be crowded in late October, when autumn leaves typically peak. It also hosts its own Oktoberfest during September, October and November. Events and festivals are held throughout the year, including the "Southern Worthersee", which is a stateside Volkswagen and Audi event that pays tribute to the Worthersee Tour in Austria. An annual hot-air balloon race is also held here on the first weekend in June.

The main road through town is north/south Georgia 75. The Helen stream gauge (HDCG1) is located on its bridge over the Chattahoochee in the middle of downtown. A parallel route to the west is labeled Georgia 75 Alt to identify it as a bypass route around the town and its traffic jams in the autumn and on some weekends.

Unicoi State Park and Lodge, spanning 1,050 acres (420 ha), is located immediately northeast of Helen on Georgia 356. The park encompasses Unicoi Lake, a 53-acre (21 ha) freshwater lake, offering outdoor activities for all seasons. Among these are a swimming beach, trout streams, wheelchair-accessible fishing docks, seasonal canoe, kayak and paddle boat rentals, seven picnic shelters with charcoal grills, three playgrounds for children, spots for birding, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) of hiking within the park (with adjacent trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest), 8 miles (13 km) of mountain biking trails within the park, and a number of places to enjoy the natural environment of the lake and park. Unicoi State Park also offers lodging in several forms. Access to Anna Ruby Falls, part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, is through the park.[7]

Geography

Helen is located at 34°42′9″N 83°43′39″W (34.702396, -83.727508).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land.

Climate
Climate data for Helen, GA 1981-2010, extremes 1956-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 84
(29)		 80
(27)		 85
(29)		 92
(33)		 96
(36)		 102
(39)		 102
(39)		 99
(37)		 97
(36)		 89
(32)		 84
(29)		 76
(24)		 102
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 49.8
(9.9)		 53.8
(12.1)		 61.7
(16.5)		 70.5
(21.4)		 77.1
(25.1)		 83.5
(28.6)		 86.4
(30.2)		 85.5
(29.7)		 79.4
(26.3)		 70.3
(21.3)		 60.9
(16.1)		 51.3
(10.7)		 69.2
(20.7)
Average low °F (°C) 26.8
(−2.9)		 29.0
(−1.7)		 34.5
(1.4)		 41.8
(5.4)		 50.2
(10.1)		 59.2
(15.1)		 63.0
(17.2)		 62.7
(17.1)		 55.8
(13.2)		 44.4
(6.9)		 35.8
(2.1)		 29.3
(−1.5)		 44.4
(6.9)
Record low °F (°C) −12
(−24)		 −1
(−18)		 6
(−14)		 21
(−6)		 22
(−6)		 36
(2)		 44
(7)		 44
(7)		 29
(−2)		 19
(−7)		 10
(−12)		 −6
(−21)		 −12
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 6.43
(163)		 6.43
(163)		 6.04
(153)		 5.01
(127)		 5.50
(140)		 5.55
(141)		 5.59
(142)		 5.41
(137)		 6.11
(155)		 4.22
(107)		 5.87
(149)		 6.43
(163)		 68.59
(1,740)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.3
(3.3)		 0.9
(2.3)		 0.6
(1.5)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.3
(0.76)		 3.1
(7.86)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10 9 10 8 10 10 11 11 9 7 8 10 113
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.5 0.4 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 1.2
Source: WRCC (average temperatures and precipitation 1981-2010) https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ga4230

SERCC Nowdata (record temperatures and snowy days 1956-2017) WRCC (snowfall) https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ga4230

Transportation

Major roads

Pedestrians and cycling

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920176—
193025243.2%
1940198−21.4%
1950191−3.5%
196022718.8%
197025211.0%
19802655.2%
199030013.2%
200043043.3%
201051018.6%
Est. 2019560[2]9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 430 people, 208 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density was 203.8 people per square mile (78.7/km2). There were 319 housing units at an average density of 151.2 per square mile (58.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.56% White, 5.12% African American, 0.23% Native American, 10.93% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.02% of the population.

There were 208 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $40,781. Males had a median income of $39,107 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,281. About 6.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Sister city

Education
  • Alpine Public Schools are part of the White County School District, which includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school
  • Dr. Jeffrey Wilson is the Superintendent of Schools.[11] The district has 233 full-time teachers and over 3,758 students.[12]

Film and television

Smokey and the Bandit (1977) includes a scene filmed on Chimney Mountain Rd. just outside of Helen.

In the episode "Helen" from Season 2: Robbin' Season of the television series Atlanta, main characters Vanessa and Earn visit Helen for a Fastnacht celebration.[13] The character Vanessa, played by Zazie Beetz, is from Helen and is fluent in German. The episode aired on March 22, 2018.

The Lifetime TV movie "Christmas Love Letter" was filmed in Helen and aired on December 21, 2019.[14]

  • Office of The Helen Mountain Eagle, July 1975
  • Entrance to Helen, May 1975
  • Dancing at Oktoberfest in Helen, 1975
  • Another view of Helen
  • Various stores in Helen
  • Panorama of the town.
  • Unicoi State Park lake
  • Anna Ruby Falls
  • Nacoochee Indian Mound occupied from 1350 to 1600
  • Brasstown Bald the highest peak in Georgia
gollark: And lying is much easier than actually changing your height.
gollark: Well, for whatever reason, height is weirdly correlated with a bunch of general life outcomes (I forgot the exact details). Obviously there's the whole correlation/causation thing, but it's possible that, magically keeping all else equal, greater height causes those.
gollark: Discriminant of a number field.
gollark: I agree.
gollark: Is this the bizarre Snapchat feature which tells you where other people are at all times?

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. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  6. Acts and Resolutons of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. State printer. 1913. p. 893.
  7. "Unicoi State Park and Lodge". Georgia State Parks. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "Helen, GA - Fussen, Bavaria, FRD - Sister City Monuments on". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  11. "White County School District". White County School District. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  12. School Stats, Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  13. "Earn and Van come to a dead end in Atlanta's oddest tourist destination". AV Club. March 23, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  14. "Christmas Love Letter Movie Filmed In Helen To Air December 21st". WRWH. September 23, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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