The Census of 2000 showed that Union County had a population growth rate of 44.2%.  This is compared to a 26.4% growth rate for the State of Georgia for the same period. The Towns County growth rate was 38.0% with a total population about half that of Union County.

For the two-county area, 100% of the growth was from in-migration. To analyze the significance of the 100% in-migration, these new residents require housing whereas internal population growth from local births would not require as many additional housing units. During the 10 year period from 1980 to 1990, there was an overall 21% increase in housing stock. This resulted from the addition of 2,235 new housing units in Union County and approximately 1,300 new housing units in Towns County. 83% of these housing units were owner occupied.

The 2000 Census shows Union County with 10,001 housing units.   Annual total building permits exceed 740, with about 600 new residence units added annually.  The home ownership rate for Census 2000 was 82.3%, a very high figure.

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC covers a 5-county area, including Towns and Union Counties. For the total service area, EMC new accounts have averaged about 1,500 per year over the last five years.

Alltel has experienced similar growth in telephone sales, but on a schedule about 90 days behind Blue Ridge Mountain EMC. During the year 2000 in Union County, Alltel experienced the growth of 600 new customers, or an average of 50 per month. These are new customers, not including cellular, or wireless, phones or multi-line installations.

Income indicators for the counties of Union and Towns show income levels in the area to be less than the Georgia average. One factor to be considered in analysis of this situation is that many residents of this area are retired and, therefore, are no longer in their peak earning years. Net worth, however, may not be a result of current income. These new retired residents are financially established, some are well invested, and many have recently sold highly appreciated property in urban areas in their move to the mountains. This means that they have the financial resources to spend on new housing, often exceeding the amount usually spent by natives.

In an article in the September 1993 issue of "Atlanta Business Chronicle", "hot spots" for entrepreneurs were highlighted. The top five states were 1) Hawaii, 2) Nevada, 3) Georgia, 4) Utah, and 5) North Carolina. The top five urban areas were 1) Charlotte, 2) Atlanta, 3) Indianapolis, 4) Nashville, and 5) Raleigh-Durham. The top five rural areas were 1) the outer islands of Hawaii, 2) the North Georgia Mountain Region, 3) rural south Florida, 4) Western Maryland, and 5) the Tennessee River Valley.

To interpret and use this information, one should consider that we are in Georgia, the third most promising state out of fifty and that we adjoin North Carolina, the number five state. We are less than two hours away from Atlanta, the second most promising urban area in the nation. As Atlanta grows, these people will be looking for weekend destinations. Therefore, overnight accommodations in Towns and Union Counties will be in greater and greater demand. This demand may be satisfied in the form of hotel/motel space but may also include cabins and other single-family type housing units.

We are in the North Georgia Mountains, the second most promising rural area in the nation and in the Tennessee River Valley, the fifth.

An August 8, 1994 "Wall Street Journal" article listed Blairsville as one of the top ten retirement locations in the country for reasons of low crime and low cost of living.

Overall, the economic development and growth of Towns and Union Counties in the 24 years since 1980 promise a bright future for businesses which derive revenue from tourism and relocation of newcomers to our area. Manufacturers, wholesalers and service providers can benefit from the overall economic growth of the area and the resulting increased work force. Builders, subcontractors, real estate professionals, banks, mortgage companies, retailers and other local businesses stand to gain greatly if they take steps now to properly position themselves for the growth that is to come.