Georgia Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Toccoa, Georgia

Population: 9,323

Located in Stephens County

Nestled among the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeast Georgia is Toccoa, the County seat of Stephens County. When the Cherokee Indians discovered it, they called it "Toccoah" meaning beautiful, and gave it special significance and reverence. Today, "beautiful" is still evident when experiencing the magnificent natural wonders, historic attractions, recreational activities, and the way of life found throughout Toccoa-Stephens County. Situated just 90 miles north of Atlanta and 65 miles northwest of Greenville, South Carolina, Toccoa-Stephens County is the perfect retreat to get away from it all.

The recreational opportunities center on the mountains and lakes. The mountains offer hiking for a few hours or many days duration on trails through forests of indescribable beauty. Stephens County is blessed with the Panther Creek, Currahee Mountain and Middle Broad River Trails. Trophy trout fishing is nearby for enthusiasts in waters with limited access. Wildlife such as deer and wild turkey is limitless and hunting productive. There are many state and federal parks and campgrounds offering mountain camping and accommodations. There are numerous well-known private facilities in the immediate vicinity for groups of all sizes wishing to experience the mountains. The man-made lakes in the area, both large and small, offer a variety of water sports. From fly fishing below Lake Yonah to skiing, boating and championship bass fishing on Lake Hartwell to canoeing and kayaking to camping on one of the smaller lakes, almost every water sport is awaiting you.

Some of the more popular primitive camping areas open to the public are in the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area and in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Toccoa RV Park and Campground offers full hook-ups, laundry room, bathrooms, phone hook-ups, and sewer dump stations. There is also a pavilion and nature walk. From Hwy 17 out of Toccoa, turn left on Oak Valley Road and follow the signs. The park is 3.2 miles on the right.

Almost one sixth of Stephens County is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and the National Wildlife Reserve. This is a woodsman?s paradise. Wildlife includes: deer, turkey, feral hogs, fox, bobcat, raccoon, opossum, and doves. Hunting is permitted in season.

The Toccoa Bird Club has documented well over 100 species of birds that migrate to or through Stephens County, including: Great Blue Heron, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Blue-Headed Vireo, Red-Breasted Merganser, Purple Finch.v

Toccoa is fortunate to have two lakes along her borders, Yonah Lake and Lake Hartwell. Both were built primarily for electric power and both use the waters of the Tugalo River, which divides Georgia from South Carolina. Lake Louise is owned by the Georgia Baptist Conference Center-Toccoa and is also available for public use. There are five watersheds in Stephens County that are excellent for trout fishing: the Middle Fork Broad River, upstream from NRCS flood control structure No. 44 (seasonal); Little Toccoa Creek, North Fork Broad River, upstream from NRCS flood control structure No. 1 (year round); Panther Creek (year round); and Toccoa Creek, upstream from Toccoa Falls (year round). Fisherpeople reel in black crappie, largemouth bass, striped bass, hybrid bass and channel catfish from local lakes.

In Stephens County, there are four public recreation areas that have accessible ramps for entering boats into Lake Hartwell: Stephens County Recreation Area, Spring Branch, Jenkins Ferry, Bruce Creek, and Holcomb Access. There are also boat ramps at Walker Creek on the Tugaloo River and at Yonah Lake.

Organized recreational activities are offered by the Stephens County Recreation Department, the YMCA and the Northeast Georgia Boys and Girls Clubs. There are team sports, instructional activities, exercise programs and a variety of special events. Henderson Falls Park is a focal point for tennis and picnicking in addition to enjoying productions in the amphitheater and walking the nature trail. Roselane Park will house the senior center with therapeutic pool, community center, tennis courts, walking trails and softball/baseball fields. The City of Toccoa operates the nine-hole course at The Pines that features challenging holes of golf and beautiful mountain views.

From the time Toccoa was incorporated and Stephens County was formed, education has been a dominant theme and a major consideration for the community. In 1971, the high school was one of two in the state to receive the "National Award of Excellence". Four new elementary schools have opened with enrollment ranging from 491 to 606, giving easy access to students throughout the county. The middle school, housing grades 6-8, will soon be replaced with a larger, more modern structure. Total renovation of the high school is planned and will be financed by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax recently passed by a vote of the community. The entire school system is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.

Toccoa is home to Toccoa Falls College, an accredited non-denominational four-year liberal arts Bible College that now offers masters degree programs in several fields. Present enrollment is over 1,200 and the school's alumni serve as missionaries all over the world. Beautiful Toccoa Falls, a breathtaking 186 foot high waterfall, is located on the campus of the college.

Truett-McConnell College and North Georgia Technical Institute provide additional educational advantages for residents. Both have full-time extension centers in the community for associate degree programs. North Georgia Tech has a full-time (day and evening) extension center and a Quick Start facility in the same location with Truett-McConnell. Quick Start is the State of Georgia's partnership program with private industry. The purpose of the program is to jointly develop educational processes to h