Downtown Historic Heritage Walk
Step back in time on the Blue Ridge history tour.
Appalachian Heritage
Discover the rich history and enduring heritage that have shaped this Appalachian community for generations.
The area now known as Fannin County was once controlled by the Cherokee Indians. When the first white settlers arrived around 1790, they came not from the East like many others in Georgia, but from the North. Traveling across the Appalachian Mountains to Fort Loudon (in present-day Tennessee), these early pioneers followed the Tennessee River south, then the Ocoee-Toccoa River into the wide, fertile valley between the Cohutta and Blue Ridge Mountains.
By 1835, under pressure from coastal Georgians, the Cherokee were forced to cede this land through the Treaty of New Echota. Just three years later, in 1838, they were tragically removed from the region during the forced relocation now known as the Trail of Tears.
Fannin County was officially created in 1854 from portions of Union and Gilmer Counties, with Morganton designated as the first county seat. The county is named after Colonel James Fannin, a hero of the Texas War for Independence. Fannin and his men were captured at the Battle of Coleto Creek after being ordered to retreat from Goliad, and were later massacred, an event that left a lasting mark on Texas history.
Farming was central to life in early Fannin County. Appalachian farmers often grew crops that had to be taken to a mill and “cracked” before they could be used, leading to the term “cracker” being frequently applied in the region. After the Civil War, cotton became a major crop. A movement toward agricultural diversification in the early 1900s introduced new crops to the area.
Beyond agriculture, copper mining in the Copper Basin (from the mid-1800s to early 1900s) and lumber harvesting (1900 through World War II) were also vital contributors to the local economy.
In 1886, Col. Mike McKinney founded the town of Blue Ridge along the route of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. The railroad had bypassed Morganton (Fannin’s county seat at the time) in favor of the flatter Toccoa River Valley. Its arrival was transformative, giving local farmers and merchants direct access to markets outside the region. What once took days to transport could now be delivered in hours. By the early 1920s, construction began on U.S. Highway 76, opening up the region even more.
Tourism began to take root with the arrival of the railroad, although it was initially short-lived. A second wave of tourism began in the 1950s, and after the Georgia Mountain Parkway was completed in 1986, interest in the region surged dramatically.
Today, much of Fannin County’s land is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Originally designated as part of the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, this protected land is a cornerstone of the region. Managed for public use, the forest supports jobs, provides outdoor recreation, and preserves environmentally sensitive areas for future generations.
For self-guided historic driving tours and downtown walking tours, view the following maps, or pick up your copy from one of our Visitor Centers.
Self-Guided Tours
Copper Basin Historic Heritage Trail
McCaysville, GA & Copperhill, TN
McCaysville, Georgia, chartered in 1904, sits on the Georgia-Tennessee state line, directly adjacent to its twin city, Copperhill, Tennessee. Visitors…
Historic Heritage Trail: Lower Loop
Winding through quiet valleys and along sparkling rivers, this self-guided driving tour connects you to some of the most storied…
Historic Heritage Trail: Upper Loop
History runs deep through the backroads of Fannin County.