Around Clayton

Rabun County was created by the Georgia Legislature on December 21, 1819, from Cherokee Indian lands, and named for William Rabun who served as Governor of Georgia from 1817 to 1819. The County has 236,160 acres (377 square miles). Of this land, approximately 60% is US Forest Service land and 10% belongs to Georgia Power Company. Rabun County hosts part of the Eastern Continental Divide. The area offers an array of outdoor recreational activities, historic sites, national forests, and wildlife. There are lots of hiking opportunities for adventure and discovery.

Clayton is a small mountain town of about 2,000 and is the County Seat. Clayton was incorporated on December 13, 1823, and at that time was known as Claytonsville, named for Augustus Clayton of Clarke County. The town supports excellent restaurants, supermarkets, drug stores, hardware stores, gift shops, souvenir shops, clothing stores, specialty shops, antique stores, etc. Clayton also provides good medical facilities for a community of this size. Cradle Crest is located just outside the city limits. The county has a full-time Sheriff’s Department. The Fire Department is a volunteer and there is a local hospital.

A county slogan – “Where Spring Spends the Summer” – is fitting, as the average temperature ranges from 58.7ºF in January to approximately 76ºF in August. Annual rainfall exceeds 70 inches, accounting for the lush, green forests, and many wildflowers, and beautifully kept gardens. Mountain Laurel blooms along creek banks, in coves, on cliffs, and on hillsides and hilltops in May and June. Rhododendron blooms in July. In October, the mountains take on a profusion of colors as the fall leaves prepare to make way for new growth in the spring. The autumn complexion of browns and golds in the leaves foretells the coming of winter. During the colder months, Rabun County has more snow than any other county in Georgia.