Towns County was inhabited by the Cherokee Indians when the first white settlers arrived from the east. Towns County was created on March 8, 1856 from Rabun and Union Counties and was named for George Washington Towns, a former governor of Georgia.

Hiawassee was established as the county seat of Towns County and located at the crossing of two Cherokee Indian Trails. Sturdy immigrants who could endure the isolationand hardships of mountain life were the first settlers of Towns County. Many natives of Towns County today are descendants of the early pioneers to this aea. The influence of the Cherokee is felt in the names of communities and rivers like: Hiawassee, Chatuge and Enotah.

In 1941 Tennessee Valley Authority built Lake Chatuge after acquiring 7,000 acres of Towns County land. Lake Chatuge has become a popular attraction for residents and visitors alike.

The Georgia Mountain Fair was started in 1950 and today attracts over 200,000 tourists and visitors annually. The Fair provides pioneer exhibits, demonstrations and country music, thus preserving the heritage of the early mountain settlers.

In January of 1886, Artemus Lester, a Methodist minister, and Marcus Edwards founded McTyelre Institute in the town of McTyelre, which later became known as Young Harris, to honor Judge Young Harris, who was one of the schools first graduates. The school also was renamed to Young Harris College and is currently supported by the United Methodist Church.

Of the 106,000 acres of land in Towns County, over half of it's (57,000 acres) has been acquired by the Chattahoochee National Forest. In the 1940's the Appalachian Trail was established as the eastern border of Towns County. Brasstown Bald, on the Towns-Union County Line is the highest peak in Georgia, at 4,784'. The scenic beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities bring many visitors to Towns County annually. Many more come for events like Georgia Mountain Fair, Rhododendrum Festival, Mountain Country Christmas and the historic drama, "The Reach of Song."

Towns County scenic beauty, recreational opportunities and quality of life have attracted many new residents and Towns County citizens look forward to continued future growth to develop human resources as well as natural resources.