Helen, Georgia

20 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1886 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Helen census division. It lies in ZIP code area 30545. It stands on Horton Creek. The Survey maps it on the Helen quadrangle. 531 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,447 feet above sea level.

Helen within White County

On record in Helen

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

Surveyed buildings and structures 2 records

Andrews Cove Culvert, Andrews Creek on Unicoi Turnpike, Helenfederal building survey, 1 photograph
Hardman Farm, Intersection of State Highway 75 & State Highway 11, Helenfederal building survey, 30 photographs

Population over time

3 figures

Helen grew from 176 to 531 between 1920 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
1920	176
2010	510
2020	531	+21 (+4%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 20 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

1886 USGS Dahlonega quadrangle1:125000
1892 USGS Dahlonega quadrangle1:125000, 2 printings
1896 USGS Dahlonega quadrangle1:125000
1903 USGS Dahlonega quadrangle1:125000, 5 printings
1954 USGS Greenville quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
1957 USGS Helen quadrangle1:24000, 5 printings
1958 USGS Greenville quadrangle1:250000
1981 USGS Toccoa quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings

Photographs

3 photographs, 2017

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Gem shop in Helen, a northeast Georgia mountain town whose logging industry was dying when it turned itself into an affordable resort with a faux Bavarian Alps motif
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Hardman Farm, Intersection of State Highway 75 & State Highway 11, Helen, White County, GA
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Fires near this place

122 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 122 fires within 5 miles of Helen between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,248 acres in total. 8 started naturally. 14 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	72
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	15
Arson/incendiarism	14
Natural	8
Equipment and vehicle use	6
Recreation and ceremony	3
Smoking	2
Other causes	1
Misuse of fire by a minor	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
6 September 2007	Natural	350 acres	Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest	STONEY KNOB
6 September 1999	Debris and open burning	1.8 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
26 September 1999	Equipment and vehicle use	4.0 acres	Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest	WHITE OAK GAP
12 September 1999	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
4 August 2016	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2017-WHITE-001
20 August 2008	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
20 August 1999	Natural	3.0 acres	Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest	DOUBLE HEAD
14 August 1999	Debris and open burning	3.9 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in White County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 32 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 32 workings within 5 miles of Helen: 21 prospects, 9 past producers, 2 occurrences. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Gold, Platinum, Tungsten, Gold. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
White County Occurrences	Platinum, Tungsten, Gold	Occurrence	PLACER
Ashbury Property	Gold	Past Producer
Childs Mine	Gold	Past Producer
Childs Placer	Gold	Prospect	Placer Dominates, Some Vein Prospecting
Conley Vein	Gold	Prospect
Deans Vein	Gold	Prospect
Franco-American	Gold	Prospect	Vein Some Placer Mining Also Done
Franklin & Glenn	Gold	Prospect	Placer Dominates, Some Vein Prospecting
Frazier	Gold	Prospect	Vein Some Placer Mining Also Done
Gayton Plac	Gold	Prospect	Vein Some Placer Mining Also Done

Every working recorded in White County

Storms near this place

34 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Helen in 34 storm reports between 1996 and 2023: 13 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 6 flash flood, 1 lightning. The reports record 3 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
June 2003	Lightning	Helen	2 hurt	The White county 911 center reported that two males, one a 9-year old and the other a 44-year old, were injured when struck by lightning. The injuries were reported to be minor.
July 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	1 hurt, $25,000	The White County Emergency Manager reported several trees blown down in Helen. Four trees fell across the Chattahoochee River where a 4 year old girl received a minor injury while tubing on the river. A tree was blown down in the parking lot at the Unicoi Hill Park landing on and damaging two vehicles.
August 2005	Tornado (F2)	Helen	$3,000,000	A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in cooperation with the White County Emergency Management Director and the White County Sheriff concluded that an F2 tornado had carved a five mile long path of destruction, roughly parallel to Georgia Highway 75, causing major destruction to the town of Helen. Extensive damage was reported to several business in downtown Helen, a Bavarian tourist town in the northeast Georgia mountains. The entire second floor was ripped off the Helen Econo Lodge by the tornado. A nearby chapel was completely destroyed. The roof of Hansel & Gretel's Candy Kitchen, the Alpine Village Shoppes, as well as that of a nearby barbecue company were all ripped off by the tornadic winds. A Circle K grocery store also suffered significant damage. Hundreds of trees were also down. One resident reported losing 200 trees just at his property. Georgia Highway 75 was completely blocked on both the north and south side of Helen from downed trees. Many power lines were also down in the area and power was out to much of the area for at least two days.
June 2010	Hail	Helen	$258,000	The White County 911 Center observed golf ball-sized hail at the 911 Center located halfway between Cleveland and Helen. The public observed golf ball-sized hail near Sautee. Radar data suggests that quarter and larger-sized hail likely fell in many areas between Helen and Sautee.
April 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$35,000	The White County Emergency Management Director reported that between 30 and 40 trees were blown down near the Intersection of U.S. 129 and Collins Road, about five miles south of Cleveland. In addition, a chicken house was destroyed in the same area. The damage was determined to be straight-line wind damage. Numerous other trees were down in the northeast part of the county northeast of Helen. Georgia Highway 17 north of Helen was closed and blocked because of downed trees.
January 1996	Flash Flood	Helen	$20,000	no account filed
May 2018	Flash Flood	Helen	$10,000	Emergency Management reported that the road through Smithgall Woods State Park was damaged by flash flooding due to heavy rain. Additionally, multiple mudslides were reported in the park. The nearby Carolina Springs Road was also reported to be underwater.
February 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$7,000	no account filed
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$5,000	The public reports that at least 10 trees were down and several power poles were either down or bent over through the central part of the county.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$5,000	A television meteorologist reported that an apparent thunderstorm microburst or downburst blew down several trees, up to 10, in the downtown Helen area and in adjacent areas along the Chattahoochee River. At least two power lines were down as well.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$5,000	The White county 911 center reported that numerous trees were down across the eastern part of the county, from Helen eastward.
September 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$5,000	The White county 911 center, along with a former National Weather Service employee living in the area, reported several trees down, with others snapped off above ground level
July 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$3,000	The White County 911 Center reported that a number of trees were down throughout the county. However, the greatest concentration of downed trees was in the northwest part of the county, northwest of Helen.
July 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$2,000	The police radio tower in Helen was bent over due to thunderstorm winds.
July 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees and power lines.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$1,000	Emergency manager reported a tree down across the road on Ber Weg near S Main St.
August 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	$500	The public reported that thunderstorm winds blew several large limbs off a large oak tree blocking a portion of Georgia Highway 75. Some of the limbs were over 18 inches in diameter.
June 2023	Hail	Helen	-	One inch hail reported near the intersection of Hinterstraten Weg and Rosen Strasse.
March 2021	Flash Flood	Helen	-	The Emergency Manager reported flooding at Brucken Strasse and Edelweiss Strasse due to high water from the Chattahoochee River and local tributaries. Radar estimates indicate that 5 to 8 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
March 2021	Flash Flood	Helen	-	The Emergency Manager reported flooding at the intersection of Edelweiss Strasse and Maloof Street due to high water from the Chattahoochee River. Radar estimates indicate that 5 to 8 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
March 2021	Flash Flood	Helen	-	The Emergency Manager reported flooding along GA Highway 75N from the Chattahoochee River. Radar estimates indicate that 5 to 8 inches of rainfall occurred in the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
April 2020	Flood	Helen	-	The Emergency Manager reported roadway flooding in the 8200 block of South Main Street in Helen, near the Chevron Gas Station. Radar estimates indicate that 2.5 to 4 inches of rain occurred in the area, causing the flooding.
May 2018	Flash Flood	Helen	-	Multiple reports of flooding in Helen were relayed by the Emergency Manager, including along Main Street and near Helen Tubing and Waterpark.
June 2007	Hail	Helen	-	The public reported penny-sized hail.
March 2005	Hail	Helen	-	The public reported quarter-sized hail in Helen and penny-sized hail in Sautee.
February 2005	Hail	Helen	-	The White County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.
August 2005	Hail	Helen	-	A television meteorologist reported penny-sized hail in downtown Helen.
March 2004	Hail	Helen	-	The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Greer, South Carolina relayed a report from an amateur radio operator of penny-sized hail.
July 2003	Hail	Helen	-	The public reported penny-sized hail.
September 2003	Hail	Helen	-	The public reported nickel-sized hail.
May 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Helen	-	An amateur radio operator reported pea size hail.
June 1998	Hail	Helen	-	Several reports from White county 911, a spotter and the public indicated dime to quarter size hail fell across the county.
May 1998	Hail	Helen	-	no account filed
May 1996	Hail	Helen	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in White County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Robertstown	0.8 miles	20
Nacoochee	1.6 miles	20
Naguchee (historical)	1.8 miles	20
Sautee	2.9 miles	20
Lynch (historical)	3.5 miles	20
Yonah	4.3 miles	23
Stovall Mill	7.0 miles	19
Eastburn (historical)	7.1 miles	19

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Helen	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1601823	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 331948. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.