Toccoa, Georgia

17 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1886 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Toccoa census division. It lies in ZIP code area 30577. The Survey maps it on the Toccoa quadrangle. 9,133 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,027 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Toccoa within Stephens County

On record in Toccoa

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

On the National Register 9 records

Traveler's RestNational Historic Landmark · listed 1966
Jarrett-Hayes Houselisted 1994
Riversidelisted 1982
James B. Simmons Houselisted 1983
Stephens County Courthouselisted 1980
Schaefer-Marks Houselisted 1976
Toccoa Downtown Historic Districtlisted 2011
Toccoa Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)listed 2015
Walters-Davis Houselisted 1982

Surveyed buildings and structures 1 record

Travelers Rest, Toccoafederal building survey, 5 photographs

Population over time

2 figures

Toccoa grew from 8,491 to 9,133 between 2010 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
2010	8,491
2020	9,133	+642 (+8%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 17 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 Walhalla quadrangle1:125000
1892 USGS Walhalla quadrangle1:125000, 7 printings
1896 USGS Walhalla quadrangle1:125000
1954 USGS Greenville quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
1958 USGS Greenville quadrangle1:250000
1964 USGS Toccoa quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
1981 USGS Toccoa quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings

Photographs

8 of 13 photographs shown, 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.

The Stephens County Courthouse in Toccoa, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Scene outside Traveler's Rest, a historic inn in Toccoa, a city in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina line
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Bench made of stone at Toccoa Falls outside Toccoa, a city in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina line
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Traveler's Rest, a historic inn in Toccoa, a city in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina line
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Tiny cabin on the grounds of Traveler's Rest, a historic inn in Toccoa, a city in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina line
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

A spur of the Tugaloo River outside Toccoa, a city in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina line
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Toccoa Falls outside Toccoa, a city in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina line
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

The Ritz Theatre in Toccoa, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Stephens County

Fires near this place

406 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 406 fires within 5 miles of Toccoa between 1992 and 2019, burning about 1,276 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 85 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	183
Arson/incendiarism	85
Equipment and vehicle use	47
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	42
Railroad operations and maintenance	12
Misuse of fire by a minor	11
Smoking	10
Recreation and ceremony	7
Natural	6
Power generation/transmission/distribution	2
Fireworks	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
9 September 1999	Equipment and vehicle use	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
9 September 1999	Railroad operations and maintenance	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
7 September 2019	Debris and open burning	1.4 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2020STEPHENS001
5 September 1997	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
30 September 2003	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest	HIGHWAY 365#1,#2,#3
23 September 2016	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2017-STEPHENS-001
18 September 2003	Debris and open burning	10 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
18 September 2003	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Stephens County

Mines and quarries near this place

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Toccoa: 1 producer, 1 past producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Scott Brothers Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
	Toccoa Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer

Every working recorded in Stephens County

Storms near this place

60 of 96 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Toccoa in 96 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 58 thunderstorm wind, 29 hail, 4 flash flood, 2 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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
April 2002	Hail	Toccoa	$100,000	no account filed
January 2023	Lightning	Toccoa	$50,000	Spotter reported a lightning strike ignited a house fire southeast of Toccoa.
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$50,000	no account filed
April 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$25,000	Numerous trees and power lines were reported down near Lake Hartwell. At least one tree fell onto a house.
April 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$20,000	Ham radio operators reported many trees blown down throughout Stephens County, especially along Highways 123 and 328. A tree was also blown down onto a home along Century Dr near Lake Hartwell.
June 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$10,000	County comms, spotter, and HAM radio operator reported multiple trees and large limbs blown down throughout Toccoa, including on Big A Rd and Collins Rd. Two trees fell on homes and a restaurant received minor roof damage.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$10,000	Several trees blown down, with 1 tree on a house, and another on a mobile home. The mobile home received some damage.
June 1994	Tornado (F0)	Toccoa	$5,000	A weak and short-lived tornado touched down near Georgia Highway 17 and downed several large trees. Most of the trees were uprooted or twisted at the base.
August 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines which caused scattered power outages throughout the county.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$1,000	Several trees were blown down onto power lines, causing some outages.
November 2003	Tornado (F0)	Toccoa	$1,000	This weak tornado blew down numerous limbs and trees along its intermittent 11-mile track. Part of a metal roof was blown off a building near Toccoa.
January 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	$500	no account filed
April 2025	Hail	Toccoa	-	Multiple public sources reported (via Social Media) quarter size hail in the Toccoa area.
May 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	County comms reported multiple trees blown down near the intersection of Rock Quarry Cir and W Currahee St.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Ham radio operator reported multiple trees blown down.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	County comms reported a few trees and power lines blown down in the Toccoa area, and numerous trees down in Eastanolle and in Martin.
August 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Spotter reported trees blown down off Smith Rd.
April 2021	Hail	Toccoa	-	Spotter reported dime to nickel size hail near Toccoa.
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	County comms reported multiple trees blown down in Toccoa.
April 2018	Hail	Toccoa	-	Media reported 3/4 inch hail in the Toccoa area.
May 2016	Hail	Toccoa	-	Spotter reported pea to 3/4 inch hail.
August 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Spotter reported multiple trees and power lines blown down along Falls Rd in the vicinity of Toccoa and along Elberton St in south Toccoa.
January 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Power lines were blown down on West Currahee St about 1.5 miles southwest of Toccoa.
October 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	County comms reported multiple trees and power lines blown down across central and eastern portions of the county.
May 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Spotter reported seven trees blown down along Fernside Dr.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Multiple trees were blown down on Prather Bridge Rd.
August 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Several trees were blown down, mainly on the north side of town.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A tree and a couple of power lines were blown down in the Toccoa area.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Multiple trees and power lines were blown down along highway 17 in the Toccoa area.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A large limb and power lines were blown down on the south side of the city. Trees were also blow down on Brookdale Rd, and on highway 123.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A large tree was blown down on Currahee St, with another downed near the intersection of East Tugalo St and Alexander Rd.
September 2009	Flash Flood	Toccoa	-	A small creek overflowed its banks, flooding Henrietta St and Poplar St in Toccoa.
July 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees down on Whispering Pines Dr.
April 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Damage to trees and power lines scattered across the county.
January 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A tree was blown down on Brookhaven Cir and another blown down on a power line on Prather Bridge Rd.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Large limbs blown down and screens blown out of a porch.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Several power lines and a large tree blown down around the city.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees down in the Black Mountain area.
April 2006	Hail	Toccoa	-	Hail was reported to be covering the ground.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A tree blown down on Riverdale Rd and another down on highway 145 near the Franklin County line.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Numerous trees blown down in and around Toccoa. One tree fell on a house on Poplar St.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A tree down on W Silver Shoals Rd and another tree down on Prather Bridge Rd.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Quite a few trees down in the Martin and Lake Hartwell area.
July 2005	Flash Flood	Toccoa	-	Brief flooding of several small streams, with some road beds washed out.
July 2005	Flash Flood	Toccoa	-	Severe urban flooding, with water up to porches and foundations of homes on Sycamore Circle and South Pond St. Several roads were closed due to high water.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees down.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees down on Ridgemore Rd, Brookhaven Circle, and Old Valley Rd near Lake Hartwell. Quite a few power lines were blown down in the area as well.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees and power lines down along highway 123 in Ayersville.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees down near Lake Hartwell.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A couple trees down in the eastern part of the county.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A couple of trees were blown down.
August 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees and power lines were blown down.
November 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Numerous trees blown down in Toccoa and elsewhere around the county.
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Trees were blown down along highway 320 and Walker Rd.
April 2003	Hail	Toccoa	-	Hail accumulated to a depth of 3 inches.
May 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A power pole was blown down along highway 184.
June 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Several trees were blown down.
September 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Some trees and a power line were blown down at Yonah Lake.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	A couple of trees were blown down on the south side of town.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Toccoa	-	Several trees were blown down.

Every storm recorded in Stephens 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
Toccoa Falls	1.8 miles	17
Fowlertown	1.8 miles	17
Carnes Creek	2.8 miles	17
Boydville	3.1 miles	17
Hayes Crossing	3.8 miles	17
Ayersville	4.4 miles	18
Fighting Pine	4.7 miles	18
Jarrett	5.2 miles	18

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 Toccoa	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2581787	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 333240. 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.