Western North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains are a grand and glorious place to explore. Lying in the southern Appalachian Mountains, beautiful Clay County offers truly breathtaking scenery, with lush forests and rich farmland set off by crystal-clear lakes, rivers, and streams. The town of Hayesville is located on a knoll overlooking the Hiawassee River and has a spectacular view of the rugged Tusquittee Mountains. Other communities in this area are Brasstown, Warne, Fires Creek, Shooting Creek, Elf, and Tusquittee.
Hayesville, the only incorporated municipality in the county, has its business district centered on the historical Courthouse Square and offers a wide variety of services. The town's population is about 400 people. The courthouse stands in the center of a large tree-filled square, with a gazebo that is the focal point for many community events.
Primarily a rural area, the main industries are farming, wire & cable manufacturing, health and human services, and tourism. Tourists are attracted to this area because of the climate, the geographical location, the surrounding mountains, beautiful Lake Chatuge, and the warm and friendly people in a small town atmosphere. You can find some nice vacation rentals here. The rugged terrain provides a beautiful background for many outdoor activities of the county. 110,096 acres out of a total 136,902 acres are forested. Of this, fully 64,200 acres are protected by the US Forest Service, and are open to the public for recreational activities such as hiking, riding, picnicking, camping, hunting, and fishing (some restrictions may apply). There are over 50 miles of maintained trails, including the Appalachian Trail, for fine hiking and backpacking. There are both private and public facilities for boating, fishing, camping, swimming, and golfing. An extensive network of streams and rivers offer excellent trout fishing, and Lake Chatuge boasts 32 species of fish, predominately bass and bass hybrids, to entice the angler.
Lake Chatuge, a reservoir built by Tennessee Valley Authority in 1941, is located in the "bowl" section of the Hiawassee River. The TVA Lake System was built for flood control and to provide affordable electricity to the area; TVA controls the water levels. The water covers approximately 3700 acres at full peak, or 133 miles of shoreline. This cold-clear lake is in a setting much like the Swiss Alps; a gradual shoreline in lush forests, surrounded by majestic mountains. Called the "crowning jewel" in the TVA system, it attracts thousands of visitors each year.