Cleveland offers history, community and an outdoor lifestyle
Deep in the northeastern mountains of Georgia is the City of Cleveland, a residential area full of history and outdoor opportunity. The surrounding landscape of forests, mountain trails and rivers create abundant recreation, and the city’s town square adds both charm and commerce. As the county seat of White County, Cleveland is one of the larger town centers in the area and dates back to the 1870s. “People who are looking for community can find it here,” says David Sosby, a Realtor with The Norton Agency who has over 25 years of experience, who grew up and currently lives in Cleveland. “A lot of out-of-town buyers will buy spots of land, like five acres in the county, and come settle in the mountains when they’re ready to retire.”
Natural recreation along the mountains, plus city parks
With the Blue Ridge Mountains standing tall and the Chattahoochee River flowing by, natural recreation is around every corner of Cleveland. “That draw inside your soul to get out into nature is definitely fulfilled here,” Sosby says. Several hiking trails wind through the area, leading to lookout points and water features. “There are just so many spectacular waterfalls in the area. Some you’ll walk about two hours to get to, and others you can just park and walk right up to it.” Fly fishing, canoeing and boating are also allowed along the river. About 9 miles from the town square is the Buck Shoals Wildlife Management Area, which has over 650 acres of land for hunting, fishing and picnicking.
When it comes to maintained green spaces, the Cleveland Woodman of the World City Park has two playgrounds, a picnic pavilion and an open sports field for soccer and baseball. Freedom Park is another recreational area with a grassy lawn that hosts live music on its performance stage. For indoor entertainment, the Recreation Center at Yonah Preserve has multiple courts for basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
North Georgia Wildlife Park and Safari is an elevated zoo, roughly 8 miles from the city’s center, and has over 80 different species of animals. The park offers dozens of experiences where visitors can meet and feed everything from capybaras to kangaroos and sloths.
Exploring Cleveland’s history and attractions
Cleveland’s deep history can be discovered at the White County Historical Museum, which is a restored historic courthouse located at the center of the town square. According to Sosby, a tapestry of Benjamin Cleveland, the town’s namesake, decorates the entryway, depicting the North Carolina militia under Colonel Cleveland’s command in the Revolutionary War.
Another unique spot is the Babyland General Hospital – the birthplace of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. Visitors can find collectibles, accessories and more at the toy store.
A mixed bag of single-family homes in the mountains
The city’s expansive rural landscape comes with a wide selection of single-family houses. Ranch-style homes and raised ranches built between the 1970s and 2000s are common in town, alongside a handful of split levels. There are also new construction single-story homes with contemporary features such as pointed roofs and stone accents. Prices range from $230,000 to $450,000.
The rural areas surrounding the city are also speckled with houses that sit on large lots of land. “A lot of parcels that people buy up here are pretty secluded, so you can take your dog out on a walk and not run into anybody,” Sosby says. In addition to ranch-style homes, there are traditional two-story homes and Farmhouse-inspired ones with vinyl paneling, sloped roofs and front porches. These properties cost around $340,000 to $660,000. Cabin-inspired mountain homes with wood exteriors, large picture windows and wrap-around porches go for similar prices. A handful of Craftsman estates from the 2000s can be found around Cleveland for upwards of $1.3 million.
Manufactured homes are available both in town and along the mountains. These properties sit on their own plot of land and cost $40,000 to $180,000, depending on age and condition.
The CAP Index Crime Score for Cleveland is 2 out of 10, lower compared to the national average of 4.
Main Street’s retail and restaurants, centering the town square
Cleveland’s town square is the epicenter of both the community and its commerce, featuring historic buildings with shops and local restaurants. Smoky Mountain Trader is a popular outdoor sports store, and The Tipsy Tomato is an upscale eatery specializing in Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Ol’ Clyde’s Table & Tavern serves classic comfort food with craft beer. North of the square along Main Street, there’s Ingles Markets for groceries – Big Basket IGA is another option. Several fast-food restaurants are scattered on Main Street south of the square, including Popeye’s and McDonald’s.
Village Shopping Center is a commercial area farther south with a handful of national retailers like AutoZone and Tractor Supply Co. A Walmart Supercenter and Aldi are also nearby.
The Unicoi Wine Trail is a collection of 10 different wineries throughout White County – most of them surround Cleveland. These include Limoges Cellars, Yonah Mountain Vineyards and CeNita Vineyards.
Getting educated in White County public schools
Cleveland is served by the White County School District, a public charter school system with four elementary, one middle and one high school. Jack P. Nix Elementary and Tesnatee Gap Elementary School both earn B-plus grades from Niche. From there, students can attend White County Middle School, which has an A-minus. The B-plus-rated White County High School offers Career and Technical Education courses in Agriculture, Cosmetology and AV Technology. The school’s new Performing Arts Center opened in 2024.
Truett McConnell University is a private Christian college located in Cleveland that offers opportunities for higher education. The campus was founded in 1946 and currently enrolls over 2,900 students.
Driving along Cleveland’s main commuter routes
Cleveland sits at the junction of several highway systems, making it easy for commuters to travel in all directions. U.S. Route 129 is the city’s Main Street and travels north and south. Georgia state route 115 is another main thoroughfare traveling east and west, while Georgia state Route 75 can take commuters to Helen, about 9 miles north. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the closest of its kind, roughly 93 miles away.
