Raoul, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Raoul · Habersham County, Georgia
Population 2,211 (est. 2026: ~2,400)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 1.9% annual growth projection

Raoul, Georgia

Habersham County, Georgia · Population 2,803

Raoul sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Habersham County, tucked into the northeastern corner of Georgia roughly 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. It is a census-designated place — no incorporated city limits, no city hall — but it functions as a genuine community, dense enough to register its own schools, its own household patterns, and its own economic profile. The surrounding landscape is mountain-rural: rivers, ridges, and small working towns strung along US-441 and GA-365. Cornelia, the county seat neighborhood, and Clarkesville, the county seat proper, are just minutes away. Gainesville, the nearest regional hub, lies about 35 miles southwest. Raoul is the kind of place people are from, not passing through.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 count puts Raoul's population at 2,529 residents in 313 households, with the broader CDP estimate reaching 2,803. The median age is 36.8 — slightly younger than the Georgia statewide median. Average household size is 3.51 persons, which is meaningfully larger than typical suburban figures and reflects a community built around families rather than singles or retirees. There are 403 children under 18 in the community.

The racial and ethnic breakdown: 1,917 residents identify as white, 540 as Black, and 19 as Asian. Hispanic or Latino residents number 537 — roughly 21% of the population — a share that reflects broader patterns across Habersham County's poultry processing and construction economy. Habersham County overall holds 46,031 residents, making Raoul home to a little over 6% of the county's population.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Raoul is $56,675. That figure sits below the Georgia state median, which historically runs in the low-to-mid $60,000 range, and signals a working-class community rather than a professional-class suburb. Per capita income is $14,364 — a number pulled down significantly by the large average household size and the concentration of lower-wage employment in the area. Of the 532 residents counted in the labor force, 23 were unemployed at the time of the survey. A total of 107 residents fell below the federal poverty line.

The economic base of Habersham County centers on manufacturing, agriculture, and service industries. The poultry processing sector has a major footprint in this part of northeast Georgia. Piedmont University in nearby Demorest also employs a slice of the county's workforce.

Housing

Raoul has 323 total housing units, with 313 occupied and just 10 vacant — a vacancy rate under 4%, indicating tight supply. Of occupied units, 205 are owner-occupied and 108 are renter-occupied, putting the homeownership rate around 65%.

The median home value is $90,100. That number is strikingly low by Georgia standards and reflects both the rural character of the area and an older housing stock. For buyers coming from Atlanta or other metro markets, purchasing power here is substantial. Median gross rent is $926 per month, which is moderate but represents a real cost burden for lower-income households given the per capita income figures above.

Schools

Raoul residents fall under the Habersham County School System. The following schools serve the broader county and draw from the Raoul area:

The county uses a dedicated ninth-grade academy model, transitioning students from middle school before they enter the consolidated high school setting. Piedmont University in nearby Demorest (phone: 706-778-3000) offers four-year and graduate programs and is the closest residential college to the community.

Getting Around

Raoul is car-dependent. Of 476 workers commuting from the community, 400 drove alone. Another 23 carpooled. Zero workers used public transit, and zero walked to work. Fifty-three residents worked from home. The aggregate commute time for all workers totals 17,485 minutes, which works out to an average one-way commute of roughly 37 minutes — consistent with driving to Gainesville, Cornelia, or Clarkesville for work.

There is no public bus service, no commuter rail, and no meaningful pedestrian infrastructure connecting Raoul to employment centers.

Healthcare

The primary hospital serving Habersham County is Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham, located in the county. For higher-acuity care, residents typically travel to the main Northeast Georgia Medical Center campus in Gainesville. To search for individual licensed healthcare providers with a Raoul address, the CMS NPI Registry can be queried directly: NPI Registry — Raoul, GA.

Library

The Clarkesville-Habersham County Library is the nearest public library, located 1.6 miles from Raoul. Phone: 706-754-4413. The library is part of the Northeast Georgia Regional Library system and serves the full county.

Natural Hazards

Habersham County has accumulated a substantial FEMA disaster declaration record. The county has been included in fifteen federal declarations since 2000:

The pattern is clear: northeast Georgia mountain communities face a dual hazard profile. Tropical systems weakening as they move inland still bring significant wind and flooding. Winter storms in the foothills can be severe and disruptive. Residents should maintain emergency plans for both scenarios. Current weather alerts for the Raoul area are available through the NWS Alert System.

Government & Municipal Code

Raoul is a census-designated place and has no incorporated municipal government. The county government of Habersham County handles most governmental functions. A municipal code listing for the Raoul CDP is published through Municode at library.municode.com/ga/raoul-cdp-georgia. The published code does not include a local building code.

Weather

The official NWS forecast for Raoul (coordinates 34.636, -83.5121) is available at forecast.weather.gov. The nearest surface weather observation station is Chattooga #1 Georgia, located 0.6 miles from the community center.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)