Cornelia is a city in Habersham County, Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeast corner of the state. Its population is about 4,500, and it anchors the Cornelia micropolitan area. The city sits in apple-growing country, and its identity is proudly tied to that heritage. The centerpiece of downtown is the Big Red Apple, one of the world's largest apple sculptures, mounted atop an obelisk at the railroad depot in the heart of town. The monument, adjacent to the historic depot, marks Cornelia as a community that grew up around the railroad and the region's orchards. U.S. Highway 441 and the rail corridor that helped establish the town still shape its layout. Overlooking the city is the 54-foot Chenocetah Tower, a stone observation tower built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration for fire observation. The tower and its surroundings, including one of the nation's largest stands of native rhododendron and the Russell Lake Recreation Area, are now part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, giving Cornelia direct access to mountain recreation. Students attend Habersham County Schools. For residents, Cornelia offers a small-town Northeast Georgia setting with the convenience of U.S. 441 and proximity to the mountain country of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Blue Ridge, and the growing Gainesville–Helen corridor. The city combines a working downtown, a strong sense of local history, and easy access to the outdoor recreation of the surrounding national forest, making it a practical base for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.