White County was organized in 1857. Two previous attempts to pull land from Habersham for a new county had failed. It was not until State Representative David T. White of Newton County lent his support that the creating act was passed. Subsequently, the new county bears his name. The county seat, Cleveland, is named for Colonel Ben Cleveland who fought in the Revolutionary War. In the broad Nacoochee Valley of White County remains of Gauxule, an ancient Cherokee Indian town, were found, a site visited by DeSoto. Other artifacts around the area are attributed to an ancient, unidentified race.