Warne ( "worn") is an unincorporated community in Brasstown Township, Clay County, North Carolina, United States. In 2010, Clay County was the fourth least populated county in North Carolina, inhabited by approximately 10,587 people. The region has added considerably to its population, a 20.6% increase since 2000. Warne is closer to the capitals of five other states (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Kentucky) than to Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina. Warne's elevation is above sea level. It has an area of . It has a volunteer fire department and a post office, with the ZIP code of 28909. History Indigenous peoples Before settlement, Clay County was home to the Cherokee people, Native Americans who made their home in what would become the southeastern United States (principally Georgia, the Carolinas and eastern Tennessee). They were one of the "Five Civilized Tribes" because of their assimilation of European-American cultural and technological practices. Geography Topography Warne is located in the southeastern United States in the western portion of North Carolina, approximately halfway between Atlanta and Knoxville. The location in the Blue Ridge Mountains has helped the community retain a rural character, surrounded by wildlife such as bear, deer, fox and recently reintroduced elk. Warne is north of Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in Georgia at above sea level. Climate Warne has a humid subtropical climate, (Cfa) according to the Köppen classification, with hot, humid summers and mild, but occasionally cold winters by the standards of the southern United States. July highs average 85 °F (29 °C) or above, and lows average 55 °F (12.8 °C). Infrequently, temperatures can even exceed 100 °F (38 °C). January is the coldest month, with an average high of 48 °F (9 °C), and low of 33 °F (.6 °C). Like the rest of the southeastern U.S., Warne receives abundant rainfall, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Average annual rainfall is 55.9 inches (1,420 mm). Blizzards are rare but possible; one nicknamed the 1993 Storm of the Century hit the entire Eastern United States in March, 1993. Nearby communities These are towns within an approximate radius of Warne. Demographics According to the 2000 Census, Warne had a population of 573 people living in 317 households with a population density of 71.17 people per square mile (27.48/km2). Of the 317 households, 227 were occupied, 90 were vacant, and 71 were used only occasionally such as