Named for the Greek cradle of philosophy, Athens Ga is the birthplace and home of the first University of Georgia campus. With its diverse population, historic sites, museums, outdoor attractions, and festivals, Athens has something to offer for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Whether you live in Athens, are visiting for a while, or just happened to stumble across the city, there is always something to do and somewhere to go. Read this athensgeorgia.wordpress.com article to discover what makes this city a unique and worthwhile place to study, visit, and live.
History of the City of Athens Georgia
Dating back to the times in which our country was founded, the area now known as Athens-Clarke County is a “college city” rich in both architectural and cultural history. The story of Athens and UGA cannot be told without one another, and the following is a snapshot into that story.
University of Georgia – Before there was a City of Athens, there was a chartered university. By an act of the national legislature on January 25, 1785, UGA became the first chartered university of the nation.
When John Milledge (future Governor of Georgia) purchased the 633-acre site from Daniel Easley for $4,000.00 in 1801, he and the other four committee members (including UGA’s first president – Abraham Baldwin) named the area Athens. The university sold all but 37 acres of the land to provide revenue for school operations.
Athens Georgia – The Town of Athens incorporated in 1806, became the Clarke County seat in 1871, and was chartered as a city in 1872. In 1904, present-day City Hall was completed.
The oldest surviving residence in Athens is known as the Church-Waddel-Brumby House. Built in 1820, the house was occupied until 1964. In the late 60’s, the onset of urban renewal threatened the existence of the house which was then moved to its current location in 1972. Since 1973 it has served as a house museum and Athens Welcome Center.
Unification of Athens and Clarke County – The consolidation of Athens and Clarke County had been a local subject since 1966. In fact, before finally passing in 1990, the initiative was shot down on three separate occasions.
As the school systems of Athens and Clarke County had been consolidated in 1955, and many services provided to residents were already jointly operated, unification made sense for such a small county experiencing such rapid growth.
With the passage of the unification measure, Athens became Georgia’s second consolidated government and the county’s twenty-eighth. As of January 14, 1991, Athens would now be known as Athens-Clarke County.
Entertainment and Music History (Morton Building) – Athens is a city with rich music history and known for the musicians it has produced. It is also very well known for its bars and their shows.
Circa 1910, Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton constructed the Morton Building. This is the location of one of the nation’s first African-American built, owned, and operated vaudeville theaters.
From the 1920’s through the 1940’s entertainers such as Louie Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Cab Calloway, and Duke Ellington performed at the Morton Building.
Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s, numerous Athens rock bands practiced in the backrooms of the building. Among those bands were the B-52s and Bar B Q Killers. And you may be surprised to discover that one of the world’s greatest music artists of all time, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers R.E.M. also practiced here. R.E.M.’s 31-year career began in Athens in 1980 and lasted on a worldwide stage until late 2011 when they split.
The Morton Theater underwent extensive restoration in the early 90’s and reopened in 1993 as a community performing arts center. Since reopening, the non-profit organization Morton Theater Corporation oversees program development and operational policy, while the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government provides staff for operating it.
The Athens City Government
The Athens-Clarke County government is divided into three branches and consists of the following:
Legislative – An elected mayor and 10 elected commissioners from 10 districts head the government. Mayors serve four-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms. Commissioners also serve four-year terms until a successor is elected and qualified.
Executive – A manager appointed by the mayor and commissioners oversees the day-to-day operations of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County. The manager is responsible for the 26 departments, divisions, and offices within the managerial group.
Judicial – Within Athens-Clarke County, the following courts are housed: Magistrate, Juvenile, Municipal, Probate, State, and Superior. The Superior Court also covers the Western Judicial Circuit.
City Population and Demographics
The City of Athens-Clarke County is currently home to more than 126,000 residents (including approximately 35,000 UGA students).
As of 2015, 47.5% of the population was male and 52.5% female. The average resident age was 26.2 years old.
The estimated average household income in Athens was $33,060, falling short of the Georgia state average of $53,559.
Geography and Weather in Athens
Situated in the northeast of the state of Georgia and is approximately 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. Bordered to the South by Watkinsville, to the North by Danielsville, Winterville to the East, and Statham to the West. The city has a total area of 118.2 square miles, of which 0.5 square miles (.41%) is water.
Athens’ climate is humid subtropical and lies within zone 8a of the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. The city’s average summertime highs reach 90 °F with average lows of 68.5 °F, winter highs reach 59.4 °F while the average winter low-temperature drops to 37.3 °F.
The Athens Economy
Sales tax in the City of Athens Ga is 8%, and job growth is currently projected to be between 1.5 and 2% for the year. Currently, the unemployment rate is 3.9%. The cost of living in the city is 8% below the national average.
The largest employers in the City of Athens-Clarke County include:
- UGA with 10,300 employees
- Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center with 3,300
- Clarke County School District with 2,100
- Athens-Clarke County Government with 1,600
- Caterpillar with 1,500
- St. Mary’s Hospital with 1,400.
Some of the national and international awards and accolades the city has garnered over the years include:
Accolades
- Best Places to Retire in 2017 by Forbes (April 2017)
- Best Small Towns in the South for Retirement by Southern Living (June 2017)
- Top 17 Most Affordable Cities by Mint.com (June 2016)
- Top 25 Best College Towns – 1st Place: Fansided.com (2016)
- 10 Best: Inside Georgia’s Coolest Places by USAToday (October 2014)
Awards
- Growth Award – Arbor Day Foundation (Given for achieving higher levels of overall tree care)
- Tree City USA – Arbor Day Foundation (Given for a commitment to the urban tree canopy)
- Urban Community Transportation System of the Year (2016): Athens Transit (Community Transportation Association of America)
- Certificate of Recognition for Exceptional Performance: Police Traffic Unit (International Association of Chiefs of Police)
- WaterSense Partner of the Year: Water Conservation Office (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification: Solid Waste Administrations and Collections Facility (U.S. Green Building Council)
- 911 Communications Center of the Year (Georgia Chapter): Central Communications Center (National Emergency Number Association)
Attractions and Events in Athens Georgia
From patio dining in downtown and neighborhood restaurants to the trails of the North Oconee Greenway and the State Botanical Garden, the City of Athens is home to dozens of historical music venues and nearly 50 notable buildings and monuments within walking distance. Most notable are the many parks, natural beauty, and cleanliness of the city as you tour it.
For the park enthusiasts, there are over 2,000 acres of parks and facilities throughout the community. The following are maintained by the city’s Leisure Services department:
- Bear Hollow Zoo
- Ben Burton Park
- Bishop Park
- Boulevard Woods Park
- Dudley Park
- Firefly Trail
- Lay Park
- Memorial Park
- Reese and Pope Park
- Rocksprings Park & Community Center
- Sandy Creek Park
- Satterfield Park
- Southeast Clarke Park
- Trail Creek Park
For the history buff, here are a few of the historical buildings and sites worth seeing:
- Church-Waddel-Brumby House (Oldest residence and current Welcome Center)
- Old College (Oldest building – UGA campus)
- City Hall
- Herty Field/Fountain (First intercollegiate football game in Ga – UGA campus)
- Morton Theater
- Georgia Theater
- Demosthenian Hall (UGA campus)
- Clarke County Courthouse
- U.S. Post Office
For the music enthusiast, here are some of the historical sites on the city’s walking tour (The Welcome Center offers a guided music history tour):
- Classic Center
- Morton Building (again)
- 40 Watt Club
- The Last Resort
- St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Steeple (site of R.E.M.’s first gig)
- The Georgia Bar
- Boar’s Head Lounge
- Trestle in Dudley Park
For the restauranteur in you, here are a few of the local favorites:
- Athens Bagel Company
- The National
- Ted’s Most Best
- South Kitchen
- Trappeze Pub
- The Grill
- Little Italy
Below are some of the incredible annual events in the City of Athens:
- Athens Popfest
- Downtown Parade of Lights
- G-Day Game
- Twilight Criterium (bike race)
- Flagpole Athens Music Awards
- AthFest Music and Arts Festival
- Hot Corner Festival
- Athens Human Rights Festival
- Wild Rumpus Parade and Spectacle
- Classic City Fringe Festival
- Groovy Nights
- UGA Football Home Games
Athens is a City for Everyone
Whether you seek one of the many annual events, historical sites, an evening at a concert, patio dining with friends or a guided tour of the city, Athens is your year-round destination.
With hundreds of parks, restaurants, bars, events, historical sites, and theaters, Athens indeed has something unique and memorable in store for you at any time of the day or night. The only way to be bored in this city is not to go.
Sources:
athenswelcomecenter.com/
franklin.uga.edu/about-franklin
accgov.com/113/Unification-of-Athens-Clarke-County
accgov.com/115/Historical-Timeline
mortontheatre.com/the-morton-building/
backtothegarden.us/gpage28.html
forbes.com/places/ga/athens/
Athens Georgia Life 