About Athens

Welcome to Athens, Georgia, a small town with big city appeal!

Located in the northeast foothills of the state, Athens is not only the cultural and business center of the region, but also home to the University of Georgia. Athens anchors a strong manufacturing base and nurtures growing high tech and biotech industries.

Clarke County was founded in 1801. The city of Athens was chartered in 1806. The city of Athens and Clarke County merged in 1991 and operates as the 28th consolidated city-county government in the U.S. and the third in Georgia.

During 2001, Athens celebrated its bicentennial year. With a rich history and a vibrant culture, Athens exudes southern charm. Noted for its dedication to historic preservation and complemented for its business and industry advances, Athens is the perfect combination of past and present. From the beauty of UGA's north campus, with buildings dating back to the 1700's, to the ever-changing landscape of city life, Athens keeps its history in tact while pursuing new-age modernity.

The Classic City offers a broad range of cultural appeal, premium entertainment, and vast business opportunities while maintaining the utmost concern for community service.

Facts about Athens

• Athens-Clarke County is the smallest geographic county in the state at 122 square miles, located 60 miles northeast of Atlanta.
  
• The population of Athens-Clarke County is 101,489 according to the 2000 Census, which includes UGA students residing in Clarke County.
  
• Athens-Clarke County is the 14th most populous county
  
• Athens-Clarke County serves Northeast Georgia as a regional center for employment, commerce and recreation.

Athens is home to:

• Numerous neighborhoods and commercial districts on the National Register of Historic Places; 3 house museums
• Northeast Georgia's cultural, shopping, medical, professional, and educational hub
• The University of Georgia, the nation's first state-chartered university (1785)
• The Classic Center: 50,000+ sq. ft. meeting/exhibit space and 2,000+ seat performing arts theatre
• A musical Mecca that spawned R.E.M, the B-52s, Widespread Panic, and numerous other acclaimed acts
• The Southeast's largest and most concentrated collection of gardens and specialty nurseries
• The only double-barreled cannon in the world
• America's first garden club
• The original Constitution of the Confederate States of America
• The Morton Theatre, an early vaudeville theatre built, owned, and operated by an African-American
• One of only 11 United States Naval museums in the country
• The state of Georgia's official art museum and botanical garden

Local Athens Resources