Athens, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Athens, Georgia
Consolidated city–county
Athens City Hall
Seal
Nickname(s):  "The Classic City"
Location of Athens in Clarke County (left) and of Clarke County in Georgia (right)
Athens, Georgia Location in Georgia (U.S. state) Show map of Georgia (U.S. state) Athens, Georgia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Clarke
Settled	1801 (1801)
As Town	December 1806 (1806-12)
As City	August 24, 1872 (1872-08-24)
Named for	Athens, Greece
Area
• Consolidated city–county	118.10 sq mi (305.87 km2)
• Land	116.33 sq mi (301.29 km2)
• Water	1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2)
Elevation	636 ft (194 m)
Population  (2020)
• Consolidated city–county	127,315
• Rank	218th in the United States 6th in Georgia
• Density	1,094.43/sq mi (422.57/km2)
• Metro	215,415 (212th)
Demonym(s)	Athenian
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	30601–30609, 30612
Area code(s)	706
FIPS code	13-03440

Athens is a city in the state of Georgia, USA. It's about 70 miles (113 km) northeast of Atlanta. Athens is home to the University of Georgia, a very important public university that helped the city grow. In 1991, the city of Athens and Clarke County joined together to form one government.

As of 2021, about 128,711 people lived in Athens-Clarke County. This makes Athens the sixth-largest city in Georgia. The larger Athens metropolitan area had about 215,415 people in 2020.

Athens is known for its strong "college town" feel and its amazing music scene. This scene is mostly found in downtown Athens, right next to the University of Georgia. Many famous alternative rock bands started here, like R.E.M., the B-52's, and Widespread Panic. The city is also a popular place for bands to record their music.

History of Athens, Georgia

Historic American Buildings of Athens in 1936, showing the Franklin House

In the late 1700s, there was a trading settlement called Cedar Shoals near the Oconee River. This is where Athens is today. In 1785, the state of Georgia decided to create the University of Georgia. It was the first state-supported university in the country.

Sixteen years later, in 1801, a group from the university chose a spot for the school on a hill above Cedar Shoals. John Milledge, one of the university's leaders, bought 633 acres (256 hectares) of land and gave it to the university. He named the area Athens after the city in Greece where famous thinkers like Plato and Aristotle taught.

City Hall on College Avenue in Downtown Athens

The first buildings at the University of Georgia were made of logs. The town grew as land around the college was sold to help pay for more school buildings. By 1804, when the first students graduated, Athens had three homes, three stores, and a few other buildings. The first permanent building for the university, Franklin College (now called Old College), was finished in 1806.

Athens officially became a town in December 1806. It was run by a three-person committee. The university and the town kept growing. Cotton mills helped the city's industry and trade develop. Athens even became known as the "Manchester of the South" because of its many mills.

In 1833, Athens businessmen built one of Georgia's first railroads. This connected Athens to Augusta by 1841 and to Atlanta by 1845. These transportation improvements, along with the growing University of Georgia, made Athens one of Georgia's most important cities before the American Civil War.

Athens During the Civil War and Beyond

During the American Civil War, Athens became an important place for supplies. Fortifications (defensive walls) can still be seen along parts of the North Oconee River. Athens also had a small part in the Stoneman Raid, a military event. Like many Southern towns, Athens has a Confederate memorial on Broad Street.

After the Civil War, during a time called Reconstruction, Athens continued to grow. The city's government changed in 1872 to a mayor-council system. Captain Henry Beusse became the first mayor. Many formerly enslaved people moved to the city, drawn by new schools like the Freedmen's Bureau. Three newspapers for Black residents started up: the Athens Blade, the Athens Clipper, and the Progressive Era.

In the 1880s, as Athens became more crowded, the city added new services. The Athens Police Department started in 1881, and public schools opened in 1886. Telephone service arrived in 1882. Transportation also improved with paved streets starting in 1885 and streetcars pulled by mules in 1888.

Broad Street in Downtown Athens near the University of Georgia

By 1901, Athens had changed a lot. A new city hall was finished in 1904. A thriving Black middle class and professional group grew around Washington and Hull Streets, known as the "Hot Corner." The Morton Building, built in 1910, had a theater that hosted movies and performances by famous Black musicians like Louis Armstrong. In 1907, Ben T. Epps became Georgia's first pilot, flying from a hill that is now the Athens-Ben Epps Airport. Athens got its first tall building in 1908, the seven-story Southern Mutual Insurance Company building.

During World War II, the U.S. Navy built new facilities in Athens to train pilots. In 1954, the Navy chose Athens for its Supply Corps school. This school closed in 2011. Today, that area is home to medical and health programs for the University of Georgia.

In 1961, Athens played a part in the Civil Rights Movement. Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes became the first two Black students to attend the University of Georgia. Even though the Supreme Court ruled against school segregation in 1954, Athens–Clarke County schools remained segregated until 1964.

Geography and Climate

Athens covers about 118.2 square miles (306.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.

Athens has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild to moderately cold winters. It rains a good amount throughout the year. Sometimes, light to moderate snow can fall in winter. In spring, thunderstorms are common and can sometimes be strong, even bringing tornadoes. The city itself is built on a series of hills, which is unusual for the Piedmont region of Georgia.

Neighborhoods in Athens

Athens has several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character. Some of these include:

• Downtown
• Pulaski Heights
• Five Points
• Chicopee-Dudley
• East Side
• Boulevard
• West Side
• Newtown
• Normaltown
• Cobbham
• Beechwood
• Briarcliff
• Carr's Hill

Population and Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, Athens had 127,315 people living in the city. There were 51,640 households and 23,615 families.

Law Enforcement

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) was created when the police forces of the City of Athens and Clarke County joined together. As of October 2022, Jerry Saulters is the Chief of Police. The ACCPD is recognized for its high standards and was named a "Gold Standard Agency" in 2013.

Economy and Tourism

Downtown Athens at the intersection of Clayton Street and College Avenue

Athens is home to many growing technology companies. It also has established tech companies like Partner Software. Several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, such as Boehringer-Ingelheim, are located here. The University of Georgia also has its own biotechnology research centers. In 2020, a company called RWDC Industries, which makes alternatives to single-use plastics, announced plans to invest a lot of money in the area.

The city also has an independent publisher called Hill Street Press. Many authors, including Pulitzer Prize winners, have lived in Athens. The music industry continues to grow, with new recording studios opening.

Each spring, Athens hosts bicycle races known as the Twilight Series, including the famous Athens Twilight Criterium.

Arts and Culture

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia has been the official state art museum since 1982. Athens has a lively art and music scene, thanks to the university students. The city offers many music venues, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops that add to its creative atmosphere.

Points of Interest in Athens

Formal garden at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia

• One of only two double-barreled cannons from the American Civil War is in Athens.
• The "Tree That Owns Itself" is a famous tree that legally owns itself and the land around it.
• The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia.
• The State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia.
• The University of Georgia Campus & Arboretum.
• The steeple of St. Mary's Church, which is all that remains of the place where R.E.M. first performed.
• The Globe bar was once named the third-best bar in America by Esquire magazine.
• Sandy Creek Park and Memorial Park are popular outdoor spots.

Music Scene in Athens

Georgia Theatre

Athens, Georgia, is famous for its music, especially for its role in the early days of alternative rock and new wave. It's known as the home of chart-topping bands like R.E.M. and The B-52s. The music scene grew in the 1970s and 1980s, with venues like the Georgia Theatre and 40 Watt Club becoming very popular.

Other well-known bands from Athens include Widespread Panic, Indigo Girls, Drive-by Truckers, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Many musicians, including members of R.E.M., still live in Athens.

Every summer since 1996, the city hosts AthFest. This is a music and arts festival held in the downtown area. In 2020, Athens launched the Athens Music Walk of Fame. This public art walk features plaques on the sidewalk honoring important music venues and artists. The first artists honored included The B-52s, Danger Mouse, Drive-By Truckers, Pylon, R.E.M., and Widespread Panic.

Education in Athens

Public Schools

The Clarke County School District serves students from pre-school through twelfth grade. It has fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. As of 2010, the district had 791 full-time teachers and 11,457 students.

Private Schools

Athens also has several private schools, including:

• Athens Academy (Kindergarten to 12th grade)
• Athens Christian School (Kindergarten to 12th grade)
• Athens Montessori School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
• Saint Joseph Catholic School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
• Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School (9th to 12th grade)

Colleges and Universities

The Arch at an entrance to North Campus of the University of Georgia

• The University of Georgia (UGA) is the state's main research university. It's the oldest higher education institution in Georgia, founded in 1785. It was the first state-chartered university in the United States.
• Athens Technical College offers certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees in many fields like business and health.
• Augusta University has a Medical Partnership with the University of Georgia.
• Piedmont University, a private liberal arts school, has a campus in Athens.
• College of Athens (CoA) is a private Christian college that started in 2012.

Media

Newspapers

The Athens Banner-Herald is the daily newspaper. The University of Georgia has its own weekly newspaper, The Red & Black. Flagpole Magazine is an alternative weekly newspaper.

Radio and Television

Athens has several local radio stations, including:

• WPLP-LP Bulldog 93.3 FM (alternative music)
• WPUP 100.1 FM (Top 40 hits)
• WUOG 90.5 FM (UGA's student-run station)
• WUGA 91.7 and 94.5 FM (public radio)
• WGAU 1340 AM (news and talk radio)

Athens is part of the Atlanta television market. Two TV stations, WGTV (channel 8) and WUVG (channel 34), are licensed to Athens, but their transmitters are in the Atlanta area.

Transportation

Highways

Several U.S. Highways and State Routes pass through Athens, including US 29, US 78, and US 441. The SR 10 Loop acts as a highway that goes around the city. Major roads like Broad Street and Milledge Avenue run through Athens.

Airports

The Athens-Ben Epps Airport (AHN) has been open since 1917. It's located east of downtown. For most people in Athens, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta is the main airport for travel.

Public Transit

Athens Transit offers free bus service within the city seven days a week. UGA Campus Transit provides free bus service around the University of Georgia campus. For longer trips, bus services like Greyhound and Megabus connect Athens to other cities.

Rail Service

Athens does not have direct passenger train service. The closest Amtrak stations are in Atlanta, Gainesville, and Toccoa. There are plans to bring passenger rail service back to Athens in the future, connecting it to a high-speed rail corridor between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta. Freight train service is provided by CSX and Athens Line.

Healthcare

Athens has two main hospitals: the 359-bed Piedmont Athens Regional and the 170-bed St. Mary's Hospital. There is also the smaller 42-bed Landmark Hospital of Athens. Piedmont Athens Regional was bought by Piedmont Healthcare in 2016 and is undergoing a major expansion. St. Mary's Hospital was founded in 1906 and is now part of Trinity Health, a large Catholic healthcare system.

Sister Cities

Athens has a "twinning" agreement with Bucharest, Romania. This means they work together on trade, culture, and education.

Notable People from Athens

See also

In Spanish: Athens (Georgia) para niños