Athens, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia
, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper (the county seat) and Clarke County. The University of Georgia
is located in this college town
and is responsible for the initial growth of the city. In 1991, after a vote the preceding year, the original city abandoned its charter in order to form a unified government with Clarke County
, referred to collectively as Athens-Clarke County. As of the 2010 census, the consolidated city-county (including all of Athens-Clarke County except Winterville
and a portion of Bogart
) had a total population
of 115,452. Athens-Clarke County is the fifth-largest city in Georgia and the principal city of the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 189,264 as of the 2008 Census Bureau estimate.
In the late 18th century, a trading settlement on the banks of the Oconee River
called Cedar Shoals stood where Athens is located today. On January 27, 1785, the Georgia General Assembly
granted a charter
by Abraham Baldwin
for the University of Georgia as the first state-supported university
. Sixteen years later, in 1801, a committee from the university's board of trustee
s selected a site for the university on a hill above Cedar Shoals in what was then Jackson County
. On July 25, John Milledge, one of the trustees and later governor of Georgia, bought 633 acres (2.6 km²) from Daniel Easley and donated it to the university. Milledge named the surrounding area Athens after the city that was home to the academy
of Plato
and Aristotle
in Greece
.
The first buildings on the University of Georgia campus were made from logs. The town grew as lots adjacent to the college were sold to raise money for the additional construction of the school. By the time the first class graduated from the University in 1804, Athens consisted of three homes, three stores and a few other buildings facing Front Street, now known as Broad Street. Completed in 1806 and named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin College was the University of Georgia and the City of Athens' first permanent structure. This brick building is now called Old College.
Athens officially became a town in December 1806 with a government made up of a three-member commission. The university continued to grow, as did the town, with cotton mill
s fueling the industrial and commercial development. Athens became known as the "Manchester
of the South" after the city in England known for its mills. In 1833 a group of Athens businessmen led by James Camak, tired of their wagons getting stuck in the mud, built one of Georgia's first railroads, the Georgia, connecting Athens to Augusta
by 1841, and to Marthasville (now Atlanta
) by 1845.
During the American Civil War
, Athens became a significant supply center when the New Orleans armory was relocated to what is now called the Chicopee building. Fortifications can still be found along parts of the North Oconee River between College and Oconee St. In addition, Athens played a small part in the ill-fated Stoneman Raid when a skirmish was fought on a site overlooking the Middle Oconee River near what is now the old Macon Highway. As in many southern towns, there is a Confederate memorial. It is located on Broad Street, near the University of Georgia Arch.
During Reconstruction, Athens continued to grow. The form of government changed to a mayor-council government with a new city charter on August 24, 1872 with Captain Henry Beusse as the first mayor of Athens. Henry Beusse was instrumental in the rapid growth of the city after the Civil War. After holding the position of mayor he worked in the railroad industry and helped to bring railroads to the region creating growth in many of the surrounding communities. Freed slaves moved to the city. Many were attracted by the new centers for education such as the Freedman's Bureau. This new population was served by three black newspapers – the Athens Blade, the Athens Clipper, and the Progressive Era.
In the 1880s, as Athens became more densely populated, city services and improvements were undertaken. The Athens Police
Department was founded in 1881 and public schools opened in fall of 1886. Telephone service was introduced in 1882 by the Bell Telephone Company
. Transportation improvements were also introduced with a street paving program beginning in 1885 and streetcars, pulled by mules, in 1888.
By its centennial in 1901, Athens was a much-changed city. A new city hall
was completed in 1904. An African-American middle class
and professional class had grown around the corner of Washington and Hull Streets, known as the "Hot Corner." The theater at the Morton Building hosted movies and performances by well-known black musicians such as Louis Armstrong
, Cab Calloway
, and Duke Ellington
. In 1907 aviation pioneer Ben T. Epps
became Georgia's first pilot on a hill outside town that would become the Athens-Ben Epps Airport
. Athens got its first tall building in 1908 with the seven-story Southern Mutual Insurance Company building.
During World War II
, the U.S. Navy built new buildings and paved runways to serve as a training facility for naval pilots. In 1954, the U.S. Navy chose Athens as the site for the Navy Supply Corps school. The school was located in Normal Town in the buildings of the old Normal School
. The school is now scheduled to be moved in 2011 under the Base Realignment and Closure
process.
In 1961, Athens witnessed part of the civil rights movement when Charlayne Hunter
and Hamilton Holmes
became the first two black students to enter the University of Georgia
. Three years later, a gas station attendant and member of the KKK followed black Army reserve officer Lemuel Penn
out of town and murdered him in Madison County near Colbert, Georgia
. This received national attention. Despite the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954, the Athens – Clarke County school district remained segregated
until 1970.
, the balance has a total area of 118.2 square miles (306.1 km²), of which 117.8 square miles (305.1 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (0.41%) is water.
Athens lies within the Humid subtropical climate
zone, with hot, humid summers and mild to moderately cold winters. Annual rainfall averages 49.7 inches. Light to moderate snowfall can occur in winter. In the spring, frequent thunderstorm
s can sometimes become severe, even producing tornado
es. The city itself sits on a series of anomalous hills, unique to the Piedmont region
.
of 2000, there were 100,266 people, 39,239 households, and 19,344 families residing in the city. The population density
was 851.5 people per square mile (328.8/km²). There were 41,633 housing units at an average density of 353.6 per square mile (136.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.71% White, 27.37% Black
or African American, 0.21% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.11% from other races
, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.39% of the population.
There were 39,239 households out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.7% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 31.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,118, and the median income for a family was $41,407. Males had a median income of $30,359 versus $23,039 for females. The per capita income
for the balance was $17,103. About 15.0% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
, David Dellinger
and William Ayers.
Independent publisher Hill Street Press
is headquartered here. Authors with previous, or current, residence in the city include Pulitzer Prize
winners Deborah Blum
and Edward Larson
, as well as Judith Ortiz Cofer
, Reginald McKnight
and Coleman Barks
.
. One is the Twilight Criterium. In addition to its yearly weekend of bike events, Athens has a bicycle culture
, observed the first Friday of each month at Courteous Mass (sponsored by BikeAthens
) and the last Friday of each month at Critical Mass
(an independent gathering).
and 40 Watt Club
as the bands R.E.M.
and the B-52's
scored breakout hits. The original Allen's was one of the oldest bars in Athens. It closed in 2004 and re-opened in 2007 at a new location. Other notable bands were Widespread Panic
, Dreams So Real
, Indigo Girls
, Matthew Sweet
, The Method Actors
, Love Tractor
, Pylon
, Flat Duo Jets
, The Primates
, Modern Skirts
, The Whigs
, and Corey Smith
.
National acts that have come out of Athens include: Danger Mouse
, Dreams So Real
, alternative duo Jucifer
, Vic Chesnutt
, Drive-By Truckers
, Elf Power
, Neutral Milk Hotel
, The Sunshine Fix
, Bubba Sparxxx
, Colt Ford
, Brantley Gilbert
, Corey Smith
, Harvey Milk (band)
, The Olivia Tremor Control
, of Montreal
, Five Eight
, Dead Confederate
, Jet by Day
, Athens Boys Choir
, and R.E.M.
. R.E.M. members Michael Stipe
, Mike Mills
and Peter Buck
still maintain residences in Athens.
Every summer since 1996 the city has hosted AthFest, a non-profit music and arts festival in the downtown area.
supports grades pre-school to grade twelve. The district consists of fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools (one non-traditional). The district has 791 full-time teachers and over 11,457 students.
. Flagpole Magazine
is an alternative newspaper publishing weekly.
Local radio stations include:
In addition, WFSH-FM
104.7 FM, a contemporary Christian music station, is licensed to Athens but based in Atlanta. Atlanta-based Rhythmic Top 40 station WSBB-FM (95.5 The Beat) was formerly licensed to Athens (and also the former home of country station WNGC, which now broadcasts at 106.1) but has since changed its city of license to Doraville, Georgia
.
Television Channel 8, WGTV
and channel 34, WUVG are both licensed to Athens. However their transmitters are in the Atlanta metropolitan area. WGTV broadcasts from the top of Stone Mountain
. WUGA-TV has studios out of UGA, but maintains its transmitter near Toccoa
, its city of license.
was shot in Athens, using local townspeople and students and faculty from the University of Georgia
as its cast. The film had its premiere in Athens in January 1940, in an event attended by Governor Eurith D. Rivers
. The movie, Darius Goes West
, was shot in Athens.
The short lived 1980–81 ABC-TV
television series Breaking Away (based on the 1979 film of the same name) was filmed in and around Athens, and made use of the University buildings, and local stone quarries for filming locations.
, and near the eastern terminus of Georgia 316
and the southern terminus of State Route 106. Other state routes in Athens are SR 8
and SR 15
, which follow US 29 and 441 respectively, SR 10
which follows US 78 east and west of Athens but deviates to US 78 Business to go through Athens, and SR 15 Alternate which starts at the SR 10 Loop interchange at Milledge Avenue and follows Milledge and Prince Avenues to US 129 which it follows to the north. The Georgia State Route 10 Loop
serves as a limited access perimeter. The city is bisected east to west by Broad St/Atlanta Highway (US 78 Bus and SR 10) and north to south by Milledge Avenue (SR 15 Alt). Lumpkin St, Prince Ave (SR 15 Alt), North Ave, and Oconee St (US 78 Bus) along with Broad St are major thoroughfares radiating from Downtown (Athens)
. College Station Rd and Gaines School Rd are major thoroughfares on the east side of Athens, along with US 78 east (Lexington Rd). On the west side most major thoroughfares intersect US 78 Bus (Broad St/Atlanta Hwy), including Alps Rd/Hawthorne Ave, Epps Bridge Pkwy, and Timothy Rd/Mitchell Bridge Rd.
(FAA code AHN) has been operational since 1917. It is located east of downtown outside Georgia State Route 10 Loop
and north of US Route 78. AHN qualifies for air service to be provided under the Essential Air Service
provisions. Currently, Georgia Skies and Wings Air
provide commercial air service to Atlanta, and until 2008 (prior to either airline's current AHN service), US Airways
provided service to Charlotte
. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the primary point of departure and arrival for Athenians due to the relative lack of air service to AHN.
with the East-Side. Organizations such as BikeAthens
support and encourage biking. Skateboarding and small scooters are also common sights around UGA campus and Downtown.
Athens Transit
provides intracity transit 6 days per week. UGA Campus Transit
provides fare-free transit around the University of Georgia campus and Milledge Avenue. Southeastern Stages, a subsidiary of Greyhound Lines
provides intercity bus services.
Athens has no direct passenger rail service; the closest Amtrak
stations are located in Atlanta, Gainesville
, and Toccoa
. Freight service is provided by CSX and Athens Line
, the latter having leased tracks from Norfolk Southern. The Georgia Department of Transportation
has proposed the city as the terminus of a commuter line that links Atlanta and Gwinnett County along the Georgia 316 corridor.
as well as Georgia Power
, a subsidiary of Southern Company
. Water utility is provided by the city. Garbage is provided by private companies according to customer purchase, though the city does offer municipal garbage pick up as a service. Natural gas
is supplied by Atlanta Gas Light
through various marketers within the de-regulated market.
, Greece
Cortona
, Italy
Iaşi
, Romania
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper (the county seat) and Clarke County. The University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
is located in this college town
College town
A college town or university town is a community which is dominated by its university population...
and is responsible for the initial growth of the city. In 1991, after a vote the preceding year, the original city abandoned its charter in order to form a unified government with Clarke County
Clarke County, Georgia
Clarke County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 101,489. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 114,063...
, referred to collectively as Athens-Clarke County. As of the 2010 census, the consolidated city-county (including all of Athens-Clarke County except Winterville
Winterville, Georgia
Winterville is a city in Clarke County, Georgia, United States. Since 1991, when the city of Athens abandoned its city charter to form the unified government of Athens-Clarke County, Winterville has been the only municipality located wholly within Athens-Clarke County...
and a portion of Bogart
Bogart, Georgia
Pink ponies live in this town and then good vj is b=Bogart is a town in Clarke and Oconee counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The town is mostly in Oconee County, with a portion extending into Clarke County. The population was 1,049 at the 2000 census — 931 of the town's 1,049 residents lived...
) had a total population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 115,452. Athens-Clarke County is the fifth-largest city in Georgia and the principal city of the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 189,264 as of the 2008 Census Bureau estimate.
History
Oconee River
The Oconee River is a river which has its origin in Hall County, Georgia, and terminates where it joins the Ocmulgee River to form the Altamaha River near Lumber City at the borders of Montgomery County, Wheeler County, and Jeff Davis County. South of Athens, two forks, known as the North Oconee...
called Cedar Shoals stood where Athens is located today. On January 27, 1785, the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
granted a charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
by Abraham Baldwin
Abraham Baldwin
Abraham Baldwin was an American politician, Patriot, and Founding Father from the U.S. state of Georgia. Baldwin was a Georgia representative in the Continental Congress and served in the United States House of Representatives and Senate after the adoption of the Constitution.-Minister:After...
for the University of Georgia as the first state-supported university
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
. Sixteen years later, in 1801, a committee from the university's board of trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s selected a site for the university on a hill above Cedar Shoals in what was then Jackson County
Jackson County, Georgia
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population in 2000 was 41,589. Explosive growth is evident with a population of 63,544 in the 2009 Census estimates. The county seat is Jefferson.-History:...
. On July 25, John Milledge, one of the trustees and later governor of Georgia, bought 633 acres (2.6 km²) from Daniel Easley and donated it to the university. Milledge named the surrounding area Athens after the city that was home to the academy
Academy
An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...
of Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
The first buildings on the University of Georgia campus were made from logs. The town grew as lots adjacent to the college were sold to raise money for the additional construction of the school. By the time the first class graduated from the University in 1804, Athens consisted of three homes, three stores and a few other buildings facing Front Street, now known as Broad Street. Completed in 1806 and named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin College was the University of Georgia and the City of Athens' first permanent structure. This brick building is now called Old College.
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
s fueling the industrial and commercial development. Athens became known as the "Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
of the South" after the city in England known for its mills. In 1833 a group of Athens businessmen led by James Camak, tired of their wagons getting stuck in the mud, built one of Georgia's first railroads, the Georgia, connecting Athens to Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
by 1841, and to Marthasville (now Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
) by 1845.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Athens became a significant supply center when the New Orleans armory was relocated to what is now called the Chicopee building. Fortifications can still be found along parts of the North Oconee River between College and Oconee St. In addition, Athens played a small part in the ill-fated Stoneman Raid when a skirmish was fought on a site overlooking the Middle Oconee River near what is now the old Macon Highway. As in many southern towns, there is a Confederate memorial. It is located on Broad Street, near the University of Georgia Arch.
During Reconstruction, Athens continued to grow. The form of government changed to a mayor-council government with a new city charter on August 24, 1872 with Captain Henry Beusse as the first mayor of Athens. Henry Beusse was instrumental in the rapid growth of the city after the Civil War. After holding the position of mayor he worked in the railroad industry and helped to bring railroads to the region creating growth in many of the surrounding communities. Freed slaves moved to the city. Many were attracted by the new centers for education such as the Freedman's Bureau. This new population was served by three black newspapers – the Athens Blade, the Athens Clipper, and the Progressive Era.
In the 1880s, as Athens became more densely populated, city services and improvements were undertaken. The Athens Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Department was founded in 1881 and public schools opened in fall of 1886. Telephone service was introduced in 1882 by the Bell Telephone Company
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
. Transportation improvements were also introduced with a street paving program beginning in 1885 and streetcars, pulled by mules, in 1888.
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
was completed in 1904. An African-American middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
and professional class had grown around the corner of Washington and Hull Streets, known as the "Hot Corner." The theater at the Morton Building hosted movies and performances by well-known black musicians such as Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. In 1907 aviation pioneer Ben T. Epps
Ben T. Epps
Ben T. Epps , known as "Georgia's First Aviator" was an American aviation pioneer. In 1907, he built a monoplane of his own design, now known as the Epps 1907 Monoplane. This was followed by other original monoplane and biplane designs in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1916, 1924 and 1930...
became Georgia's first pilot on a hill outside town that would become the Athens-Ben Epps Airport
Athens-Ben Epps Airport
Athens-Ben Epps Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Athens, in Clarke County, Georgia, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation. The airport is named after Ben T...
. Athens got its first tall building in 1908 with the seven-story Southern Mutual Insurance Company building.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the U.S. Navy built new buildings and paved runways to serve as a training facility for naval pilots. In 1954, the U.S. Navy chose Athens as the site for the Navy Supply Corps school. The school was located in Normal Town in the buildings of the old Normal School
State Normal School (Athens, Georgia)
The State Normal School was a teaching college located in Athens, Georgia, United States, founded in 1891, whose function was later incorporated into the curricula of the University of Georgia...
. The school is now scheduled to be moved in 2011 under the Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
process.
In 1961, Athens witnessed part of the civil rights movement when Charlayne Hunter
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an American journalist and former foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, and the Public Broadcasting Service....
and Hamilton Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes was an American orthopedic physician. He and Charlayne Hunter-Gault were the first two African-American students admitted to the University of Georgia. Additionally, Holmes was the first African-American student to attend the Emory University School of Medicine, where he...
became the first two black students to enter the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. Three years later, a gas station attendant and member of the KKK followed black Army reserve officer Lemuel Penn
Lemuel Penn
Lt. Col. Lemuel Augustus Penn was a decorated veteran of World War II and a United States Army Reserve officer who was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1964, nine days after passage of the Civil Rights Act.Of African American descent, Lemuel Penn joined the Army Reserve from Howard...
out of town and murdered him in Madison County near Colbert, Georgia
Colbert, Georgia
Colbert is a city in Madison County, Georgia, United States. The population was 488 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Colbert is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. This received national attention. Despite the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954, the Athens – Clarke County school district remained segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
until 1970.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the balance has a total area of 118.2 square miles (306.1 km²), of which 117.8 square miles (305.1 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (0.41%) is water.
Athens lies within the Humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
zone, with hot, humid summers and mild to moderately cold winters. Annual rainfall averages 49.7 inches. Light to moderate snowfall can occur in winter. In the spring, frequent thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s can sometimes become severe, even producing tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es. The city itself sits on a series of anomalous hills, unique to the Piedmont region
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
.
Climate
Neighborhoods
- Downtown
- Pulaski Heights
- Five Points
- Chicopee-Dudley
- East Side
- Boulevard
-
West Side - Newtown
- NormaltownNormaltownNormaltown is a neighborhood in Athens, Georgia, by the Athens Regional Medical Center. It was the first area of Athens to be wired for electricity after the completion of the Mitchell's Bridge hydroelectric plant in 1896. In the 1980s, Allen's in Normaltown was an early venue for bands such as R.E.M...
-
Cobbham -
Beechwood -
Briarcliff
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 100,266 people, 39,239 households, and 19,344 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 851.5 people per square mile (328.8/km²). There were 41,633 housing units at an average density of 353.6 per square mile (136.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.71% White, 27.37% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American, 0.21% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.11% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.39% of the population.
There were 39,239 households out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.7% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 31.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,118, and the median income for a family was $41,407. Males had a median income of $30,359 versus $23,039 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the balance was $17,103. About 15.0% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
- Legislative: The government is headed by an elected mayor and 10 elected commissioners from 8 geographical districts and 2 super-districts covering districts 1–4 and 5–8
- Executive: The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County's day to day operations are overseen by a manager appointed by the Mayor and Commission. There are 26 main departments, divisions and offices under the managerial group
- Judicial: Athens-Clarke County houses Magistrate, Juvenile, Municipal, Probate, State and Superior Courts. Superior Court covers the Western Judicial Circuit, which also includes Oconee County
Politics
The Human Rights Festival, held annually, has brought in speakers and activists such as Jesse JacksonJesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
, David Dellinger
David Dellinger
David T. Dellinger , was an influential American radical, a pacifist and activist for nonviolent social change.-Chicago Seven:...
and William Ayers.
Businesses
Hill Street Press
Hill Street Press is an independent publisher with a focus college trivia books and 100% thematic crossword puzzle books for enthusiasts. Books published by Hill Street Press are available through National Book Network....
is headquartered here. Authors with previous, or current, residence in the city include Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winners Deborah Blum
Deborah Blum
Deborah Blum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York....
and Edward Larson
Edward Larson
Edward John Larson is a North American historian and legal scholar. He is University Professor of history and holds the Hugh & Hazel Darling Chair in Law at Pepperdine University, he was formerly Herman E. Talmadge Chair of Law and Richard B. Russell Professor of American History at the University...
, as well as Judith Ortiz Cofer
Judith Ortiz Cofer
Judith Ortiz Cofer is a Puerto Rican author. Her work spans a range of literary genres including poetry, short stories, autobiography, essays, and Young-adult fiction.-Early years:...
, Reginald McKnight
Reginald McKnight
-Life:McKnight was born 26 February 1956 in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany to an Air Force family; therefore, he moved around a lot in childhood, although he calls Colorado home...
and Coleman Barks
Coleman Barks
Coleman Barks is an American poet. Although he neither speaks nor reads Persian, he is nonetheless renowned as an interpreter of Rumi and other mystic poets of Persia.- Biographical notes:...
.
Tourism
Every spring there are bicycle races collectively known as the Twilight SeriesTwilight Series
The Twilight Series is a weekend of bicycle races and events that takes place every Spring in Athens, Georgia, United States since 1980. During the course of each Twilight weekend, competitive events in a variety of fields are staged, including BMX racing and trick contests, a Kids' Criterium, a...
. One is the Twilight Criterium. In addition to its yearly weekend of bike events, Athens has a bicycle culture
Bicycle culture
Bicycle culture can refer to a mainstream culture that supports the use of bicycles or to a subculture. Although "bike culture" is often used to refer to various forms of associated fashion, it is erroneous to call fashion in and of itself a culture....
, observed the first Friday of each month at Courteous Mass (sponsored by BikeAthens
BikeAthens
BikeAthens is a transportation choices organization based in Athens, Georgia. It is incorporated as, and originally known as, the Athens/Clarke Safe Cycling Association...
) and the last Friday of each month at Critical Mass
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and...
(an independent gathering).
Competitiveness
In 2010 the average household rent in Athens was $962. The national average was $1087.Arts and culture
Culture coexists with the university students in creating an art scene, music scene and intellectual environment. The city has music venues, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops that cater to its creative climate.Points of Interest
- The remaining one of two double barreled cannons produced during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
is located here. - The "Tree That Owns ItselfTree That Owns ItselfThe Tree That Owns Itself is a white oak tree, widely assumed to have legal ownership of itself and of all land within eight feet of its base. The tree, also called the Jackson Oak, is located at the corner of South Finley and Dearing Streets in Athens, Georgia, USA...
"-which now is an offspring of the original tree - The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
- The University of Georgia Campus ArboretumUniversity of Georgia Campus ArboretumThe University of Georgia Campus Arboretum is an arboretum located across the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia. It is open daily without charge....
. - The Globe bar was voted by EsquireEsquire (magazine)Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine as the third top bar in America in 2007. - Open since 1955, Allen's is Athens oldest bar and grill despite closing in 2004 and re-opening in 2007.
- Network Translations, Inc. developed here. It produced the PIX firewall which was later purchased by Cisco SystemsCisco SystemsCisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
.
Music
The Athens music scene grew in the early 1970s and later during the 1980s with the Georgia TheatreGeorgia Theatre
The Georgia Theatre is a prominent music venue in Athens, Georgia, located in an old cinema. Many prominent acts from the early music of Athens, Georgia performed at the Theatre, including a range of folk, popular and country acts. The Theatre is on the Athens Music History Walking Tour sponsored...
and 40 Watt Club
40 Watt Club
The 40 Watt Club is a music venue in Athens, Georgia. Along with CBGB's, the Whisky a Go Go, and selected others, it was instrumental in launching American punk rock and "New Wave music."...
as the bands R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
and the B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
scored breakout hits. The original Allen's was one of the oldest bars in Athens. It closed in 2004 and re-opened in 2007 at a new location. Other notable bands were Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, Dreams So Real
Dreams So Real
Dreams So Real were an alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia, who gained some national exposure in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They recorded three albums, including two releases on Arista Records.-History:...
, Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s...
, The Method Actors
The Method Actors
The Method Actors were a post-punk/new wave musical group from Athens, Georgia, founded by Vic Varney and David Gamble in 1979.-Singles and EPs:*This Is It 7" ep: "The Method" / "Can't Act" / "Bleeding"...
, Love Tractor
Love Tractor
Love Tractor was a band from Athens, Georgia and like The B-52's, Pylon and R.E.M., was recognized as a founder of the Athens, Georgia alternative rock scene...
, Pylon
Pylon (band)
Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
, Flat Duo Jets
Flat Duo Jets
Flat Duo Jets was a rockabilly band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia. They were a major influence on several bands of the 1990s and 2000s, including The White Stripes. In interviews, Jack White has often acknowledged Dexter Romweber's influence...
, The Primates
The Primates
The Primates were one of the original post-punk / rock bands to come out of Athens, Georgia in the mid 1980s. Their loud, fast in-your-face hedonistic style is reminiscent of West Coast bands X and The Minutemen, but peppered with a definite influence of traditional Country Music. The Primates...
, Modern Skirts
Modern Skirts
Modern Skirts is an alternative rock band based in Athens, GA. The band consists of four members: Jay Gulley , JoJo Glidewell , Phillip Brantley and John Swint ....
, The Whigs
The Whigs
The Whigs are an American garage rock band from Athens, Georgia, consisting of lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and bassist Timothy Deaux.-Biography:...
, and Corey Smith
Corey Smith (musician)
Corey Smith is a country/rock/blues singer and guitarist.-Background:Growing up in Jackson County allowed Corey Smith to visit the college town of Athens, Georgia regularly. Smith originally attended Gainesville State College, before transferring to the University of West Georgia for his now wife...
.
National acts that have come out of Athens include: Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
, Dreams So Real
Dreams So Real
Dreams So Real were an alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia, who gained some national exposure in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They recorded three albums, including two releases on Arista Records.-History:...
, alternative duo Jucifer
Jucifer
Jucifer is a two piece sludge metal band signed to Relapse Records. The band's members include Gazelle Amber Valentine on lead guitar and vocals, and her husband Edgar Livengood on drums. They travel in an RV and are "nomadic in nature", preferring to tour constantly, living in their tour vehicle,...
, Vic Chesnutt
Vic Chesnutt
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
, Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
, Elf Power
Elf Power
Elf Power is an indie rock band that originated in Athens, Georgia. Currently, the line-up consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, and drummer Eric Harris...
, Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
, The Sunshine Fix
The Sunshine Fix
The Sunshine Fix is an Indie rock group. It is the solo project of The Olivia Tremor Control's Bill Doss. The name predates the Olivia Tremor Control and is currently in use....
, Bubba Sparxxx
Bubba Sparxxx
Warren Anderson Mathis , known by his stage name Bubba Sparxxx, is an American Southern rapper. His biggest hit is "Ms. New Booty" featuring The Ying Yang Twins which peaked at #7 in the United States...
, Colt Ford
Colt Ford
Jason Farris Brown known professionally as Colt Ford, is an American country music artist and former professional golfer. He has released three albums via his own Average Joe's label, and has charted four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts...
, Brantley Gilbert
Brantley Gilbert
Brantley Gilbert is an American country rock music singer-songwriter. He has released two albums, both on the Average Joe's Entertainment Group label. His songs have also been recorded by Colt Ford and Jason Aldean. In February 2011, he left Average Joe's label to join Valory Music Group, where he...
, Corey Smith
Corey Smith (musician)
Corey Smith is a country/rock/blues singer and guitarist.-Background:Growing up in Jackson County allowed Corey Smith to visit the college town of Athens, Georgia regularly. Smith originally attended Gainesville State College, before transferring to the University of West Georgia for his now wife...
, Harvey Milk (band)
Harvey Milk (band)
Harvey Milk are an American experimental rock/noise rock band that formed in Athens, Georgia in the early 1990s. While Harvey Milk invariably draws comparisons to the Melvins, due to their penchant for slow, heavy riffs, the band has touched upon such artists as ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Leonard Cohen,...
, The Olivia Tremor Control
The Olivia Tremor Control
The Olivia Tremor Control is an indie rock band prominent in the mid to late 1990s which, along with The Apples in Stereo and Neutral Milk Hotel, was one of the three original Elephant 6 projects...
, of Montreal
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
, Five Eight
Five Eight (band)
Five-Eight is a band from Athens, Georgia.Five-Eight is known for their energetic live shows, and has recorded six Compact Discs since 1992. They have toured with REM , and have performed with Cheap Trick, The Ramones, Cracker, Pylon, and Seven Mary Three...
, Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate is an American alternative rock band formed in Augusta, Georgia and based in Athens, Georgia.The band's sound has been described as a mix of alternative country and grunge and has drawn comparisons to Nirvana and My Morning Jacket.-History:...
, Jet by Day
Jet by Day
-History:Jet by Day was originally formed as the Hosstages in 1997 by guitarist David Matysiak, bassist Bo Wamsley and drummer Tom Naumann, while the three were students at Dunwoody High School in suburban Atlanta. In 1998 they changed their name to Jet By Day, and Matysiak and Naumann began...
, Athens Boys Choir
Athens Boys Choir
Athens Boys Choir is a transgender spoken word performer based in Athens, Georgia. Athens Boys Choir signed with Daemon Records in 2004 and subsequently released the debut album Rhapsody in T...
, and R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
. R.E.M. members Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, Mike Mills
Mike Mills
Michael Edward "Mike" Mills is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock group R.E.M.. Though known primarily as a bass guitarist, backing vocalist, and pianist, his musical repertoire includes also keyboards, guitar, and percussion instruments...
and Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
still maintain residences in Athens.
Every summer since 1996 the city has hosted AthFest, a non-profit music and arts festival in the downtown area.
Clarke County School District
The Clarke County School DistrictClarke County School District
The Clarke County School District is a public school district in Clarke County, Georgia, USA, based in Athens, Georgia. It serves Clarke County, which includes the communities of Athens and Winterville, and part of Bogart, Georgia.-Schools:...
supports grades pre-school to grade twelve. The district consists of fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools (one non-traditional). The district has 791 full-time teachers and over 11,457 students.
Private schools
- Athens Christian School (grades K-12)
- Athens Montessori School (grades K-8)
- Saint Joseph Catholic School (grades K-8)
- Monsignor Donovan Catholic High SchoolMonsignor Donovan Catholic High SchoolMonsignor Donovan Catholic High School is an independent, Roman Catholic high school located in Athens, Georgia. It operates with the blessing of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta.-Mission:...
(grades 9–12)
Colleges and universities
- The University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA), a public research university, is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1785, it was the first state-chartered university in the United StatesOldest public university in the United StatesThe title of oldest public university in the United States is claimed by three universities: the University of Georgia, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the The College of William & Mary.- University of Georgia :...
. - Athens Technical CollegeAthens Technical CollegeAthens Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1958 as Athens Area Vocational-Technical School. The school was renamed Athens Area Technical Institute in 1987 and took its current name in 2000...
is a Technical College System of GeorgiaTechnical College System of GeorgiaThe Technical College System of Georgia , formerly known as the Department of Technical and Adult Education , is the body which supervises the U.S...
public college. It offers certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees in business, health, technical, and manufacturing-related fields. - Piedmont CollegePiedmont CollegePiedmont College is a private liberal arts institution founded in 1897 to serve residents of the Appalachian area of northeast Georgia, USA. When the college was first founded, it was established as the J.S. Green Collegiate Institute named after a local banker. In 1899, the name was shortened to...
established a campus in Athens in 1995.
Media
Athens Banner-Herald publishes daily. UGA has an independent daily newspaper, The Red & BlackThe Red and Black
The Red & Black is an independent daily student newspaper of the University of Georgia.-History:Students published its first issue in tabloid format on November 24, 1893, from offices in the Academic Building on North Campus....
. Flagpole Magazine
Flagpole Magazine
Flagpole Magazine, often abbreviated to simply Flagpole, is an American alternative newsweekly that focuses on the cultural scene of Athens, Georgia and its surrounding communities. It was founded by Jared Bailey and Dennis Greenia in 1984 and is currently edited and published by Pete McCommons...
is an alternative newspaper publishing weekly.
Local radio stations include:
- WMSL 88.9 FM, a religiousChristian radioChristian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
station featuring traditional Christian music and teaching - WUOG 90.5 FM, UGA's student-run radio station
- WUGA 91.7 and 97.9 FM, an affiliate of Georgia Public BroadcastingGeorgia Public BroadcastingGeorgia Public Broadcasting is the public broadcasting radio and television state network in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is operated by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission....
and National Public Radio also broadcasting from the UGA campus - WPPP-LPWPPP-LPWPPP-LP is a non-commercial low power FM radio station in Athens, Georgia, USA. Owned by the non-profit Athens Community Radio Foundation, Inc., the station reaches listeners within a 15-mile radius of its studios near the University of Georgia campus...
100.7 FM (Hot 100), a low-power, non-commercial alternative/progressive rock station - WRFC (AM)WRFC (AM)WRFC is a sports radio station licensed to Athens, Georgia, USA. The format was easy listening until the late 1960s, when it changed to a light rock format. The station was previously owned by Southern Broadcasting of Athens, Inc. until June 2008, when it was purchased, along with its sister...
960 AM, ESPN RadioESPN RadioESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
(formerly Athens' local Top 40 music station during the 1960s and 1970s). Owned by Cox RadioCox RadioCox Radio, Inc. is a division of Cox Enterprises that holds a number of radio stations. Cox Radio is headquartered at 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia....
. - WGAUWGAUWGAU is a radio station licensed to serve Athens, Georgia, United States, that broadcasts a News/Talk format. The transmitter is located at the studios in the Five Points area of Downtown Athens....
1340 AM, news and talkTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
. Owned by Cox Radio. - WXAGWXAGWXAG is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format. Licensed to Athens, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Mecca Communications, Inc..-History:...
1470 AM, urban gospel music
In addition, WFSH-FM
WFSH-FM
Called "104.7 the Fish", WFSH-FM is an FM radio station in Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting at 104.7 MHz. The station format is called "Safe For The Whole Family", a hybrid of Christian pop and clean secular music with a mainstream feel...
104.7 FM, a contemporary Christian music station, is licensed to Athens but based in Atlanta. Atlanta-based Rhythmic Top 40 station WSBB-FM (95.5 The Beat) was formerly licensed to Athens (and also the former home of country station WNGC, which now broadcasts at 106.1) but has since changed its city of license to Doraville, Georgia
Doraville, Georgia
Doraville is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 8,330.-History:Doraville was incorporated by an act of the Georgia General Assembly, approved December 15, 1871...
.
Television Channel 8, WGTV
WGTV
WGTV channel 8 is the metro Atlanta station and flagship for Georgia Public Broadcasting , Georgia's Public Broadcasting Service Public television network....
and channel 34, WUVG are both licensed to Athens. However their transmitters are in the Atlanta metropolitan area. WGTV broadcasts from the top of Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock in Stone Mountain, Georgia, United States. At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet amsl and 825 feet above the surrounding area. Stone Mountain granite extends underground at its longest point into Gwinnett County...
. WUGA-TV has studios out of UGA, but maintains its transmitter near Toccoa
Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa is a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States located approximately from Athens and approximately northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census...
, its city of license.
Television and films
The 1940 film The Green HandThe Green Hand
The Green Hand is a 1940 short film about a young man whose path to juvenile delinquency is rerouted through his participation in the Future Farmers of America. The film was based on the 1932 novel by Paul W. Chapman, an agriculture professor at the University of Georgia...
was shot in Athens, using local townspeople and students and faculty from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
as its cast. The film had its premiere in Athens in January 1940, in an event attended by Governor Eurith D. Rivers
Eurith D. Rivers
Eurith Dickenson Rivers was an American politician from Lanier County, Georgia. He was the 68th Governor of Georgia from 1937 to 1941.-Life and career:Rivers obtained a degree through La Salle Extension University...
. The movie, Darius Goes West
Darius Goes West
Darius Goes West: The Roll of his Life is a documentary by Logan Smalley about Darius Weems, a teenager afflicted with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who embarked during the Summer of 2005 on a 7,000 mile road trip across the United States to promote awareness of the fatal disease Duchenne muscular...
, was shot in Athens.
The short lived 1980–81 ABC-TV
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television series Breaking Away (based on the 1979 film of the same name) was filmed in and around Athens, and made use of the University buildings, and local stone quarries for filming locations.
Highways
The city is the focus of U.S. Highways 29, 78, 129, 441, and Georgia State Route 72Georgia State Route 72
State Route 72 is an east–west highway connecting Athens-Clarke County with Elberton in Georgia, and then to the South Carolina line at the Savannah River. It continues in South Carolina as South Carolina Highway 72, where it runs from the state line to Rock Hill, South Carolina near...
, and near the eastern terminus of Georgia 316
Georgia State Route 316
State Route 316 links Metro Atlanta with Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia. The state route is in length. Georgia 316 begins at I-85 exit 106, near Lawrenceville, passing through Bethlehem, Georgia and Statham, Georgia and ending at SR 10 Loop near Athens...
and the southern terminus of State Route 106. Other state routes in Athens are SR 8
Georgia State Route 8
State Route 8 is a west–east route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route is cosigned with either U.S. 29 or U.S. 78 for much of its entire length.-Major intersections:...
and SR 15
Georgia State Route 15
State Route 15 is a north–south route that transects the U.S. state of Georgia, east of its centerline. Its northern end is at the border of North Carolina just north of Dilliard; its southern end is at the Florida border just south of Folkston, where the actual highway continues southwards...
, which follow US 29 and 441 respectively, SR 10
Georgia State Route 10
Georgia state route 10 begins at the Downtown Connector in Atlanta and ends at the South Carolina state line in Augusta, Georgia. The western end of Georgia 10 travels along Freedom Parkway, which bypasses the Carter Center to the west....
which follows US 78 east and west of Athens but deviates to US 78 Business to go through Athens, and SR 15 Alternate which starts at the SR 10 Loop interchange at Milledge Avenue and follows Milledge and Prince Avenues to US 129 which it follows to the north. The Georgia State Route 10 Loop
Georgia State Route 10 Loop
State Route 10 Loop is a beltway around Athens, Georgia, United States. Except for a single at-grade intersection, it is built to freeway standards. Much of the road is concurrent with other routes - U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 78, U.S. Route 129, U.S...
serves as a limited access perimeter. The city is bisected east to west by Broad St/Atlanta Highway (US 78 Bus and SR 10) and north to south by Milledge Avenue (SR 15 Alt). Lumpkin St, Prince Ave (SR 15 Alt), North Ave, and Oconee St (US 78 Bus) along with Broad St are major thoroughfares radiating from Downtown (Athens)
Downtown (Athens)
Downtown Athens in Athens, Georgia is generally considered to be the area bounded on the north by Dougherty Street , on the south by Broad Street and the University of Georgia campus, on the west by Pulaski Street, and on the east by Foundry Street....
. College Station Rd and Gaines School Rd are major thoroughfares on the east side of Athens, along with US 78 east (Lexington Rd). On the west side most major thoroughfares intersect US 78 Bus (Broad St/Atlanta Hwy), including Alps Rd/Hawthorne Ave, Epps Bridge Pkwy, and Timothy Rd/Mitchell Bridge Rd.
Airports
Athens-Ben Epps AirportAthens-Ben Epps Airport
Athens-Ben Epps Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Athens, in Clarke County, Georgia, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation. The airport is named after Ben T...
(FAA code AHN) has been operational since 1917. It is located east of downtown outside Georgia State Route 10 Loop
Georgia State Route 10 Loop
State Route 10 Loop is a beltway around Athens, Georgia, United States. Except for a single at-grade intersection, it is built to freeway standards. Much of the road is concurrent with other routes - U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 78, U.S. Route 129, U.S...
and north of US Route 78. AHN qualifies for air service to be provided under the Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which, prior to deregulation, were served by certificated airlines, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these...
provisions. Currently, Georgia Skies and Wings Air
Wings Air
Wings Abadi Airlines, usually shortened to Wings Air, is a scheduled commuter passenger airline based in Jakarta, Indonesia, operating out of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport...
provide commercial air service to Atlanta, and until 2008 (prior to either airline's current AHN service), US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
provided service to Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the primary point of departure and arrival for Athenians due to the relative lack of air service to AHN.
Alternative
Athens encourages use of alternative transportation. Bike lanes are provided on major thoroughfares. A rail-to-trail redevelopment is being considered to connect Downtown (Athens)Downtown (Athens)
Downtown Athens in Athens, Georgia is generally considered to be the area bounded on the north by Dougherty Street , on the south by Broad Street and the University of Georgia campus, on the west by Pulaski Street, and on the east by Foundry Street....
with the East-Side. Organizations such as BikeAthens
BikeAthens
BikeAthens is a transportation choices organization based in Athens, Georgia. It is incorporated as, and originally known as, the Athens/Clarke Safe Cycling Association...
support and encourage biking. Skateboarding and small scooters are also common sights around UGA campus and Downtown.
Bus
Athens Transit
Athens Transit
Athens Transit is a public bus system in Athens, Georgia. The system was started in 1976, and today 18 routes operate throughout the city. The standard fare is $1.50. University of Georgia students, faculty, and staff and Piedmont College students ride fare-free with a valid I.D...
provides intracity transit 6 days per week. UGA Campus Transit
UGA Campus Transit
The University of Georgia Campus Transit system operates nine weekday routes, three night routes, one overnight route and one weekend route on the campus and vicinity of the University. Campus Transit has an average daily ridership of 39,765...
provides fare-free transit around the University of Georgia campus and Milledge Avenue. Southeastern Stages, a subsidiary of Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
provides intercity bus services.
Rail
Athens has no direct passenger rail service; the closest Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
stations are located in Atlanta, Gainesville
Gainesville, Georgia (Amtrak station)
The Gainesville Amtrak Station, formerly known as the Gainesville Southern Railway Depot, is a train station in Gainesville, Georgia that is served by Amtrak's Crescent...
, and Toccoa
Toccoa (Amtrak station)
The Toccoa Amtrak Station, formerly known as the Toccoa Southern Railway Depot, is a train station in Toccoa, Georgia that is served by Amtrak's Crescent...
. Freight service is provided by CSX and Athens Line
Athens Line
Athens Line, LLC is a railroad that operates in the U.S. state of Georgia.Established in 2001, the ABR leases of former Norfolk Southern Railway track between Madison and Junior State, Georgia, via Athens. It is operated under contract by the Great Walton Railroad....
, the latter having leased tracks from Norfolk Southern. The Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
has proposed the city as the terminus of a commuter line that links Atlanta and Gwinnett County along the Georgia 316 corridor.
Utilities
Electric service in Athens-Clarke is provided by two customer-owned electric cooperatives, Walton EMC and Jackson EMCJackson Electric Membership Corporation
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation is one of 39 not for profit membership-owned electric cooperatives located the State of Georgia with service in the North-East metropolitan Atlanta area...
as well as Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
, a subsidiary of Southern Company
Southern Company
Southern Company is a public utility holding company of primarily electric utilities in the southern United States. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with executive offices also located in Birmingham, Alabama. The company is currently the 16th largest utility company in the world and the...
. Water utility is provided by the city. Garbage is provided by private companies according to customer purchase, though the city does offer municipal garbage pick up as a service. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
is supplied by Atlanta Gas Light
Atlanta Gas Light
Atlanta Gas Light Company , commonly still known as Atlanta Gas Light , is the largest natural gas wholesaler in the Southeast U.S., and is the "AGL" in parent company AGL Resources. It was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Atlanta, as is AGL Resources...
through various marketers within the de-regulated market.
Sister cities
Athens has three sister cities. AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Cortona
Cortona
Cortona is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. It is the main cultural and artistic center of the Val di Chiana after Arezzo.-History:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
Notable residents and natives
- Kevin BarnesKevin BarnesKevin L. Barnes is the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the indie rock group Of Montreal, part of the Elephant 6 Collective. Barnes started the band on his own and, although providing several stories as to the origin of the name, is said to have named it after a failed romance...
– Founding member of the band of MontrealOf MontrealOf Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective... - Kim BasingerKim BasingerKimila Ann "Kim" Basinger is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for her portrayals of Domino Petachi, the Bond girl in Never Say Never Again , and Vicki Vale, the female lead in Batman . Basinger received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture...
– American Film Actress - Bill BerryBill BerryWilliam "Bill" Thomas Berry is a retired American musician, multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. In addition to his drumming duties, Berry played many other instruments including guitar, bass guitar, and piano, both for songwriting and on R.E.M....
– Founding member of R.E.M. - John BerryJohn BerrySir John Berry was an English naval officer of the Royal Navy, and was in 1675 the captain of the annual convoy to Newfoundland that took place during the years of the colony's founding....
– Singer - Brian Bowles – Martial artistMartial artsMartial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
- Bradford Cox – Indie Rock Musician
- Ryan KeyRyan KeyRyan Key is an American rock musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American pop punk band Yellowcard, and one of the two lead singers in his side project Big If.-Early life:...
– lead singer and rhythm guitar of the band YellowcardYellowcardYellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre... - Jeff DanielsJeff DanielsJeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
– American actor. Born in Athens - Leila DenmarkLeila DenmarkLeila Alice Denmark is an American pediatrician. She was once the oldest practicing pediatrician in the world, until she retired in May 2001 at the age of 103. She is one of the rare supercentenarians known for reasons other than longevity...
- pediatrician and centenarian - Ben T. EppsBen T. EppsBen T. Epps , known as "Georgia's First Aviator" was an American aviation pioneer. In 1907, he built a monoplane of his own design, now known as the Epps 1907 Monoplane. This was followed by other original monoplane and biplane designs in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1916, 1924 and 1930...
– Aviation pioneer - Colt FordColt FordJason Farris Brown known professionally as Colt Ford, is an American country music artist and former professional golfer. He has released three albums via his own Average Joe's label, and has charted four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts...
- Country music musician. - Willie Green – Former NFL Football Player
- Forrest GriffinForrest GriffinForrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
– MMAMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fighter - Young HarrisYoung HarrisYoung Loftin Gerdine Harris was an American lawyer, businessman, politician, judge, and philanthropist. He is best known as the early benefactor of Young Harris College in the U.S. state of Georgia, after whom the school was named....
- Judge, philanthropist, and namesake of Young Harris CollegeYoung Harris CollegeYoung Harris College is a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college located in the mountains of northeast Georgia. The current president is Cathy Cox, former Georgia Secretary of State.-Origins:... - Wadsworth JarrellWadsworth JarrellWadsworth Aekins Jarrell is an African-American painter, sculptor and printmaker. Born in Albany, Georgia, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended the Art Institute of Chicago. After graduation, he became heavily involved in the local art scene and through his early work he explored the...
- Artist - Andy JohnsonAndy Johnson (American football)Andy Johnson , is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League during the 1970s.-Education:...
– Former NFL football player - John KasayJohn KasayJohn David Kasay is an American football kicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...
– Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
kicker - Leo KottkeLeo KottkeLeo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
– Acoustic guitarist - Jeff MangumJeff MangumJeff Mangum is a musician best known for being the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of the band Neutral Milk Hotel, as well as being one of the cofounders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Mangum, along with the other founding members of the Elephant 6, attended Ruston High School in the late...
– Indie Folk Musician - Brian McCann – MLB Baseball Player. Born in Athens
- Fred MillsFred Mills (musician)Fred Mills was University of Georgia music professor from 1996–2009, and a 1992 Grammy nominee who made more than 40 records as a trumpeter with the Canadian Brass quintet from 1972-1996....
– Classical music professor and Grammy nominee - Quentin MosesQuentin MosesQuentin Moses is an American football linebacker for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League.-Early years:Moses attended Cedar Shoals High School...
- American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins. (Born in Athens) - Madeleine PeyrouxMadeleine PeyrouxMadeleine Peyroux is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Peyroux is noted for her vocal style, which has been compared to that of Billie Holiday....
– American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Athens. - Dunta RobinsonDunta RobinsonWillie Dunta Robinson is an American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Houston Texans 10th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:...
– NFL Football Player - Chuck SmithChuck Smith (football player)Charles Henry Smith, III is the former Defensive Line Coach at Tennessee and a former American football defensive end in the NFL.-Early career:...
– Former NFL defensive end - Scott SpillaneScott SpillaneScott Spillane is one of the leaders of the Athens, Georgia, USA band The Gerbils. He is also known for his work playing horns for Neutral Milk Hotel, and appearing on albums and in live shows by Elephant 6 artists such as The Olivia Tremor Control, of Montreal and Elf Power.-References:...
- Musician, The Gerbils and Neutral Milk Hotel - Keith StricklandKeith StricklandJulian Keith Strickland is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one of the founding members of the The B-52s. Originally the band's drummer, Strickland switched to guitar after the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985...
– Musician, composer and founding member of The B-52s - Fran TarkentonFran TarkentonFrancis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
– Hall of Fame Quarterback - Laura Slade WigginsLaura Slade WigginsLaura Slade Wiggins is an American television and film actress and musician. She is best known for her role as "Karen Jackson" in the Showtime television series Shameless.-Personal life:...
- actress and musician - Cindy WilsonCindy WilsonCynthia Leigh Wilson is a vocalist and a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s.- Career :...
– Founding member of The B-52s - Ricky WilsonRicky Wilson (American musician)Ricky Helton Wilson was an American instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and musician. He was best known as the original guitarist and founding member of New Wave rock band the B-52s...
– Founding member of The B-52s
External links
- Athens-Clarke County Guide
- Athens-Clarke city/county government official site
- OnlineAthens – Athens Banner-Herald
- Athens profile, Georgia Encyclopedia
- Athens Historic Newspapers Archive in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Georgia Music Hall of Fame
- Athens-Clarke County public library
- Antebellum Athens and Clarke County, Georgia by Ernest C. Hynds in the Digital Library of Georgia