The consolidated city-county of Athens-Clarke is located in the northeastern part of Georgia State. It consists of the former City of Athens proper, which is the county seat and Clarke County also.
The University of Georgia is within this college township and really responsible for the first development of Athens. In 1991, after a successful vote the year prior, the original city abandoned its charter and decided to form a unified government with nearby Clarke County. The new region was known collectively as Athens-Clarke County. According to the 2010 Census, the consolidated city county had a complete population of roughly 115,452. This combined population consisted of all of Athens-Clarke County less a section of Bogart and Winterville.
Athens, Georgia was originally a trading settlement set up along the banks of Oconee River. The region went by the name Cedar Shoals during the latter part of the 1700s. On January 27, eighteen seventy five, the Georgia General Assembly chartered the University of Georgia as the first chartered state-supported university. Abraham Baldwin drafted the charter that existed solely on paper for sixteen years.
A delegation of men including John Twiggs, John Milledge, Hugh Lawson, Baldwin and George Walton traveled in the summer of 1801, to the area called Jackson County. Their aim was to pick the future location for their university and to secure a construction contract for the university. Unanimously, the delegation agreed on the property location on the hill above the Oconee River and Cedar Shoals. On July 25, the year 1801, Daniel Easley sold six hundred thirty three acres to Milledge and then donated it to the university. The land was named Athens in honor of the Greek city that was the center of culture and learning in the ancient times.
The Athens-Clarke County is spread out over approximately 125 square miles, that is the smallest area among the 159 counties in Georgia. One of the highest points in Athens is designated by City Hall in the downtown core. It is located about 761 feet above sea level. Athens-Clarke County was the 25th county established in the state of Georgia. It is around sixty five miles northeast of Atlanta.
There is a diverse economy within the region which consists of many sectors such as poultry processing, healthcare, education, tourism and timber. Other significant factors for the economy comprise the manufacturing of things such as textiles, electrical parts, transportation equipment, apparel, and industrial machines. Moreover, Athens is considered to be the main center for trade within the Northeast Georgia region.
There are some occupations that are more common within Athens compared to various parts of the country. Like for example, coil winders, bio-technology technicians, tapers, finishers, machine feeders and off-beaters, metal fabricators,surgical technologists as well as veterinary technicians and technologists are among the most popular jobs.
The major employment sectors within Athens are: Healthcare, Government, Education, Management, Manufacturing, Administrative Support and Sales as well as Finance and Business.