Learn More About Watkinsville, Georgia
Learn More About Watkinsville, Georgia
Watkinsville is a pleasant, family-friendly city in the state of Georgia. Although it has a total area of just over 3 square miles, it is the largest city in Oconee County, for which it serves as the county seat. It is governed by a mayor and five city council members who are separately elected. The city of less than 3,000 people is part of the Athens-Clarke County Metropolitan Statistical Area. It sits about 15 miles south of the City of Athens.
This community first appeared in the records of Clarke County in 1791. Initially known as “Big Springs” and located on the western limits of the new U.S., Watkinsville was a village straddling Creek and Cherokee territories, which constituted immense risk to residents. It was renamed in 1802 after Colonel Robert Watkins of Augusta, a lawyer credited with compiling A Digest of the Laws of the State of Georgia in years running up to 1799. The Town of Watkinsville was incorporated in November 1806.
The city was the seat of Clarke County through 1872, when it was supplanted by Athens. Residents of Watkinsville were said to have incensed by the decision to remove the county seat. This eventually led to the creation of Oconee County, named after the Oconee River, in 1875 and the city was designated as the seat of the new county.
Watkinsville is one of those cities whose pace of expansion has been rather measured over the years. It is currently home to about 3,000 residents, representing an increase of just around 1,000 in population since 2000. This has significantly contributed in preserving the small-town charm of the city. As of 2000 census, almost 70 percent of residents were 44 years old or younger. The median age was calculated at 34 years. Real estate in Watkinsville ranks among the more sought-after in the state of Georgia. Rowan Oak is a very popular community around here.
This is a city for families and many of such can be seen all around Watkinsville. More than half of the population is supposedly married. The community boasts some of the qualities that would appeal to an average family. It has a low crime rate and many of the residents here are well-educated individuals. It comes as no surprise to find that many of the housing units in Watkinsville are single-family homes.
If one of your criteria for moving anywhere is having well-educated people for neighbors, you may just find what you desire here. The percentage of adult residents in Watkinsville who have at least a college degree is estimated at around 40 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average. Public primary and secondary education is provided by the Oconee County School District.
The points of interest in Watkinsville include Eagle Tavern Museum, which is believed to be lying on the original location of the old Fort Edward and houses exhibits commemorating the wagon and stage travel era. The downtown is home to numerous stores, antique shops and art galleries, and fresh farm produce can be bought along the nearby Highway 441.
Watkinsville is a city for the family considering its low crime rate and the high proportion of residents with a college degree, among others. The community, whose unofficial motto is “The Artland of Georgia,” is rich in arts and culture.
