Ben T. Epps opened Athens' first aviation shop in 1904 and built the city's first airplane in 1907. Athens-Ben Epps Airport is now a base for corporate and charter flights and flying schools, and is the busiest small commercial airport in Georgia. Athens is known as Georgia's "Classic City" and blends southern culture, antebellum architecture, and a vibrant arts scene with the culture of the University of Georgia, top medical facilities, and abundant parks and nature areas.

1. Ben T. Epps built and flew his own planes, and in 1904
opened Athens’ first aviation shop. The first Epps-built
airplane, built in 1907 was powered by a two-cylinder
Anzani engine of approximately 15 horsepower.

2. Athens-Ben Epps Airport is a base for corporate jets,
charter services, and flying schools. Athens Airport is
currently the busiest small commercial airport in the
state of Georgia with 104 flights a day.

3. Athens is rightly known as Georgia’s “Classic City.”
Athens is a harmony of old and new: southern culture and
ante-bellum mansions, contemporary art and eclectic
nightlife, a Victorian-era downtown teeming with funky

4. Athens consistently ranks as among the nation's best towns
for relocation and retirement. New residents are drawn to
Athens by its moderate climate; convenience to Atlanta;
top hospitals and medical care; plus the culture,

5. The University of Georgia offers the Georgia Museum of
Art and the Georgia Museum of Natural History and
the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program, which
offers classes and lectures on everything from tai chi to
Civil War history.

6. UGA sports including football, hockey, baseball,
basketball, softball, swimming, gymnastics, golf, and more
draw visitors from all over the Southeast and beyond.

7. Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services maintains more than
2,000 acres of parks and facilities throughout the
community, including a zoo, nature center, a lake, water
parks, dog parks, fields, and miles of greenway that
extend through downtown for walking and biking..

8. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a 313-acre garden
on the Middle Oconee River, serves as a cultural,
educational and recreational facility.

9. Athens is also the center of a lively and diverse music
scene. Locals hoping to catch the next R.E.M.—which, along
with the B-52s and Widespread Panic, got its start in
Athens—can check out up-and-coming bands at the 40 Watt
Club or the Georgia Theatre.

10. Events such as Athens Wine Weekend, Classic City Brew
Fest, and AthFest are annually anticipated events that
bring crowds from all over the Southeast.

11. From the famed Top Chef, our acclaimed chef Hugh Acheson
has helped placed Athens as the culinary destination of
the South and continues to inspire more local gastronomic
experiences.

12. Athens is host to an array of entertainment from Broadway
shows to comedians and music stars such as Willie Nelson,
Merle Haggard, and Gavin Degraw.

13. Athens residents experience the four seasons throughout
the year. The summer months can average high temperatures
around 90 degrees, and the winter months average low
temperatures in the 30’s. There is an average of 4 inches
of rainfall each month and even though it is not very
common, there can be snowfall during the winter months.

14. Hotels in Athens offer an escape from your normal day-to-day.
From Hotel Indigo’s state-of-the-art green facility
to the romantic retreat at Foundry Park Inn, guests are
quickly whisked away.

15. With three high-tech hospitals and an impressive range of
support services Athens residents and visitors enjoy the
immeasurable benefits of outstanding healthcare
professionals, leading-edge technology, and superb

16. Residents of Athens enjoy a lower cost of living than the
national average. Athens’ Cost of Living Index is 92,
significantly lower than the national average of 100.
Georgia is tax-friendly for retirees: Social Security
benefits, along with up to $35,000 in most other types of
retirement income, are exempt from state taxes.

17. Athens being only 70 miles away from Atlanta offers
proximity to destinations such as the Georgia Aquarium,
Atlanta Zoo, numerous concert and sports venues, shopping,
without having to deal with the daily traffic congestion.

18. “The Best Places in Georgia for Job Seekers"
NerdWallet.com (2013)
#4 of the “10 Great College Towns to Retire to"
Kiplinger (July 2014)
#8 of the “14 Underrated Places You’ll Really Want To Move
To”
BuzzFeed (May 2014)
#3 of “The 10 Best Places To Live In Georgia”
MOVOTO Blog (May 2014)
1st Place: “The South's Best Foodie Cities for Groups, South-
East Region”
ConventionSouth Magazine (March 2014)