<P> Athens ( formally known as Athens - Clarke County ) is a consolidated city -- county in the U.S. state of Georgia , in the northeastern part of the state about an hour 's drive from the global city of Atlanta . It comprises the former city of Athens proper ( the county seat ) and Clarke County . The University of Georgia , the state 's flagship public research university , is located in this college town , and contributed to its initial growth . In 1991 , after a vote the preceding year , the original city abandoned its charter to form a unified government with Clarke County , referred to jointly 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 ; all of Clarke County had a population of 116,714 . Athens is the sixth - largest city in Georgia , and the principal city of the Athens - Clarke County , Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had a population of 192,541 as of the 2010 census . Athens - Clarke County has the smallest geographical area of a county in Georgia . </P>
<P> Athens ( formally known as Athens - Clarke County ) is a consolidated city -- county in the U.S. state of Georgia , in the northeastern part of the state about an hour 's drive from the global city of Atlanta . It comprises the former city of Athens proper ( the county seat ) and Clarke County . The University of Georgia , the state 's flagship public research university , is located in this college town , and contributed to its initial growth . In 1991 , after a vote the preceding year , the original city abandoned its charter to form a unified government with Clarke County , referred to jointly 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 ; all of Clarke County had a population of 116,714 . Athens is the sixth - largest city in Georgia , and the principal city of the Athens - Clarke County , Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had a population of 192,541 as of the 2010 census . Athens - Clarke County has the smallest geographical area of a county in Georgia . </P>
how far is atlanta ga from athens ga
how far is atlanta ga from athens ga
an hour 's drive
an hour 's drive