Oconee County (Jackson, Madison, Watkinsville: sales, to buy, private schools)

[relocating23]

Looking for info about what it's like living in Oconee county. We're thinking of relocating there from CA. We're also interested in Athens, but heard that the schools aren't as good as Oconee county's. Also, is Oconee a 'dry' county? I thought I read something about an alcohol ordinance there.

[atlanta]

I don't live there but know that Oconee Co. has excellent school. However, Athens is a diverse and interesting town because of the university. Oconee is more rural but also suburban. Athens has a downtown and much around the university to keep one busy.

Keep in mind, that the Southern lifestyle, even in a university town, and the CA lifestyle are quite different. Hope you will learn to appreciate both.

[ReturningWest]

I can't tell you about schools because all my children have four legs There are several private schools in the area.

Much of Oconee county is still rural but is a 10-20 min trip to Athens depending on where you are in the county. It is one of 5 counties that surround Athens...Jackson, Barrow, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Madison. Oconee is the most developed near Athens, Barrow and Jackson have the I-85 interstate running thru them so there development tends to be along that corridor. Oglethorpe and Madison are the least developed as they have no major highways just state roads and are only developed near Athens.

I know Oconee has been on several 'most desirable places to live' lists. So they are having quite a boom right now and property prices are skyrocketing.

I'm over there quite often because of work and the horse shows that farms put on and I'm one of the "horsey set". It's a very nice county to live in.

We do have "blue laws" as far as selling alcohol is concerned and it varies from county to county. I have shoped in the Publix in Oconee county and they do sell beer and wine. NO sales on Sunday anywhere in the state (I think some counties allow sales in restrants), although there is a bill in front of the legislature to change that. I doubt it will pass, this is part of the "bible belt".

I would suggest visiting the area, you will be in for quite a culture shock moving from CA to here. They/we speak southern here and the lifestyle is different. If you stay close to Athens you will find a more "cosmopolitan" atmosphre but flavored with a southern 'tude

[Michelle DeRepentigny]

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 081306 - Story updated at 11:48 PM on Sunday, August 13, 2006
"LAST WEDNESDAY

Watkinsville City Council

At its regular meeting, the council:

• Approved an ordinance to allow by-the-glass sales of beer and wine at restaurants in the city, effective Jan. 1. The ordinance establishes fees of $1,000 to buy a beer and wine license, sets regulations for that license and creates a per-bottle tax on beer and wine of 5 cents for a 12-ounce bottle of beer and 22 cents for a liter of wine."


Alcohol can now be served by the glass inside the Watkinsville City Limits.

Here is a link to an article with the website address for the GA School Report Card Site and to the individual counties website: http://activerain.com/blogsview/5650...nd-Surrounding

Hope this helps!