Oconee County, Georgia

Oconee County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,799. The county seat is Watkinsville.

Oconee County is included in the Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The county's name derives from the Oconee, a Muskogean people of central Georgia. The name exists in several variations, including Ocone, Oconi, Ocony, and Ekwoni. Oconee County was created from the southwestern part of Clarke County in 1875 by the Georgia General Assembly. The new county was created to satisfy southwestern Clarke County residents' demand for their own county after the county seat was moved from Watkinsville to Athens by the General Assembly in 1872. It is named for the river flowing along part of its eastern border.

The county was ranked as the third-best rural county to live in by Progressive Farmer magazine in 2006.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 186 sqmi, of which 184 sqmi is land and 2.1 sqmi (1.1%) is water. The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.

The entirety of Oconee County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.

Adjacent counties

 * Clarke County (north)
 * Oglethorpe County (east)
 * Greene County (southeast)
 * Morgan County (south)
 * Walton County (west)Southwest
 * Barrow County (northwest)

National protected area

 * Oconee National Forest (part)

Towns

 * Bishop
 * Bogart
 * North High Shoals
 * Watkinsville

Unincorporated community

 * Farmington

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 41,799 people, 13,423 households, and 10,727 families residing in the county.

Government
Oconee County is governed by a four-member board of commissioners, which holds legislative power. The board is led by a separately-elected chairman, who holds executive power. The board is vested with budget and taxing authority, ordinance-making authority, and control of county property, roads and facilities. The chairman and all members of the board are elected from at-large districts (called "posts") to staggered terms of four years.

The chairman of the board is the county's chief executive officer who, in consultation with the commissioners, appoints officers and staff as needed to administer the responsibilities of the board.

The current members of the Board are:
 * Chairman: John Daniell
 * Post 1: Mark Thomas
 * Post 2: Chuck Horton
 * Post 3: Amrey Harden
 * Post 4: Mark Saxon

The judicial branch of government is administered through the Georgia court system as a part of the 10th Judicial District, Western Circuit.

Primary law enforcement services in the portion of the county outside the City of Watkinsville are provided by the sheriff's office. (Law enforcement within the Watkinsville City Limits is the jurisdiction of the Watkinsville Police Department.) The office of Sheriff is an elected position; since 2020, the office has been held by James Hale.

Oconee County School District
The Oconee County School District provides education for grades pre-school to twelve and consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. The district has 361 full-time teachers and over 5,615 students.

Private schools
There are currently three private schools located in the county. They are:
 * Westminster Christian Academy
 * Prince Avenue Christian School
 * Athens Academy

Colleges and universities
The University of North Georgia maintains a satellite campus near Watkinsville. It was a Gainesville State College campus until the 2012 merger of Gainesville State College with North Georgia College and State University.

The College of Athens (CoA) is a private Christian college that was established in 2012 near Watkinsville. CoA currently offers certificates, undergraduate, and graduate degrees in nine various major areas.

Media
There is one weekly-published newspaper in Oconee County: The Oconee Enterprise.

Cox Media Group also operates a radio broadcast facility on Tower Place in northeast Oconee County. Four radio stations are operated from this facility:
 * WNGC 106.1 FM
 * WGMG 102.1 FM (Magic 102.1)
 * WPUP 100.1 FM (Power 100.1)
 * WRFC 960 AM (The Ref)

Major highways
U.S. Route 78 Business U.S. Route 129 Business U.S. Route 441 Business
 * US 29.svg U.S. Route 29
 * US 78.svg U.S. Route 78
 * Business plate.svg
 * US 129.svg U.S. Route 129
 * Business plate.svg
 * US 441.svg U.S. Route 441
 * Business plate.svg
 * Georgia 8.svg State Route 8
 * Georgia 10.svg State Route 10
 * Georgia 10 Loop.svg State Route 10 Loop
 * Georgia 15.svg State Route 15
 * Georgia 24.svg State Route 24
 * Georgia 24 Business.svg State Route 24 Business
 * Georgia 53.svg State Route 53
 * Georgia 186.svg State Route 186
 * Georgia 316.svg State Route 316
 * Georgia 422.svg State Route 422

Pedestrians and cycling
The city has limited walkability options available. However, since 2017 plans are being discussed to develop a multi-use trail network.

Notable people

 * Nathan Crawford Barnett, member of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Secretary of State for more than 30 years.
 * Phil Campbell, farmer
 * Colt Ford, country music singer and professional golfer
 * Adam Frazier, Baltimore Orioles second baseman
 * Gavin Adcock, country music singer
 * John Wes Townley, former Nascar Driver