"A Portrait of Historic Athens and Clarke County describes in a clear and compelling way the development and growth of Athens, Georgia, and the surrounding county from presettlement days to the era of urbanization. Emphasizing the natural and the built environments of a town and county dominated by a river resource and a burgeoning university, Frances Taliaferro Thomas details the settlement patterns, events, institutions, architecture, landscape, economics, and personalities that shaped the area." "Chosen in the summer of 1801 as the site of the University of Georgia, the picturesque locale was to be the "Seat of the Muses." Once established, however, Athens quickly became more than a college town, and this work chronicles the many ways in which the community has distinguished itself over the years." "Nearly 175 photographs illustrate the text, including images of the historic homes and gardens for which the "Classic City" is well known. The work highlights historic preservation efforts in Athens and places the preservation movement within the context of urbanization and the rapid growth of town, county, and university." "Authoritative and accessible, A Portrait of Historic Athens and Clarke County will be of interest to anyone who is familiar with this unique southern community. Synthesizing recent scholarship, primary printed material, a wealth of secondary sources, and interviews, it also includes extensive notes and a comprehensive bibliography of the literature on the area."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved