First Development of Broad Street

University of Georgia Campus and Broad Street 1805 

At the beginning of its time, Athens, Georgia was nothing more than a trade stop named ‘Cedar Shoals’. In 1785, the small settlement was changed when the Georgia General Assembly chartered the University of Georgia, making the school the first chartered university in the United States of America. The location for the University was chosen to be on the hill directly above Cedar Shoals and near the Oconee River (Economic Development Department). Athens was the name given to the land in honor of the Greek city known for being the hub of education. By 1803, the land encompassed three homes and three stores that faced Front Street, later known as Broad Street. As the University expanded, Athens incorporated Lumpkin, Clayton, Prince, and Baldwin Street as part of the campus. The map of Athens and Campus in 1805 depicts the beginning of the University, as only six school buildings are shown. The three stores that were added to Front Street in 1803 can be seen on the map; the two stores and hotel were the first buildings documented in Athens. An aspect of the University that went undocumented during its early years is where the students ate and slept. Some predict that the ‘school house’ towards the north of campus was housing for students, while the ‘grammar school’ was where initial classes were held. As evident on the map, the early years of Broad street saw little development. It wasn’t until the University was further developed and housed more students that additional buildings made their first appearance along the epicenter of modern-day Athens.

History of Athens Article 

This article provides historical information about the cities of Athens and Winterville in Georgia, as well as Clarke County. The Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department published this article to provide accurate information about the history of the Athens and the surrounding region in Georgia. We are able to track the development of the areas between 1805, when the University was first established, and today because of historical articles such as this one.