Downtown Athens Historic District (Boundary Increase)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

From the record

One of 64 National Register listings published here for Clarke County · listed in 1984 · category: District.

Sources: the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Address. Roughly bounded by Hancock Ave., Foundry, Mitchell, Broad, and Lumpkin sts., Athens, 30601
When was it listed? May 1984
Category. district
Census division. Athens
National Register reference number. 84000965 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

90 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 90 fires within 5 miles of Downtown Athens Historic District (Boundary Increase) between 1992 and 2017, burning about 222 acres in total. 4 started naturally. 32 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Arson/incendiarism	32
Debris and open burning	25
Equipment and vehicle use	9
Misuse of fire by a minor	6
Smoking	5
Natural	4
Recreation and ceremony	3
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3
Railroad operations and maintenance	3

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
30 September 2007	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
18 September 2003	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
18 September 1993	Smoking	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
16 September 1998	Equipment and vehicle use	4.5 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
29 August 2011	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2012-CLARKE-002
28 August 2011	Misuse of fire by a minor	3.1 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2012-CLARKE-001
2 August 2002	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2003-OCONEE-002
2 August 1995	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named

Every fire recorded in Clarke County

Mines and quarries near this property

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Downtown Athens Historic District (Boundary Increase): 1 producer, 1 past producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Iron. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Athens Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
	The Georgia Loan & Trust Co. Mine	Iron	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Clarke County

Storms near this property

60 of 88 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Athens, the town this property stands in, in 88 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 51 thunderstorm wind, 26 hail, 3 funnel cloud, 3 lightning. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
May 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	1 hurt	Report of tree falling on person and injuring them near the Oconnee Hill Cemetery.
July 2018	Hail	Athens	$1,000,000	A report of golf ball size hail in Athens was received on social media.
August 2016	Heavy Rain	Athens	$50,000	The Athens Banner Herald newspaper reported a portion of the flat roof of the AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care building off of West Broad Street or 1.8 miles west to southwest of Athens collapsed due to the weight of heavy rain. It was likely due to clogged storm drains on the roof.
July 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$50,000	The Clarke County Emergency Manager reported that at least 10 trees were blown down on the east side of Athens. One tree and several power poles fell on a house.
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds blew over a large oak tree that fell on a house in Athens. The tree destroyed the roof, air conditioning, knocked the house of its foundation and ripped up the drain line for the septic tank.
July 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$25,000	The Clarke County Emergency Manager and University of Georgia officials reported trees blown down and damage to the ecology building around the campus of the University of Georgia and the city of Athens, stretching east to Winterville around the city park.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$25,000	The public reported that between one and two dozen trees were down in the Athens area as the result of a thunderstorm downburst. Some of the trees fell on mailboxes and one roof was damaged from a downed tree.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$25,000	The public reported that thunderstorm winds had caused extensive damage to trees and power lines in the Green Acre subdivision just southeast of Athens. Numerous trees and power lines were down. Damage was also reported at a Kroger store where the building's sign was damaged and several shopping carts were blown onto cars parked in the parking lot, causing damage to the vehicles. At least 600 residents in the county were left without power during the thunderstorm.
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$20,000	Newspaper and public reports indicated lots of tree limbs and some trees were knocked down. Damages occurred to cars and houses.
December 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$11,000	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that two trees were down in the Athens area, one of which landed on a caused damage to a home. Two power lines were also down near Athens.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$10,000	The Clarke County Emergency Manager reported several power lines blown down across the county including along West Hancock Avenue, Calhoun Drive and Lexington Road near Old Lexington Road.
August 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$10,000	The Clarke County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the Athens area.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$10,000	The Clarke County Emergency Management Director reported that at least four trees and over six power lines were down in the Athens area. Much of the city of Athens was left without power for several hours following the damaging thunderstorm winds.
June 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds knocked down large limbs and blew a hanger door off at the Athens Airport. Gusts of 43 knots were recorded at Weaterh Service Office AHN.
August 1999	Lightning	Athens	$10,000	no account filed
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$8,000	The public reported several 1 to 3 foot diameter trees were snapped by wind between Baxter Street and Sanford Drive on the University of Georgia campus.
August 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$7,000	The Clarke County Emergency Manager reported several trees blown down across northern and western Athens, including near the intersection of Prince Avenue and Talmadge Drive, Pineneedle Road, Sunset Drive and Edwards Drive, and Atlanta Highway at the Athens Perimeter.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	Areas of the road near the intersection of Bloomfield Street and Hall Street impassable due to several trees down in and along the roadways.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	Multiple large pine trees toppled at the intersection of Lexington Rd and The Loop.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	Tree down on mail truck on West Cloverhurst Avenue between S Milledge Avenue and Springdale St.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	A trained spotter and University of Georgia Student reported that a large oak tree was uprooted onto a home just southwest of the University of Georgia Campus on Springdale Street. The home did sustain some damage. In addition, at least one other large limb (greater than 6 inches in diameter) was blown off another tree in the nearby vicinity
November 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that an extensive number of trees were down in a small area just west of Athens.
May 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	The Clarke county 911 center reported that a number of trees were down across the northern part of the county.
December 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	The Athens Daily News reported that a few trees and power lines were blown down.
June 1999	Hail	Athens	$5,000	The public reported damage to cars and windshields.
May 1998	Hail	Athens	$5,000	The public reported quarter to golf ball size hail.
July 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	The Flight Service Station in Athens reported nickel size hail and several 100 foot oak trees down. Winds were estimated at 80 mph.
August 1998	Flood	Athens	$5,000	Over 3 inches of rain in an hour caused flooding of part of the Baxter Street area. The water rose to door level in areas with poor drainage. Water surged through the street, closing the road to traffic. Minor damage occurred from the rapidly rising water.
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	Numerous trees and power lines were downed in Athens which caused power outages for several hours throughout the city.
February 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$5,000	Several large trees and power lines were downed along Georgia Highway 153.
July 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$3,000	A tree was reported down on Prince Ave between N Milledge Ave and N Chase Street.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$3,000	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that at approximately six trees were down across the far eastern part of the county, mostly in the Winterville area and near the Oglethorpe county line. Trees were down on Danielsvlle Road, Freeman Drive, and near the intersection of North Church Road and Smokey Road. At least two power lines were also down.
January 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$3,000	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were down across the north end of the county, including Athens. Trees and power lines were down on Province Road.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$3,000	The Athens Daily Herald reported that thunderstorm wind gusts knocked down several trees and power lines across the city. Power was disrupted to about 6,000 residents. Traffic signals were out of service at 10 intersections within the city.
February 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$2,500	no account filed
May 1998	Hail	Athens	$2,000	The public reported dime to golf ball size hail.
May 1998	Hail	Athens	$2,000	no account filed
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,500	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that six trees were down scattered about the county.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,500	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that several large trees were blown down around the city along with a number of tree limbs.
April 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,500	no account filed
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of Hooper St and E Campus Rd, which fell on two vehicles.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	The public reported that one tree was down in Athens and two in Winterville. Several large tree limbs were also down across the University of Georgia south campus area.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that one tree and one power line were down near Athens.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	The public reported that a portion of siding was blown off a home. Winds were estimated by the public to be 60 mph. Earlier, around 435 pm EDT, a large tree was blown down in Athens.
April 2005	Lightning	Athens	$1,000	The Clarke County 911 Center reported that a home was struck by lightning. Only minor damage was reported.
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	The state climatologist reported trees were blown down.
July 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	The Athens Police reported trees were knocked down in the north half of Clarke county.
March 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$1,000	no account filed
May 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$750	The public reported that three trees were blown down within the city of Athens. No structural damage was reported.
August 2010	Lightning	Athens	$500	The Clarke County Emergency Management Director reported that a lightning strike caused minor damage to a home on Sing Tree Lane.
April 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$500	The public reported that three trees were blown down around Athens.
May 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$500	The Athens police reported that two trees were blown down in the city.
July 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$500	The Athens Daily News reported two trees down.
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$500	The Clarke county EMA reported 4 trees down near Old Elberton and Lem Edwards roads.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$250	The Athens Police Department reported that a tree was down on Winterville Road at Glendale Heights blocking the road.
February 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	$250	The Clarke county 911 center reported that one tree was blown down in the city.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	-	A tree fell onto a home in the 500 block of Southview Drive. No injuries.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	-	A UGA weather stem station located at 100 Sanford Drive measured a 66 mph wind gust.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	-	Mesonet station 0.6 (miles) SE of Athens, measured a 66 mph peak wind gust.
May 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Athens	-	Several trees and powerlines blown down near the area around Lexington Road and Oconee Street.

Every storm recorded in Clarke County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
United States Post Office and Court House	under 500 feet	2014
Downtown Athens Historic District (Additional Documentation, Boundary Increase II and Boundary Decrease)	under 500 feet	2006
Morton Building	under 500 feet	1979
Franklin House	0.1 miles	1974
Albon Chase House	0.1 miles	1974
First African Methodist Episcopal Church	0.2 miles	1980

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 84000965 in Record Group 79.
Clarke County	All 64 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.