Athens, Georgia, has been getting a lot of attention. And for good reason.

About 60 miles from Atlanta, Athens is a vibrant college town that is home to the University of Georgia, known for its world-class research and innovation. UGA’s campus abuts downtown Athens, bringing vibrancy to the city center only steps away. Like Athens, Greece, this Athens is a cultural center of ideas, learning, and creativity.

It is a community of thought-leaders and tech start-ups, with business incubator Four Athens leading the way in harnessing the progressive energy of young entrepreneurs and creatives. In addition to the major economic influence of a major research university adjacent to downtown, a thriving music industry underpins the local economy, with recording studios, hometown bands such as Drive-By Truckers, REM, The B-52s, Widespread Panic, Pylon, Kishi Bashi, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Of Montreal, and a strong music business program in UGA's Terry College of Business.

Through UGA’s research engine, Athens sees annual expenditures of $230 million in Research & Development, notably in the disciplines of nanotechnology, genomics, plant breeding, life science, biomedical, engineering, and drug discovery.

A regional hub for healthcare, Athens is home to UGA’s Health Sciences Campus, housing the UGA College of Public Health and the GRU/UGA Medical Partnership. There is an active manufacturing component rounding out the local economy, as well as a strong base of small, independent businesses.

With a charming central business district of revitalized Victorian-era architecture, downtown Athens is a popular convention site and destination for tourists. Its reputation as a foodie town and its active live music scene put downtown Athens on the map and in many lists of best places to visit -- or to live.

Check out the media mentions and rankings of Athens, Georgia, as a top place to raise kids, retire, find the some of the best music, food, fun, and college town character.