Oconee County is a vibrant community with numerous opportunities.  It has the reputation of being a futuristic, forward thinking county that maximizes its resources.  Our county has received much recognition for its efforts, i.e., it was honored by Georgia Trend magazine for its planning procedures and by The Progressive Farmer as being a great place to live. 

Oconee County is home to a number of great recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.  The county is home to four golf courses that are either entirely or partially within the county.  Jennings Mill Country Club, Lane Creek Golf Club and Creekside Country Club are all in Oconee County, while the Georgia Club is in both Oconee and Barrow Counties. 

Within the county, recreational facilities provide outlets for residents of all ages.  Oconee County has four recreation complexes dotted across the community for recreation.  These parks consist of: tennis courts, baseball fields, softball fields, gymnasiums, paved walking tracks, bike trails, hiking trails, a disc golf course, fields that are used for football, soccer or lacrosse, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, an open air arena, and a fishing pond.  Heritage Park is slated to have a History Village added within the coming years.

Harris Shoals Park is nestled in the City of Watkinsville.  Harris Shoals Park contains picnic pavilions with charcoal grills, a large playground area for children, a baseball field, and overlooks the shoals.

Several historic venues are located within the community for the enjoyment of all.  Historic Eagle Tavern serves as the county’s historical museum.  The tavern, originally constructed in 1789, possibly as an Indian fort, served as a stagecoach stop within the community for many years.  Daily tours are available through the Oconee County Welcome Center located adjacent to the tavern.

Elder Covered Bridge, a functional wooden covered bridge spanning Rose Creek, is one of only thirteen covered bridges remaining in the state of Georgia.  Nearby Elder Mill served for many years as an active wheat mill.  Due to the fact that Elder Mill is privately owned, tours of the facility must be requested with significant notice.  The Oconee County Welcome Center can assist with this scheduling.

Additionally, the William Daniell House is located on Founders Boulevard in northwestern Oconee County.  The Daniell House was constructed approximately 1790 and is one of the oldest houses in Oconee County.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The William Daniell House is available for wedding receptions, business meetings, holiday gatherings, etc.  Scheduling is coordinated through the Oconee County Civic Center.

Information on additional historic or tourism related locations can be found at www.visitoconee.com.

Oconee County and the City of Watkinsville serve as a hotbed for artistic talent.  The City of Watkinsville has the moniker “The Artland of Georgia” due to the presence of a large number of artists within the community.  The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) is a not-for-profit arts center seeking to promote cultural arts and artists, as well as provide art education to the citizens of Oconee County and the northeast Georgia area.  OCAF was founded in 1994 and conducts annual cultural arts festivals, ongoing art exhibits, classes for children and adults, and musical and theatrical performances.  OCAF supports artists and craft persons in the region by providing a venue for exhibits and sales of artwork and craftwork, as well as by educating the community to increase interest in the arts. 

One significant location within the community is Happy Valley Pottery founded in 1970 by Jerry & Kathy Chappelle.  Happy Valley is located in southern Oconee County near the Farmington community.  The Chappelle’s have also renovated a historic 1827 house in Watkinsville which is now home to Chappelle Gallery.

Annual events within Oconee County include:

• First Friday events – beginning in April of each year
• Ashford Manor Concert Series – May through November (typically 1st & 3rd Mondays)
• Southworks art exhibit – Memorial Day weekend
• Fourth of July celebration – July 4
• Relay for Life – May
• Perspectives pottery show – September
• Historical Haunts tours – late October
• Christmas Parade – first Saturday in December
• OCAF Holiday Market – first weekend in December
  

Oconee County has a wide mix of housing available.  Approximately half of the county’s housing stock was built prior to 1990 and half since 1990.  This creates a generous mix of housing available for any resident – whether in rural areas or in traditional subdivisions.  During 2007, the average sale price in Oconee County for the new and existing homes during 2007 was $301,581.

Average Annual Rainfall – 49.7 inches
Average Annual Temperature – 62º (F)
Average High Temperature – 72º (F)
Average Low Temperature – 51º (F)
Highest Recorded Temperature – 107º (F)
Lowest Recorded Temperature – -4º (F)
Source:  National Weather Service