You don't have to be a student to enjoy the perks of living in a university community. College towns emit a youthful energy
and offer myriad sporting events, theatrical productions, and musical performances. Although university programs and facilities
are designed for students, many colleges make them available to the public for free or at greatly reduced prices.
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The next time you are choosing a new locale for an assignment, consider a college town. To give you an idea of what you'll
find on college campuses, Healthcare Traveler found seven college towns that get an A+ for ambience and attractions.
ATHENS, GEORGIA
Population: 100,266
College: The University of Georgia
Student Population: 33,831
Sixty miles northeast of Atlanta, nestled below the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is Athens, Georgia. In a community
where one-third of the residents are college students, the town is going to the dawgs—bulldogs are The University of Georgia
(UGA) mascots. Local artists painted three-dozen larger-than-life pooches that can be seen throughout the Victorian-era downtown's
trendy shops, art galleries, nightclubs, and restaurants. Don't let the traditional architecture fool you—Athens is hip. Rolling Stone magazine named Athens the No. 1 College Music Scene in America. Athens has attracted national attention from bands as diverse
as the B-52s, R.E.M., Pylon, and Widespread Panic. The visual and performing arts are also well-represented in Athens. The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center's superb
concert halls showcase ballet, classical music, jazz, and folk dance. Last-minute tickets can frequently be purchased. The
Canopy Studio is a nonprofit community art center specializing in flying trapeze performances and classes.
HEALTHCARE
Athens Regional Health Services comprises a 315-bed acute care facility, four urgent care centers, a health-maintenance organization,
and a home health agency. Athens Regional Medical Center is a regional referral center offering services such as maternal/child,
imaging, surgical, oncology, and cardiology. More than 250 physicians from the medical center serve a 17-county area in northeastern
Georgia.
ATHENS, OHIO
Population: 21,909
College: Ohio University
Student population: 16,738
There's more than one famous college town that goes by the name of Athens. Ohio Magazine calls Athens "Ohio's Best Hometown" and describes it as a place where the Sixties never left. The residents are progressive
and community-oriented. The state's oldest public college, Ohio University features Georgian-style buildings set among the
rolling hills of southeastern Ohio. Exceptional academics and an environmentalist spirit have earned the university the title
"Berkeley of the Backwoods."
Art lovers will find Athens County an appealing destination. The Dairy Barn Art Center, built in 1914, houses changing fine
arts and crafts exhibits. Every year, the Quilt National and Bead International exhibitions attract artists from around the
world. Less than 15 miles from Athens, Nelsonville's Historic Square Arts District has the county's largest Appalachian artist
community. Many of the galleries and shops offer classes, workshops, and tutorials. Stroll across Route 33 and hop aboard
the meticulously restored passenger cars of the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, which run select weekends April through November.
HEALTHCARE
O'Bleness Memorial Hospital has been serving patients of southeastern Ohio since 1921. Inpatient care includes medical, pediatrics,
surgical, and critical care. Each year, nearly 600 babies are born in the hospital's Birth Center and more than 26,000 patients
are treated by the emergency department.
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