Athens, Ga., City Hall

Take the north Georgia cities of Winder or Jefferson for example. Winder was Jug Tavern until the city was renamed after a railroad man – John L. Winder – who is credited with bringing the Georgia, Carolina & Northern Railway to town. Jefferson, once named Thomoccoggan, was named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson.

The home of R.E.M., the B-52s and many more, live music is still very much a part of present-day Athens.

The Athens restaurant known for coining the phrase “automatic for the people,” which later appeared as the title of an R.E.M. album, is facing hard financial times and may be forced to close.