Statham is a city in eastern Barrow County, Georgia, positioned between Atlanta and Athens. It lies about 13 miles west of Athens, home of the University of Georgia, and sits near the Highway 316 corridor that connects the two metro areas. That location gives Statham the character of a small town with unusually good access to both the university town to the east and the Atlanta region to the west. The city was founded in 1892 by a native of England, but its roots run deeper: the area was historically part of the Talasee Colony and was once known as "Beadland," a name tied to a local legend about early settlers acquiring land from a Creek chief in exchange for beads. From that frontier origin, Statham developed as a small agricultural and trading community and later grew with the broader Barrow County region. Today Statham is one of the smaller incorporated cities in a fast-growing county. Barrow County's population rose significantly in recent decades, and Statham has shared in that momentum through new residential development, including master-planned and gated communities. The Georgia Club, a residential country-club community with golf and recreational amenities, is among the area's most recognizable neighborhoods and draws residents seeking a resort-style setting. For homebuyers, Statham offers a quiet, small-town base with new construction and country-club options, all within a short drive of Athens and reasonable reach of Atlanta. It appeals to University of Georgia-area commuters, families seeking newer homes, and anyone wanting Southern small-town life near the Highway 316 corridor.