Clarke and Oconee Counties, GA

[Sol]

Why is there such a stark partisan divide between these two counties? Even with a massive swing this year, every precinct in Oconee voted Trump if Nytimes is to be believed. Meanwhile, all of Clarke County is Dem. Is the river a really stark dividing line?

Moreover, why exactly is Oconee so Republican? It's IIRC the most educated GOP county in the country. The most obvious parallel, Chapel Hill, has swingy-to-Democratic 'suburbs'--see northern Orange county or Chatham. Is this just a matter of Athens being a less-lefty/more Southern place?

[I Stand With TRKL1917]

Why is there such a stark partisan divide between these two counties? Even with a massive swing this year, every precinct in Oconee voted Trump if Nytimes is to be believed. Meanwhile, all of Clarke County is Dem. Is the river a really stark dividing line?

Moreover, why exactly is Oconee so Republican? It's IIRC the most educated county in the country. The most obvious parallel, Chapel Hill, has swingy-to-Democratic 'suburbs'--see northern Orange county or Chatham. Is this just a matter of Athens being a less-lefty/more Southern place?

Oconee is far whiter. It's also not the most educated county in America. I think that's Arlington, VA.

[Sol]

Why is there such a stark partisan divide between these two counties? Even with a massive swing this year, every precinct in Oconee voted Trump if Nytimes is to be believed. Meanwhile, all of Clarke County is Dem. Is the river a really stark dividing line?

Moreover, why exactly is Oconee so Republican? It's IIRC the most educated county in the country. The most obvious parallel, Chapel Hill, has swingy-to-Democratic 'suburbs'--see northern Orange county or Chatham. Is this just a matter of Athens being a less-lefty/more Southern place?

Oconee is far whiter. It's also not the most educated county in America. I think that's Arlington, VA.

Miswrote, meant most educated Republican county.

[forsythvoter]

My perception, having only driven through the area a few times to see some UGA games, is that there seems to be a huge drop-off in density the minute you leave Clarke county. Oconee doesn't really feel all that suburban anywhere - it feels almost rural except for maybe a few areas literally bordering Clarke County (and sure enough, looking at the precinct maps, these are the most Democratic parts of the county). I would guess that the types that move to Oconee are the ones looking for more a country lifestyle, and therefore have more conservative politics in general.

[Del Tachi]

I lived in Athens for ~3 years.  It's much more Democratic than other Southern college counties for two main reasons:  a relatively high Black population (~28%) and a historic art/music scene that attracts a lot of "artist" and "hipster" types.  UGA is not really that liberal of an institution; "townies" in Athens is definitely to the left of "gownies."  Once you get in Oconee, you lose the hipster vibe really quickly. 

And I'm really not surprised how OC votes:  Southern, college-educated Whites outside of major metro areas are reliably Republican.  Athens is the aberration for how unusually Democratic it is, not Oconee.   

[DINGO Joe]

I lived in Athens for ~3 years.  It's much more Democratic than other Southern college counties for two main reasons:  a relatively high Black population (~28%) and a historic art/music scene that attracts a lot of "artist" and "hipster" types.  UGA is not really that liberal of an institution; "townies" in Athens is definitely to the left of "gownies."  Once you get in Oconee, you lose the hipster vibe really quickly. 

And I'm really not surprised how OC votes:  Southern, college-educated Whites outside of major metro areas are reliably Republican.  Athens is the aberration for how unusually Democratic it is, not Oconee.   

Meh, Chapel Hill and Charlottesville/Albemarle are further left