Along with commitment to economic development, this area is also committed to providing excellent liveability.  Elberton and Elbert County offer the unique experience of providing industrial and business advantages in everyway, including technological needs.  Yet, life in this area is more enjoyable since it isn’t caught up in the stressful, metropolitan lifestyle.

Healthcare

The variety of Elbert County’s specialized healthcare services gives residents security and peace of mind.  They can rest easy because high quality, competent, professional healthcare providers are plentiful in the area.

Elbert Memorial Hospital is a 52-bed acute-care general hospital offering a full range of surgical, emergency, inpatient and outpatient services.  Highly trained professionals and state-of-the-art equipment ensure excellent healthcare services.  The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Four fully equipped ambulances and two quick-response vehicles operate from a new 911 center and provide the community 24-hour support.  An E-911 emergency dispatching and specialty rescue response system coordinates all emergency calls and provides liaison for all necessary agencies in the event of a crisis.

Elbert County also has an excellent Health Center offering a variety of health and specialized services.  The Elbert County Health Department conducts ongoing immunization programs, family planning services, maternity and infant clinics, some acute-care services, nutritional programs and environmental health services.  Specialized clinics on women’s health, perinatal, well child, tuberculosis diagnosis and evaluation, and high blood pressure are also offered.

Two other specialties conveniently available in Elberton are the services of several dentists and two optometrists.

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems provides Elbert County with mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services.  Caring, well-trained psychiatrists, counselors and support staff guide patients through recovery using the most current treatments.  Employment assistance, home-based services, education and support groups are also provided.

A number of facilities are available for those needing special care in Elbert County.  There are four nursing homes and two retirement facilities in the county.  Home healthcare is also provided by five agencies.
 

Elbert County’s education system prepares youth and adults to be the workforce of tomorrow.  Currently, the Elbert County public school system has five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.  The middle and high school are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  In addition to general and college preparatory courses, technical career courses are offered in a full range of specialties and careers. A wide variety of extracurricular programs are available to students, including athletics, music and ROTC.  

Elberton Christian School is a private educational facility offering education for K-12.  It has a fully degreed faculty, full academic offerings including laboratory sciences, foreign language and Challenge classes. 

The Elbert County Adult Literacy Program, also administered by Athens Tech, serves individuals and industry through state and national funds.  The Family Learning Center is where community members are assisted in studying and preparing for the GED, including the provision of childcare.

Recreation

Elbert County is an area where the climate is generally mild and the rainfall is moderate.  Located on the Blue Ridge Mountain plateau, there are a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.   The eastern boundary of the county is 26,500 acre Richard B. Russell Lake providing 540 miles of undisturbed shoreline.  On the upper end of the lake is a 2,241 acre state park surrounded by the lake.  It offers a group meeting facility as well as18 cottages, tent, trailer and RV campsites.  The opportunities for relaxing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, boating, water skiing, hiking and rowing are endless. The park also boasts the beautiful Arrowhead Pointe golf course.  The 6,800 yard course is situated on a peninsula within the state park.  Ten of the 18 holes skirt Lake Richard B. Russell.  The rolling fairways at Arrowhead Pointe are grassed with Tif 419 Bermuda while the oversized, sloping greens are Tif Eagle Dwarf Bermuda. Additional amenities include an 11,400 square foot, LEED certified clubhouse with full service restaurant and fully-stocked pro shop, as well as a 6 acre practice facility. In 2006 Golf Digest voted it the Second Best Public Course in the USA. 

Notably, the US Army Corps of Engineers has a 300-foot buffer zone around the lake which keeps the lake pristine.  The purpose is to protect the lake sanctuary and promote more enjoyable recreational opportunities.  Access to the lake is through several boat ramps and Richard B. Russell State Park.  The park includes trails, a disc golf course, cottages, campsites, a large beach area, an Olympic Rowing site and boat ramps giving easy access for fishing.

Bobby Brown State Park is located on Clark Hill Lake with 70,000 acres.  The park’s strategic location on the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi provides excellent fishing and water recreation.  Several 40-pound bass have been caught in this area, making it a favorite fishing spot.

Elberton and Elbert County support a year-round recreation program with a full-time director and staff.  Activities include Little League and Softball, football, soccer, tennis and aerobics.  In addition there are adult and youth athletics such as art, crafts, dance, swimming and cultural events. 

McWilliams Park, Elbert County’s recreation area is proud of its two baseball fields, two football fields, two soccer fields, a paved ½ mile walking track and Senior Center.

Golf aficionados can also enjoy the Elberton County Club, which offers an 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, two tennis courts and a club house.

The City of Elberton is also proud of  the Granite City Trail.  It begins downtown, winds scenically through the woods and Sutton Park, a City maintained park.  There are also parking spaces for walkers and joggers to utilize, plus it is lighted with traditional light posts.  The length of the trail is 1.13 miles.  In addition to this trail, the City of Elberton treasures its green space and maintains three city parks.

Police

The Elberton Police Department has 20 police officers.  It works to deter and prevent crime as well as remain involved in the community.  The department runs a D.A.R.E. program in the local elementary and middle schools and there are several active Neighborhood Watch program.  Another important partnership is the department’s active participation in the Piedmont Northern Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (PNMANS), which continues to provide positive results.

Sheriff

Elbert County has a Sheriff’s Department with 17 positions.  It also works to deter crime and remain involved in the community.  It runs a S.A.F.E (Students Are For Education), a Helmet Safety program and a Gun Safety program.

Elbert County also runs a Detention Center that includes 23 positions.
 

Fire

The Elberton Fire Department has 19 positions.  In the area of public safety, the Elberton Fire Department maintains its ISO 4 classification.  The department emphasizes training including sending personnel to the Fire Academy, Hazardous Material training, First Responders training and training at the National Professional Qualifications Certification Program.

Elbert County also has a Fire Department with 20 fulltime employees and 15 volunteers.  It’s rating maintains a 5 classification.

Retail

The Cities of Elberton and Bowman are fortunate to have vibrant Downtowns with Elberton's headed up by an award-winning MainStreet program.  The Downtown areas have been renovated along with many of the historic buildings.  Shoppers can now enjoy a selection of apparel, gifts, jewelry, antiques and book stores.  There are also a variety of eateries in the square areas.  Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development are the cornerstones of both Downtown Squares. 

Throughout Elbert County are a variety of other shopping opportunities including Wal-Mart, Super Ingle’s and several restaurants.

Cultural Opportunities

Elbert County is involved in many local cultural opportunities.  The Elbert Theatre, originally built in the 1940’s has recently been restored and now holds full theatre seasons.  In the summer, there is a Summertime Youth Theatre Academy where the area’s youth have the opportunity to receive training and perform a full production.  Also, the theatre is available for rent by any local group to utilize for its productions.   www.elberttheatre.org

The schools in this area also put on choral and band events throughout the year.  This area is also part of the Miss Georgia pageant circuit and the Miss Northeast Georgia pageant is held here on a yearly basis.