City Spotlight

Head to the Heart of Bethlehem for Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts

Shop a bevy of local stores to find something special for your sweetheart.

Oh no, it happened again! I mean, wasn’t it just Valentine’s Day 365 days ago? That’s right — you’re not seeing things. The calendar reads in bold, clear print “Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day”. In the event that you live or work in the Bethlehem area, there’s no need to worry if this day dedicated to undying devotion somehow slipped your mind. With a treasure trove of shops in the quaint downtown area and a handful of big box retailers nearby in the Barrow Crossing Shopping Center, it’s a snap to do a little last-minute shopping before you head home or out on that big date with your sweetheart. You could pick up a traditional box of chocolates from Target, fresh flowers from Publix and a lovely pair of earrings from Belk. If your loved one is …

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City Spotlight

Enjoy a Slice of P.I.E. and Support Bethlehem Elementary School

Barrow County School’s Partners in Education Program hosts Spirit Nights at area restaurants during which a portion of the night’s proceeds goes back to local schools.

Barrow County Schools and the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce are both major supporters of the Partners in Education Program. Through the P.I.E. Program, local businesses and civic organizations voluntarily partner with area schools to mutually help one another by strengthening school programs and enhancing the local community’s economic growth.  There are upwards of 90 businesses around the county that take part in this very important initiative, including Jackson EMC, Akins Ford, Arby’s, Chick-fil-A, the Kiwanis Club of Winder, River Hills Church, Publix, Barrow County Farm Bureau, Stevi B’s Pizza, Barrow County Emergency Services, Liberty Mutual, Sonic, Waffle House, Star Academy, Community Bank and Trust, Zaxby’s and more. While …

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City Spotlight on Bethlehem: Grown from Cotton and Commerce ... and Still Growing

A little something from the Barrow County history books.

Did you know that the town of Bethlehem actually got its start as a small village in Walton County in the early 1800s? It developed from homesteads owned by members of the congregation at Bethlehem Methodist Church, established in late 1700s. When the Gainesville Midland Railroad ran between Gainesville and Social Circle in 1884, some forward-thinking brothers by the name of Beddingfield built the first store in the emerging town. This first store still stands today and once served as the post office. Other commercial enterprises around that same time were a blacksmith shop, a large general store, two banks, a drug store, a cotton gin and a warehouse. That very same year, the town officially adopted its name from the Bethlehem Methodist …

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