Athens, Ohio

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This article is about the town in Ohio. For other uses, see Athens (disambiguation).
Athens, Ohio
Image:Athens oh 03.jpg
Image:OHMap-doton-Athens.png
Location in the state of Ohio
Coordinates: 39°19′45″N 82°5′46″W / 39.32917, -82.09611
Country United States
State Ohio
County Athens
Government
 - Mayor Richard Abel (D)
Area
 - Total 8.3 sq mi (21.6 km²)
 - Land 8.3 sq mi (21.6 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0 km²)
Elevation 719 ft (663 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 21,342
 - Density 2,558.9/sq mi (988/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 45701
Area code(s) 740
FIPS code 39-02736GR2
GNIS feature ID 1075290GR3
Website: http://www.ci.athens.oh.us

Athens is a historic college town in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, best known as the home of Ohio University. Athens is a city in, and the county seat of, Athens County,GR6 and the center of the Athens (Ohio) Micropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003). At the time of the 2000 census, the population was 21,342. Approximately 15,000 of these are college students (as per the census).

Athens is a qualified Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Contents

[edit] History

The first permanent European settlers arrived in Athens in 1797. In 1800, the town site was first surveyed and plotted, but was not incorporated as a village until 1811. In the meantime, Ohio became a state in 1803, and Ohio University was chartered in 1804 becoming the first institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory. Previously part of Washington County, Ohio, Athens County was formed in 1805.

Athens did not receive city status until 1912 (in Ohio, 5,000 permanent residents are required to receive city status). It should be noted that many people who work in Athens live outside the city limits in various housing developments. One new development, University Estates, is in the final stages of being incorporated into the city. The total population of Athens County is about 72,000.

Originally, large tracts of land -- Athens and Alexander Townships -- were set aside through a contract between the Congress (under the Articles of Confederation) and the Ohio Company of Associates, a group of Revolutionary War veterans. These lands were thus given to Ohio University by the Federal government. This was the first federal land grant for a university, pre-dating the Morrill Act by more than 70 years. At first, lands were mostly leased out, but the failure of many lessors to pay their rents resulted in most of the land being sold. The sale of these lands funded the growth of Ohio University. Today it is one of the larger institutions of higher learning in Ohio, with an enrollment of over 19,000 on the Athens campus (28,000+ for all campuses).

The earliest industry in the area was salt production, followed by iron production and coal extraction. Today, the largest employer in the county is Ohio University.

In 1843, the Hocking Canal opened, enabling shipping from the Ohio River up the Hocking River, which passes through Athens, to Nelsonville, Ohio, and points beyond. However, the canal was closed during cold winters when it froze over. The first railroad reached Athens in 1857. In the late 1800s, an interurban line opened between Athens and Nelsonville and operated for some years.

The Athens Lunatic Asylum, later called the Athens State Hospital, opened in 1874. This was located on high ground to the south of town and to the south of the Hocking River, and in the late 1800s was the town's largest employer. The state hospital was eventually decommissioned and the property was deeded to Ohio University. It is now known as The Ridges. Much of the building space has been renovated for offices and research space, and most of the grounds has been set aside as open space, including a land lab.

Starting in 1969, the Hocking River was partly relocated and partly channelized for a stretch of several miles around the town, moving the river hundreds of feet to the south so that the floodplain, formerly south of the river, was now north of the river and since has been extensively built on by Ohio University. Much of this floodplain was originally agricultural land for the state hospital, but also included park-like areas open to the public. There was an outstanding virgin grove of sycamores near the old Richland Avenue bridge that was destroyed by a tornado in the late 1800s.

The only battle ever to take place in Athens occurred in 1904 when both the U.S. Army and the Ohio National Guard were conducting training exercises at the same time at the city. When some guardsmen became drunk and caused a disturbance, they were arrested by Army MPs. The ensuing quarrel escalated into a battle on Washington Street, during which one guardsman was killed and several combatants were wounded.

During the 1960s Athens was designated the alternate Capital City of Ohio in the event Columbus was wiped out by a Soviet nuclear strike. An exercise was held where Governor Rhodes and the Statehouse were evacuated and State government was removed to Athens.

[edit] Current Issues

In the early 2000s, a controversy embroiled Athens over the building of a Wal-Mart and associated stores on East State Street, on land owned by Ohio University. Some area residents strongly opposed the development.

Controversy has percolated for years about the role of Ohio University vis-a-vis the role of the City of Athens. Some residents claim that the university has too much power over the city, and in the early 2000s, the university publicly asserted its independence of city laws relating to zoning, development, and flood-plain regulations. There also has been controversy over the level of enrollment at the university, now around 20,000 students, with some wanting to increase enrollment, others wanting to reduce it. This is an issue because increasing students strains city services but also results in more revenue for the city. So it's a classic growth vs. conservation argument.

Green space around the city has also been a controversial public issue. The city over the past decade has established a partial greenbelt around the northeast side of the city, connecting to Strouds Run State Park and including about 325 acres. Developers want to alter more hillsides around the city, which is opposed by activists and some area residents, including a neighborhood group on the south side.

Economic development continues to be a source of discussion and controversy. In recent years, Athens has lost two substantial private employers, McBee and TS Trim, with no traditional industry to replace them. Some high-tech firms already in Athens, however, have expanded operations in recent years, and the retail and restaurant business on the east side has expanded greatly, with mainly chain eateries like Ruby Tuesday's and Arby's and dry-good stores like Lowe's and Staples. Plus the Athens' economy is protected by the institutional permanence of Ohio University, at least when compared to other mainly hard-pressed rural southeast Ohio towns. But still, most of the news in Athens arises from the tension between students and permanent residents, and never more than when the university enrollment is peaking, as it has been in the last few years.

[edit] Public services

The residents of Athens are served by the Athens City School District and Athens High School. They are also served by the Nelsonville Public Library system (which is the Athens County Public Library system) with branches in Albany, Athens, Chauncey, Coolville, Glouster, Nelsonville, and The Plains.

[edit] Folklore

Athens was declared one of the top ten most haunted cities in America on the Fox Family special "World's Scariest Places" that aired on October 23, 2000. Other sources have made similar declarations. Ohio University has been called one of the most haunted college campuses in America; most notably, local legend includes stories of hauntings in the former asylum. The area of the asylum is known as The Ridges. There is a museum contained in the old asylum's main administration building. Additionally, rumor has it that the oldest hilltop cemeteries of the county form a pentagram, with the city in the exact middle.

[edit] Sports

Ohio University has made Athens a sports crazed city, with the most popular games in town being Ohio Bobcats football, men's basketball, and women's volleyball. The Bobcats typically are at the top of the Mid-American Conference's attendance figures in both winning and losing seasons. In fact, the 2007 Sporting News list of the "best sports cities" ranks Athens at 105 of 388 eligible cities This comes in far ahead of vastly larger cities such as Norfolk, Virginia; El Paso, Texas; Spokane, Washington; and Fresno, California.

In addition to Ohio Bobcats athletics, Athens is home to the Southern Ohio Copperheads, a baseball team of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.

The city also is home to a Parks and Recreation Department that actively supports a variety of initiatives. It sponsors adult summer and fall slow-pitch softball that is popular among residents in Athens and the county, though the separate men and women's leagues have fallen apart this year. Co-ed softball continues its popularity, however. Youth sports, such as soccer and little league, are also supported by local residents. In addition, the department maintains the Athens Skate Park, which is the second largest skate park in Ohio.

[edit] Music

Many great musicians have visited Athens over the years. Jazz greats Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie played in Athens. The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and Steppenwolf are a few of the rock bands who have come to Athens. Blues guitarists B. B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan performed in Athens and singer-songwriters Billy Joel, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and Neil Young have held concerts. In addition, Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates, Richard Marx, The Ramones and the Marshall Tucker Band have also played Athens. Ohio University has hosted most of the major concerts in Athens.

Athens is known throughout Ohio as the home of a diverse and vibrant original music scene. Bands like Phish, the White Stripes, The Black Keys, Urban Transit, O.A.R., Ekoostik Hookah and HUM have played on Athens stages while they were still relative unknowns. The current scene contains groups that range from bluegrass, to jam-rock, to garage-rock revival, to punk, to metal, and so on. In addition there is a strong Folk, Celtic and Blues community. Local singing group, The Local Girls, performed in "The East Room" of The White House On December 28, 1998.

Other major artists who have appeared recently in Athens include: Vanilla Ice, Yung Joc, The Fray, Gavin DeGraw, Blink-182, David Banner, Afroman, Travis Tritt, Cherish, Lifehouse, Bobby Valentino, Cake, Alison Krauss & Union Station,Dr. Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys. Wynton Marsalis, Lyle Lovett, Sugar Ray, 10,000 Maniacs, They Might Be Giants, The Dismemberment Plan, Trick Pony, Jorma Kaukonen, Rahzel, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, and many others.

The Snapdragons were a power trio out of Athens, Ohio. Signed with Atlantic Records in 1991, they released a self-titled album that year which climbed the college radio charts and received much critical acclaim. They toured the United States with Soul Asylum, The Dead Milkmen, and Superchunk.

Jesty Beatz, a popular rap artist and music producer, attended Ohio University. Beatz albums include We Run Blocks, Formal Introduction, and Deal or No Deal. He has performed with Mike Jones, Lil John, Fat Joe, Young Joc and has made multiple appearances at the The Appomattox Courthouse.

Sammy Kaye, ranked number 14 in the Big Band era,[citation needed] attended Ohio University.

Many of the musical venues in Athens are concentrated on two blocks of Court Street. Due to the size of the town, the availability of cheap rent, various open stages and the close proximity of the music venues to Ohio University's campus, conditions in Athens are perfect for incubating new original musicians. Full-time cover bands are commonplace, but often frowned upon by the City's "scenester" music fans. Still, a thriving cover band scene does exist, and some local cover bands tour nationally, including Mike Doughty's "R&B Station"who frequently support "Daughter of the Blues" Shirley King (daughter of BB). Other Cover bands of note would include currently-of-hiatus blues act The Slater Brothers and


The Athens Musician Network contains a detailed archive of the local music scene. Founded in 1997 it contains audio and video archives as well as a searchable concert history.

In the summer of 1973 the Ohio Valley Summer Theater began a production called the Appalachian Green Parks Project that featured music, dance and theater derived from the Appalachian region. This group eventually won the Governor's award for Community Action, released an album of their music, performed at the Sylvan Amphitheater at the base of the Washington Monument in Washington DC on July 4 in 1974, made numerous TV appearances including ABC TV's Make A Wish, provided the music soundtrack for the Ohio Department Of Natural Resources public service film titled Sweet Ohio, were designated as the official Bicentennial Touring Group for the state of Ohio and were the subject of a documentary film themselves during their four year run.

Two former members of the Appalachian Green Parks Project, Jim McGaw and Charlie Lewis began performing with Jimmy Prouty and went on to form the New Vinton County Frogwhompers Marching, Singing, Stumming and Plucking Society in 1976 which was to become one of the most popular groups to come out of the region in the 1970's.

Reunion concerts of both the Green Parks Project and the Frogwhompers took place at ARTS/West in Athens in July of 2007.

It is also fairly easy for local artists in Athens and the surrounding areas to get radio airplay thanks to radio stations WEAK FM (a private, low power FM station)and WAIS (who host the show "Hometown Showcase") willingness to promote local music.

Popular local bands and artists include Black Spyral Dancer, Red Dahlia (Universal Records/Orange Records), Robots on Crack, The Campus Stranglers, The Royales, Downplay, Southeast Engine, Appalachian Death Ride, We March, Men of Gentle Birth, Ali Zjana, Dropdead Sons, Wheels on Fire, The Snails, William Absent and The Caste Asyde, Adam Torres, Fokushima, Papadosio, The Dragline Brothers, Casual Future, Vellumn, The Silo Circuit, and highly unusual cover act The Ohio-Country Outlaw Band. Internationally infamous 1990's (and recently reuinited) garage act The In-sect also hail from Athens. Many Americana artists call Athens home, inluding Stella, Chris Biester, and legendary songwriter J.D. Hutchinson, who have all been featured on NPR's Mountain Stage program.

Country-blues guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (currently in Hot Tuna and formerly in Jefferson Airplane) operates a local guitar camp and venue known as Fur Peace Ranch.

Athens' proximity to the venues of former brick-town Nelsonville, Ohio is also of some importance due to the attraction of its art galleries especially Starbrick Clay and Final Friday gallery walk (held the final friday of every month and featuring local music as well as local artists). Nelsonville also is home to Stuart's Opera House, which hosts many national music acts.

Athens has a fairly large but largely underground scene of Noise, Improv, and Sonic Collage artists. Notable noise-performer Leslie Keffer (who has recorded with Jason Zeh and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore) got her start in Athens, and it is also the current home of William Absent of pioneering Toledo, OH. noise/assault collective SHRiNe. Current electronic, noise, and experimental acts include Douchifer, Psych-improv act The Shiggles, mod-philer Jim Mullins, Linsey McDarr, The Young Mao-Tse Dung and the Ducts, and Steaming Heap. A surprising number of these artists hail from the 25% of the population that is non-student.

Popular local DJ's include DJ Ruckus Roboticus, Barticus, Danjah, DJ Khalid, and DogStar Video (VJ's). Athens is also a popular busking spot, with a very hotly-competed for busking areas. The three most well known street performers are singer Snowflake, activist/percussionist/native flautist Steven Rounthwaite (The Spoonman), and gifted composer and boogie-piano virtuoso "Little" Jimmy Parnell, who most Athenians simply call "Piano Man". And you can't mention busking in Athens without citing Steve Zarate, who recently been playng more indoors than outside, but is also a fixture on the Union Street sidewalk near the Athens Food Buggies. Zarate is known for being almost unstumpable when asked to play very nearly any pop song recorded after 1958.

Athens, despite being out of the way to most small touring musicians, remains a popular spot for underground artists. The Black Keys and the White Stripes both played at local venue The Union just before breaking. Interest in Athens as a touring spot for small bands is largely due to the efforts of local agency Blackout Booking and the success of the annual Blackout Fest. Blakcout brings international rock talent to legendary local dive bar The Union nearly every weekend.

Athens is also the home of members of the band McGuffey-Lane (who are named after a local street).

[edit] Festivals

Several significant annual festivals and events are held in or near Athens:

  • BLACKOUT FEST is yeald annually at The Union and features many up-and-coming national underground rock acts.
  • The Athens Community Music Festival is held each August and features dozens of local bands.
  • The Hockhocking Folk Festival is held annually in May at Hocking College. An audio slideshow of the event can be found in the Music in Athens series here
  • The Pagan Spirit Gathering, sponsored by Circle Sanctuary, is held near Athens during the week of the Summer solstice.
  • The Athens Area Sustainability Festival is held annually at the beginning of October at the Athens Fairgrounds; it began in 2001.
  • The Pawpaw Festival has been held annually since 1999 in September at Lake Snowden just southwest of Athens, near Albany.
  • The annual Halloween bash in Athens caters to roughly 20,000 to 30,000 dressed up partygoers on four closed blocks of downtown streets. It is touted to be the third largest block party in the nation.
  • The annual Boogie on the Bricks is a fast growing, all day event held in July. It allowed drinking of alcoholic beverages in the streets during a limited time for the first time in the history of the town[citation needed] in 2006.
  • For many years, an annual Springfest was held on the OU Campus. Primarily due to changes in state alcohol laws, it was replaced in 2004 by an annual event at Ervin's Big Red Barn (and field), a private "party-farm" just outside the city. Each year, the festival name is changed to represent the number of years it has been held (example 2007 is four fest).
  • Athens DIY Fest (Do-It-Yourself Festival)
  • Palmerfest and other street parties
  • Lobsterfest is an annual free concert hosted by Ohio U's All Campus Radio Network.
  • Ohio university sponsors an annual Literary Festival every spring, with various alumni and non-alumni authors and poets participating in readings.

[edit] Geography

Athens is located at 39°19′45″N, 82°5′46″W (39.329427, -82.096237).GR1

Athens is located in the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. The county extends west from the Ohio River, mostly centering around the lower Hocking River watershed.

Athens is located mostly on and around a south-jutting ridge bordered by a loop in the Hocking River. The underlying geology is mostly sandstone and shale, including "redbed" shale that presents a severe slip hazard when structures are built over it on hillsides. However, there are safe zones above sandstone beds, most notably the Connelsville Sandstone that outcrops high on the hillsides. The old Athens Mental Hospital grounds (now part of the university) was built on the top of a hillside in the late 1860s, and is completely stable due to its position atop the hill rather than on a slope. The recent University Courtyard Apartments is also built on similar underlying geology across a small valley, but the hilltop was extensively removed in order to create a stable base.

The city receives all its water supply from wells in unconsolidated river aquifers, and is reputed to be the largest city in the United States to do so.

Strouds Run State Park is located just outside the city, bordering the city line. This park features 2,606 acres (11 km²) of wooded hills, including many bluffs and rock shelters, centered around a man-made lake. Camping is available.

The City of Athens has recently established the Strouds Ridge Preserve project, currently including some 345 acres (140 hectares), to save land from development adjacent to the state park. This preserve includes an 85-acre (340,000 m²) old-growth forest known as "Hawk Woods", or, more formally, the Dale & Jacki Riddle State Nature Preserve. Also adjacent to the state park is the 75-acre Blair Preserve, owned by the Athens Conservancy.

The City has been developing an extensive scenic trail system in the city lands, adjacent Strouds Run State Park, and the Blair Preserve owned by the Athens Conservancy.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.6 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Economy

Ohio University is now the largest employer in Athens County. Coal was once a huge source of employment in the county, but is now a very minor source, as the best and most available coal has been extracted. One of the more interesting manufacturing companies that once existed in Athens was the Midget Motors Corporation, makers of the small automobile, the King Midget.

The only truly heavy industry located in Athens is the Athens Mold & Machine Company, located on the near east side and primarily manufactures tire molds. Other significant employers in or close to Athens include Stewart-MacDonald Company, which handles supplies for stringed instruments, additionally the Ed Map Corporation, Gem Coatings (an industrial powdercoating company) and Specialty Books, are located in The Plains, nearby.

Athens is known for its local food economy, featuring a significant amount of organic produce, sold largely through a year-round farmer's market held on Saturdays and Wednesdays at the University Mall on the city's east side.

[edit] Media

[edit] News publications

Athens is served by several news publications:

  • The Athens Messenger, a daily paper published by Brown Publishing, which also publishes a weekly entertainment paper named the Athens Insider
  • The Athens News, a free semi-weekly tabloid published by Bruce Mitchell
  • The Post, a student newspaper of Ohio University
  • The Matrix, Athens High School's student-run newspaper.

[edit] Broadcast media

In addition, Ohio University's telecommunications center provides public radio and television. The FM radio system covers all of southeastern Ohio.

  • FM Public Radio
    • WOUB-FM, Athens, 91.3 FM
    • WOUC-FM, Cambridge, 89.1 FM
    • WOUH-FM, Chillicothe, 91.9 FM
    • WOUL-FM, Ironton, 89.1 FM (the "L" is from Lawrence Co.)
    • WOUZ-FM, Zanesville, 90.1 FM
    • WMRT-FM, Marietta, 98.7 FM, relayed in Athens from Marietta College
  • AM Public Radio: WOUB-AM, 1340 AM (Athens only)
  • Internet Radio: ACRN (All-Campus Radio Network)
  • Public Television: WOUB-TV, broadcast channel 20
  • Public Television: WOUB-DT, broadcast digital channel 27

Private broadcast media include:

  • WXTQ-FM, 105.5 and WATH-AM, 970 AM (Athens)
  • WSEO-FM 107.7 and WAIS-AM (Nelsonville)
  • WJKW-FM, 95.9 FM (Athens; Christian format)
  • WEAK-LPFM, 106.7, "Union Station" (Athens, oldies)

Former pirate radio stations:

[edit] Internet media

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 21,342 people, 6,271 households, and 1,906 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,560.4 people per square mile (988.0/km²). There were 6,715 housing units at an average density of 805.6/sq mi (310.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.16% White, 3.82% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 4.47% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,271 households. 12.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 22.9% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 69.6% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the city 6.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 66.7% were from 18 to 24, 13.7% were from 25 to 44, 8.0% were from 45 to 64, and 4.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,122, and the median income for a family was $53,391. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $28,866 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,061. About 14.8% of families and 51.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable natives and residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 

[edit] Bibliography

  • Beatty, Elizabeth G. and Marjorie S. Stone. 1984. Getting to Know Athens County. The Stone House, Athens OH.

[edit] Community sites

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Athens County, Ohio
County seat: Athens
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Athens | Nelsonville

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