Athens County, Ohio
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Athens County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, in the southeasternmost part of the state. As of 2000, the population was 62,223. Its county seat is Athens6. Because the state university (Ohio University) was located there, the town and the county were named for the ancient center of learning, Athens, Greece.
Government
Main article: Ohio county governmentGeography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,317 km² (509 mi²). 1,312 km² (507 mi²) of it is land and 5 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.35%) is water.Athens County is located in the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau region of Ohio. It features steep, rugged hills, with typical relief of 150 to 400 feet, deeply dissected by stream valleys, many of them remnant from the ancient Teays River drainage system. Most of Athens County is within the Hocking River watershed, with smaller areas in the Shade River and Raccoon Creek watersheds.
Adjacent counties
- Perry County (north)
- Morgan County (northeast)
- Washington County (east)
- Wood County, West Virginia (southeast)
- Meigs County (south)
- Vinton County (west)
- Hocking County (northwest)
Economy
The largest employer in Athens County is Ohio University. Other significant employers include McBee Industries and Hocking College. Historically, the first industry was salt production, and coal and timber followed soon thereafter. However, the accessible portions of the number 6 coal have been largely mined out, and current mining operations are only a very few small strip mines and longwall operations.Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 62,223 people, 22,501 households, and 12,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 47/km² (123/mi²). There were 24,901 housing units at an average density of 19/km² (49/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White, 2.39% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 22,501 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.50% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.50% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county the population was spread out with 18.30% under the age of 18, 30.70% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 18.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,322, and the median income for a family was $39,785. Males had a median income of $30,776 versus $23,905 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,171. About 14.00% of families and 27.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities, Villages, and Townships
Incorporated Cities
Incorporated Villages
Townships
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Unincorporated communities
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Institutions of Higher Learning
Media
Athens County is served by three principal news publications:- The Athens Messenger, a daily paper published by the Brown Publishing Company, which also publishes a weekly tabloid names the Athens Insider
- The Athens News, a free semi-weekly tabloid published by Bruce Mitchell
- The Post, the student newspaper of Ohio University
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
- AM Public Radio: WOUB-AM, 1340 AM (Athens only)
- [Public Access Television AMAC Channel 23]
- Public Television: WOUB-TV, broadcast channel 20
- WXTQ-FM and WATH-AM (Athens)
- WSEO-FM and WAIS-AM (Nelsonville)
- WJKW-FM, 95.9 FM (Athens; Christian format)
- WEAK-LPFM, 106.7, "Union Station" (Athens, oldies)
Public Lands
Federal Lands
- Belleville Lock and Dam Public Access Area (Troy Township)
- Tom Jenkins Dam (at Burr Oak State Park, Trimble Township)
- Wayne National Forest (Dover, York, Trimble, Canaan Townships)
State Lands
- Burr Oak State Park
- Strouds Run State Park
- Acadia Cliffs Wildlife Area
- Fox Lake Wildlife Area
- Waterloo Wildlife Experimentation Station
- Marie J. Desonier State Nature Preserve
- Riddle State Nature Preserve
- Gifford State Forest
- Waterloo State Forest
- Zaleski State Forest
County Properties
- Frost Park
- Hockhocking-Adena Bike Path
External link
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