Athens County is located in the Appalachian region of southeastern Ohio and is one of the state’s most rural counties. It covers an area of 463 square miles and is bordered by Meigs County to the north, Washington County to the east, Vinton County to the south, and Hocking County to the west. According to gradphysics, the county seat is Athens, which is also its largest city.
Athens County is home to some beautiful natural scenery. The rolling hills of Appalachia provide a picturesque backdrop for many scenic drives and hikes throughout the county. The landscape includes forests, meadows, marshes, rivers, and creeks that are all part of Athens’ unique ecosystem. Wildlife in the area includes deer, bear, foxes, raccoons, opossums, rabbits and more.
The main waterway in Athens County is Sunday Creek which flows through several townships before emptying into the Ohio River in Meigs County. There are also several other smaller creeks including Federal Creek which runs through Federal Township as well as Shade Creek which runs through Shade Township before emptying into Sunday Creek.
Athens City serves as Athens County’s government center and houses several important buildings including its Courthouse and Jailhouse as well as its City Hall building which was built in 1815-1817 during a time when it was still part of Washington County. Other attractions within city limits include Ohio University (founded in 1804), Nelsonville’s Historic Square (which dates back to 1825), Hocking Valley Scenic Railway (established in 1877), Stuart’s Opera House (built in 1879) and more.
Athens City also offers plenty of amenities for residents including restaurants such as Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery or Casa Nueva Mexican Restaurant & Cantina; shopping opportunities like Athena Grand Shopping Center or Goodwill; museums like Dairy Barn Arts Center or Kennedy Museum of Art; theaters like Athena Cinema or Court Street Theater; parks such as Strouds Run State Park or Lake Snowden; plus much more.
Overall, Athens County has something for everyone from natural beauty to historical sites to great shopping opportunities. This rural county has something special that keeps people coming back year after year.
School districts in Athens County, Ohio
Athens County is home to several excellent school districts, offering a variety of educational opportunities for students of all ages. The Athens City School District serves the city of Athens and is the largest district in the county. It operates nine schools, including four elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and two special education centers. The district also offers a variety of extracurricular activities such as athletics, clubs, and performing arts programs.
The Alexander Local School District is located in the southeastern part of the county and serves students in Alexander Township as well as parts of Amesville, Carthage, and Shade Township. It operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This district also offers a variety of extracurricular activities such as athletics and music programs as well as clubs for students to explore their interests further.
The Federal Hocking Local School District is located in the southwestern corner of the county and serves students from Federal Hocking Township as well as parts of Amesville Township. This district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school with a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports teams and academic clubs available to students.
The Nelsonville-York City School District serves students in Nelsonville City along with parts of Canaan Township and York Township. This district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school along with an alternative learning center for those who need extra help or who may be better suited for an alternative educational environment like online learning or homeschooling.
The Trimble Local School District is located in western Athens County near the border with Meigs County and serves students from Trimble Township along with parts of Chesterhill Village. This district operates two elementary schools, and one middle school/high school combination campus with extracurricular activities like music programs available to all grade levels at both campuses.
Athens County also offers several private schooling options including parochial schools such as Sts Peter & Paul Catholic Church or Greek Orthodox Church both located within city limits; plus non-denominational options like Athens Christian Academy or The Learning Tree Montessori School; plus many more. All these options provide families with an array of choices when it comes to their student’s education needs making Athens County a great place for families looking for quality schooling options.
Major schools in Athens County, Ohio
Athens County, Ohio is home to numerous quality schooling options. From public schools to private schools, there is something for everyone. The public school system in Athens County consists of four districts: Athens City Schools, Alexander Local Schools, Federal Hocking Local Schools, and Nelsonville-York City Schools.
Athens City Schools serves students from the city of Athens as well as parts of Canaan Township and Dover Township. This district operates four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school with a variety of extracurricular activities available to students such as athletics, music programs, clubs and more.
Alexander Local School District serves students from Alexander Township as well as parts of Amesville Township and Rome Township. This district operates two elementary schools and one middle/high school campus with extracurricular activities available for all students such as athletics teams and academic clubs.
Federal Hocking Local School District is located in the southwestern corner of the county and serves students from Federal Hocking Township as well as parts of Amesville Township. This district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school with a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports teams and academic clubs available to students.
Nelsonville-York City School District serves students in Nelsonville City along with parts of Canaan Township and York Township. This district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school along with an alternative learning center for those who need extra help or who may be better suited for an alternative educational environment like online learning or homeschooling.
The Trimble Local School District is located in western Athens County near the border with Meigs County and serves students from Trimble Township along with parts of Chesterhill Village. This district operates two elementary schools, and one middle school/high school combination campus with extracurricular activities like music programs available to all grade levels at both campuses.
Athens County also offers several private schooling options including parochial schools such as Sts Peter & Paul Catholic Church or Greek Orthodox Church both located within city limits; plus non-denominational options like Athens Christian Academy or The Learning Tree Montessori School; plus many more. All these options provide families with an array of choices when it comes to their student’s education needs making Athens County a great place for families looking for quality schooling options.
For those seeking secondary education opportunities in Athens County there are several colleges located within its borders including Ohio University which is situated right in the heart of downtown Athens; Hocking College which offers associate degrees in various fields; University College which offers online classes through Ohio University; Ohio Valley University which provides undergraduate programs focused on Christian teachings; Zane State College which focuses on technical training; Rio Grande University which provides associate degrees online or through its main campus located nearby; or Shawnee State University which has its main campus just south of Portsmouth offering bachelor’s degrees in various fields across multiple disciplines providing something for everyone interested in furthering their education.
Notable people of Athens County, Ohio
According to cheeroutdoor, Athens County, Ohio is home to a variety of notable people who have made their mark in history. One such person is William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States. Harrison was born in Berkeley Plantation, Virginia but his family moved to North Bend, Ohio when he was nine years old. He attended Cincinnati College and later studied law at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. He then moved back to Ohio and began his career as a lawyer, politician, and military officer. He served as the Governor of the Indiana Territory from 1801-1813 before being elected as President of the United States in 1840.
Another famous resident of Athens County is Orville Wright who was born near Millville in Dayton Township on August 19th, 1871. Orville was one half of the famous Wright Brothers duo who are widely credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane. He and his brother Wilbur constructed their first aircraft at their family’s farm near Millville and made several test flights there before eventually moving to Kitty Hawk for further testing.
The city of Athens itself has produced a number of notable people including author Louis Bromfield who wrote over 25 books including The Green Bay Tree which won him a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1927; actor and director Jonathan Frakes best known for his roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation; Nobel Prize winning physicist Carl Wieman; famed cartoonist Bill Watterson whose comic strip Calvin & Hobbes ran from 1985-1995; former senator John Glenn; Olympic athlete Carl Lewis; singer/songwriter John Legend; astronaut Ellen Ochoa; politician John Kasich; poet Linda Pastan; former NFL player Raymont Harris; sculptor Ed Hamilton; actress Jennie Garth;and many more.
Athens County is also home to many noteworthy athletes including Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens who competed in track events during the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin Germany where he famously won four gold medals despite facing racism from Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime at the time. Other athletes from Athens County include professional golfer Jack Nicklaus who attended The Ohio State University located nearby as well as NBA player Jared Sullinger and former NFL quarterback Craig Krenzel both graduates of The Ohio State University too.
In conclusion, it’s clear that Athens County has produced some truly remarkable people throughout history who have gone on to make great contributions to society both locally and internationally.