Athens

Athens: city hall

Athens, city, seat (1805) of Athens county, southeastern Ohio, U.S. It lies along the Hocking River, about 75 miles (120 km) southeast of Columbus. It was founded in 1800 by the territorial legislature as the seat of the American Western University, which was renamed Ohio University in 1804. Athens and the university campus were laid out by Gen. Rufus Putnam and Manasseh Cutler. The city grew with the expansion of educational and research facilities and subsequently underwent planned industrial development, with the establishment of facilities for the manufacture of automotive parts, molds, small engines, coolers, compressors, and tools; there is also coal mining in the vicinity. Athens lies between segments of Wayne National Forest. Lake Hope State Park, within Zaleski State Forest, is some 15 miles (24 km) west. Inc. village, 1811; city, 1912. Pop. (2000) 21,342; (2010) 23,832.