Diamond Jubilee: Athens, Ohio

The first permanent European settlers arrived in Athens in 1797, more than a decade after the United States victory in the American Revolutionary War. In 1800, the town site was first surveyed and plotted and incorporated as a village in 1811. Ohio had become a state in 1803. Ohio University was chartered in 1804, the first public institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory. Previously part of Washington County, Ohio, Athens County was formed in 1805, named for the ancient center of learning, Athens, Greece.

(Wikipedia)

Athens County Courthouse

Cutler Hall, Ohio University. June 2021

Just before reaching Hocking Hills State Park, AQ noted we were near Athens. He said he knew a guy who had studied there. His friend had reported, "it is a beautiful little town" - so we made a brief detour. What a great decision!

For everyone who thinks of Ohio as pancake flat, a good portion of the southern part of the state is forested, rolling hills. Athens is set on a ridge and its streets are actually hilly. The tiny downtown is lovely - we found a place to park for a brief walkabout (and coffee). The county courthouse (our second one) was ornate and enormous for such a small town. We didn't enter, but I was impressed by the exterior.

Then we walked to the oldest part of the Ohio University (public). Its history was impressive. The land was granted by the federal government to establish a university in the "Northwest Territory" - the place was old. Once again, like Marietta, the university felt like a nice place to study, especially for anyone searching for a beautiful little "American college town". AQ related that his friend sometimes got bored and drove to Columbus, but overall he liked the experience of studying there. I could understand - as a young person, I might have wanted a city escape, too.

We were on a tight schedule so we only stopped briefly. I felt happy we did.