Athens, Ohio | |
|---|---|
 Athens in 2003 | |
 Flag  Logo | |
 Location of Athens in Athens County and the state ofOhio | |
  Athens Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Athens Athens (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:39°19′45″N82°5′46″W / 39.32917°N 82.09611°W /39.32917; -82.09611 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| County | Athens |
| Townships | Athens,Canaan |
| Incorporated | 1811 (village) 1912 (city) |
| Named after | Athens, Greece |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Steve Patterson (D) |
| • Legislator | Athens City Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.21 sq mi (26.44 km2) |
| • Land | 9.96 sq mi (25.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,849 |
• Estimate (2023)[3] | 24,673 |
| • Density | 2,394.7/sq mi (924.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 45701 |
| Area codes | 740, 220 |
| FIPS code | 39-02736[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394009[2] |
| Website | www |
Athens is a city inAthens County, Ohio, United States, and itscounty seat. The population was 23,849 at the2020 United States census.[5] Located along theHocking River withinAppalachian Ohio about 65 miles (105 km) southeast ofColumbus, Athens is best known as the home ofOhio University, a large public research university with an undergraduate and graduate enrollment of more than 21,000 students.[6] It is the principal city of theAthens micropolitan area.
The first permanent European settlers arrived in Athens in 1797,[7] more than a decade after the United States victory in theAmerican 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 theNorthwest Territory. Previously part ofWashington County, Ohio, Athens County was formed in 1805,named for the ancient center of learning,Athens, Greece.
Ohio University in Athens was established with the first federal endowment of an educational institution in the United States. In July 1787, theCongress of the Confederation gave to theOhio Company of Associates "two townships of good land for the support of a literary institution" in the newly createdNorthwest Territory.[8]
During The First Session of the Second Territorial General Assembly, held in Chillicothe from November 23, 1801, to January 23, 1802, the General Assembly passed an act establishing the "American Western University" at Athens. The act was approved by Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory on January 9, 1802.[9] However, no university with the name of American Western University would be established. Ohio became a state in 1803 and on February 18, 1804, the state legislature passed an act establishing the "Ohio University" in the town of Athens.[10] Athens received city status in 1912, following the 1910 census showing the population had passed 5,000 residents, the requirement for city status in Ohio.
Originally, large tracts of land in 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 ofAmerican Revolutionary War veterans. These lands were given to Ohio University by the Federal government. This was the first federal land grant for a university, pre-dating theMorrill 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 largest institutions of higher learning in Ohio, with an enrollment of over 20,000 on the Athens campus and over 28,000 for all campuses.
The earliest industry in the area was salt production, followed by iron production and coal extraction. The largest employer in the county is Ohio University. In 1843, theHocking Canal opened, enabling shipping from the Ohio River up theHocking River, which passes through Athens, toNelsonville, Ohio, and points beyond. However, the canal was closed during cold winters when it froze over.
The firstrailroad reached Athens in 1857. In the late 19th century, an interurban line opened between Athens and Nelsonville and operated for some years. TheAthens Lunatic Asylum, later named the Athens State Hospital, opened in 1874. This was on high ground to the south of town and to the south of the Hocking River. In the late 19th century the hospital was the town's largest employer. The state hospital was eventually decommissioned and the property was deeded to Ohio University. It is now known asThe Ridges. Much of the building space has been renovated for offices and research space or demolished, and most of the grounds have been set aside as open space, including aland lab.
In 1904, theU. S. Army and the OhioNational Guard conducted joint training exercises near the city. Multiple US army regulars became drunk and were arrested by National Guard Provosts for causing disturbances. The arrests angered the regulars; on Friday a large contingent set out from camp to free an arrested comrade. The armed regulars were stopped by provosts and the ensuing quarrel quickly escalated into a shoot-out on Washington Street, during which one guardsman was killed and five others were wounded.[11][12]
By 1935, Athens was known as a coal and fruit-producing region and a state center of higher education and psychiatric care. The major manufactured goods included stoves, lumber, parquetry flooring, caskets, and flooring.[13]
The university (and in turn, the city) saw large growth during the post-World War Two era and again during the Vietnam War era. Growth slowed in the 1980s with small increases in growth into present times.
Athens is located in theunglaciated Allegheny Plateau about 47 miles fromChillicothe and 35 miles west ofMarietta. Athens is surrounded by hills that rise about three hundred feet from river valley to the narrow ridge tops. The county extends west from theOhio River, mostly centered around the lowerHocking River watershed.According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 10.05 square miles (26.0 km2), of which 9.83 square miles (25.5 km2) (or 97.81%) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km2) (or 2.19%) is water.[14] Large sections of Athens and Ohio University are located in the floodplain of the Hocking River. Over the last two centuries the town suffered from many destructive floods, including notable floods in 1832, 1873, 1907, 1937, 1949, 1964 and 1968.[15] In 1969 theArmy Corps of Engineers completed a major work that rerouted and expanded the channel of the Hocking River, for a stretch of several miles around the town, moving the river hundreds of feet to the south.[15] That project and the ongoing efforts to maintain the channel have greatly reduced the negative effects of seasonally high river levels.
Athens is located mostly on and around a south-jutting ridge bordered by a loop in the Hocking River. The underlyinggeology is mostlysandstone andshale, 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 riveraquifers, and is reputed to be the largest city in the United States to do so.[citation needed]
Athens has ahot-summer humid continental climate (KöppenDfa), typical of most of Ohio.
| Climate data for Athens, Ohio (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) | 80 (27) | 87 (31) | 93 (34) | 95 (35) | 102 (39) | 106 (41) | 104 (40) | 100 (38) | 92 (33) | 85 (29) | 80 (27) | 106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.0 (3.3) | 42.2 (5.7) | 52.2 (11.2) | 65.2 (18.4) | 72.3 (22.4) | 79.5 (26.4) | 82.4 (28.0) | 81.5 (27.5) | 76.2 (24.6) | 65.2 (18.4) | 53.2 (11.8) | 42.6 (5.9) | 62.5 (16.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 32.8 (0.4) | 41.1 (5.1) | 52.4 (11.3) | 61.1 (16.2) | 69.4 (20.8) | 72.7 (22.6) | 71.4 (21.9) | 65.0 (18.3) | 53.8 (12.1) | 42.6 (5.9) | 34.6 (1.4) | 52.2 (11.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) | 23.4 (−4.8) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 39.7 (4.3) | 50.0 (10.0) | 59.2 (15.1) | 63.0 (17.2) | 61.4 (16.3) | 53.8 (12.1) | 42.4 (5.8) | 32.1 (0.1) | 26.7 (−2.9) | 41.9 (5.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) | −15 (−26) | −8 (−22) | 12 (−11) | 26 (−3) | 33 (1) | 35 (2) | 36 (2) | 24 (−4) | 12 (−11) | 4 (−16) | −26 (−32) | −28 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.89 (73) | 2.94 (75) | 3.57 (91) | 3.78 (96) | 4.20 (107) | 4.50 (114) | 4.34 (110) | 3.16 (80) | 3.18 (81) | 2.93 (74) | 2.91 (74) | 3.16 (80) | 41.56 (1,056) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.8 (15) | 5.9 (15) | 2.3 (5.8) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 3.0 (7.6) | 17.6 (45) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.3 | 11.4 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 13.9 | 12.1 | 11.3 | 10.1 | 8.7 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 12.7 | 138.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 5.2 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 15.8 |
| Source:NOAA[16][17] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 578 | — | |
| 1820 | 1,094 | 89.3% | |
| 1830 | 728 | −33.5% | |
| 1840 | 710 | −2.5% | |
| 1850 | 808 | 13.8% | |
| 1860 | 2,852 | 253.0% | |
| 1870 | 1,696 | −40.5% | |
| 1880 | 2,457 | 44.9% | |
| 1890 | 2,620 | 6.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,066 | 17.0% | |
| 1910 | 5,463 | 78.2% | |
| 1920 | 6,418 | 17.5% | |
| 1930 | 7,252 | 13.0% | |
| 1940 | 7,696 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 11,660 | 51.5% | |
| 1960 | 16,470 | 41.3% | |
| 1970 | 23,310 | 41.5% | |
| 1980 | 19,801 | −15.1% | |
| 1990 | 21,265 | 7.4% | |
| 2000 | 21,342 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 23,832 | 11.7% | |
| 2020 | 23,849 | 0.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,673 | [3] | 3.5% |
| Sources:[4][18][19] | |||
As of thecensus[21] of 2010, there were 23,832 people, 6,903 households, and 1,842 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,424.4 inhabitants per square mile (936.1/km2). There were 7,391 housing units at an average density of 751.9 per square mile (290.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.4%White, 4.4%African American, 0.2%Native American, 6.1%Asian, 0.6% fromother races, and 2.3% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 6,903 households, of which 11.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 20.5% weremarried couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 73.3% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.74.
The median age in the city was 21.6 years. 5.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 67.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 14.4% were from 25 to 44; 7.9% were from 45 to 64; and 4.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 21,342 people, 6,271 households, and 1,906 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,560.4 people per square mile (988.6 people/km2). There were 6,715 housing units at an average density of 805.6 per square mile (311.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.16%White, 3.82%Black orAfrican American, 0.15%Native American, 4.47%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.60% fromother races, and 1.74% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 6,271 households, out of which 12.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.9% weremarried couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder 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 the population was spread out, with 6.7% under the age of 18, 66.7% from 18 to 24, 13.7% from 25 to 44, 8.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who 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. Theper capita income for the city was $11,061. About 14.8% of families and 51.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
From the mid-1800s until the 1950s,coal andbrick-making were major sources of employment in the county. They became a minor source after the best and most available coal had been extracted and cheaper brick-making became available outside the area. A former manufacturing company was theMidget Motors Corporation, makers of the small automobile, theKing Midget.
Ohio University is the largest employer in Athens County. In addition to direct employment through the university, much of the local economy depends on tourism and events related to the university, through local restaurants, bars, stores and hotels. Manufacturing and technology related businesses, includingQuidel Corporation (formerly Diagnostic Hybrids[22][23]), Stewart-MacDonald,[24] Sunpower,Mitchell Electronics, Fastenall, and Gorman-Redlich.
Athens has a long musical tradition that includes local acts and events for touring musicians, performing at Ohio University and festivals in Athens. The folk song "Athens County" - words byJoe Dolce; music byJonathan Edwards - refers to Athens, Ohio, where Edwards & Dolce attended college in the late 60s. Edwards went on to have a Number 2 hit song nationally with 'Sunshine' while Dolce moved to Australia and had an international Number 1 hit withShaddap You Face. Dolce is now an established poet and essayist in Melbourne. Bands hailing from Athens includeThe Headstone Circus,The Snapdragons, Appalachian Death Ride,[25] She Bears,Southeast Engine,[26] The Ridges and the metal bandSkeletonwitch.[27] Athens native Steve Reis, a founder of the Columbus, Ohio-based bandMcGuffey Lane named his band after a street in Athens.[citation needed]
Several theater companies have operated in Athens over the years. Studio for Young Actors, aka Drama Club Youth Academy was a youth theater which operated from 2000 to approximately 2010. They performed both original and published plays and musicals featuring young actors. Their main venue was Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio[28][29] They subsequently moved their performance venue to Arts/West[30][31] a community arts space in Athens, Ohio, operated by the City of Athens.[32] A university park on Richland Ave was designed by Athens' ownMaya Lin.[citation needed]
Athens recreation facilities include a community recreation center, several city parks and play grounds, public gardens, soccer fields, an arts center called Arts West, two off-leash enclosed dog parks, and an extensive scenic trail system in the city lands, adjacent Strouds Run State Park, and the Blair Preserve owned by the Athens Conservancy. TheAthens Skate Park is the second largestskate park in Ohio. The City of Athens Ohio Community Recreation center (Athens Community Center), known simply as "The Rec Center" to locals, offers programming in athletics, childcare, sports camps, community events and more. Located in the East State Street area, the center is accessible from theHockhocking Adena Bikeway. Recreation facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a skate park, fitness equipment, an indoor walking and running track, event rental facilities, and playgrounds. The Arts, Parks and Recreation Department actively supports a variety of community recreation initiatives. It sponsors adult summer and fall slow-pitch softball that is popular among residents in Athens and the county. The recreation department has organized men's, women's, and co-ed leagues, although the co-ed leagues have seen strongest participation in recent years. Soccer leagues are organized year round, with programs offered through the Community Recreation Center, Ohio University and the Athens Soccer Academy. Youth sports, such as soccer leagues, summer camps and little league, are also supported by local residents. Programming for the arts are facilitated through Arts West, the Dairy Barn, and Ohio University.Sells Park is located on the east side of Athens, near The City of Athens Ohio Community Recreation center.Sells Park comprises 22.5 acres (980,491.87 ft²), and includes Sells Pond, a 1,876.03 square yards (1,568.60 m2) pond.Strouds Run State Park is located just outside the city, bordering the city line. This park features 2,606 acres (10.55 km2) of wooded hills, including manybluffs androck shelters, centered around a man-madelake.Camping is available. BothSells Park andStrouds Run State Park are part of The Athens Trail Network, a multi-use trail network branching out fromSells Park. The City of Athens has recently established theStrouds Ridge Preserve project, currently including some 345 acres (140 ha), 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 & JackiRiddle State Nature Preserve. Also adjacent to the state park is the 75-acre (300,000 m2) Blair Preserve, owned by theAthens Conservancy.
TheHockhocking Adena Bikeway is a multi-use asphalt trail with its main hub (mile marker 0) at the Athens Community Center on East State Street. The trail extends 16.4 miles (26.4 km) northwest to Robbins' Crossing andHocking College inNelsonville and on to the Rocky Brands complex near the Public Square, and approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) further east along East State Street and US Route 50 to South Canaan Road (Athens County Road 24A). Access points with parking are located at mile 4 at the West State Street Park, mile 10.2 offRt. 682 in The Plains, and mile 16.4 at Robbins' Crossing and Hocking College. The trail, which generally follows the course of the Hocking River, provides access to the East State Street commercial areas, Ohio University's campus (at South Green andPeden Stadium), The Plains, and Hocking College. It is designed for walking, running, biking, cross-country skiing, skating, and wheelchairs. Additionally several city streets are marked as bike lanes.[41]
Athens is a qualifiedTree City USA as recognized by theNational Arbor Day Foundation.[42]
The Athens Trail Network is a multi-use trail network branching out fromSells Park at the end of Avon Place. A series of twelve trails and connectors branch out into the surrounding woods, heading eastwards to eventually connect with the trails of Strouds Run State Park. The trails are designed for hiking, running, and biking, although some sections are off-limits to bicycles. The trails provide scenic views of the East State Street commercial area and travel past and through notable features such as Sells Pond,Riddle State Nature Preserve (also known as Hawk Woods), Boulder Cove, Turtlehead Cave (also known as Blue Ash Rockhouse), Finger Rock, Pioneer Cemetery, and Dow Lake atStrouds Run State Park. The trail network is maintained by community and university volunteers.[43]
Athens is governed by a mayoral-council form of government. Elected officials include mayor, auditor, treasurer, seven council members, and council president. The mayor, auditor, and treasurer are elected for four-year terms. Council members and council president are elected for two-year terms. Four council members represent each of the city's four wards. Three council members are elected at-large. Council president only votes in case of a tie vote. City Hall is located in uptown on Washington Street.
Athens is also covered by the Athens County Department of Health, the Athens County Planning Office, and Athens County Job and Family Services. The city of Athens has a strict parking policy. The city has a Police Department since 1911 working 24/7 year round. Today the force is made up of about 30 police officers plus a like number of reserve officers and support staff.[44] According toODMP, 2 officers of the Athens Police Department have been police department.[45] Ohio University also has a police force with about 25 officers.[46] According toODMP, 1 officer of the Ohio University Police Department was killed in the line of duty.[47] Each of these departments work well together and support each other. Both have additional help when needed by the county sheriff department. Athens Fire department founded in 1830 and became full-time in the 1930s has two stations, a staff of about 30. They work 24 on 48 hours off. The department not only covers the city's fire department needs but also that of Ohio University.[48] The city is part of the county-wideEnhanced 911 system. This system is able to locate landline or registered cell phone users, and send a text or phone call message of alert to those who sign up.[49]
The city has a large number of rental homes/apartments which are inspected by the Housing Code Office.[50]The city of Athens is the county seat making it the home of many county government offices and the county courthouse at the corner of Court and Washington streets. Each of Athens County's three commissioners are usually from the city of Athens. Athens is a stronghold of theDemocratic Party. PresidentBarack Obama visited the city andOhio University late during the 2012 re-election campaign. The city andAthens County have votedDemocratic during all presidential elections since 1972 except for 1984.
The current mayor is Steve Patterson. A Democrat, Patterson would be elected to his third term as mayor in 2023.[51] As of January 2, 2025, Patterson also serves as President of theNational League of Cities.[52]
Ohio University is a public university located in Athens (30,000+ students[53]) that is situated on an 1,800-acre (7.3 km2) campus. Founded in 1804, it is the oldest university inOhio,[54] oldest in theNorthwest Territory,[55] and ninth oldest public university in the United States. Known as the Bobcats,Ohio University hosts over 250 academic programs,[56] 5,300 employees,[57] and has been recognized by theJohn Templeton Foundation as one of the top character building institutions in the country.[58] In addition to its main campus in Athens, Ohio University also operates regional campuses in Chillicothe, Cleveland, Dublin, Ironton (Ohio University - Southern), Lancaster, Pickerington, Proctorville, St. Clairsville (Ohio University - Eastern), and Zanesville.[59][60]
Outside of Ohio University, the residents of Athens are served by the Athens City School District, founded in the late 1840s. Currently it consists of 5 schools: East Elementary (PK-3), Morrison Gordon Elementary (PK-3), The Plains Intermediate School (4-6), Athens Middle School (grades 7–8), andAthens High School home of the 'Bulldogs' and Joe Burrow Stadium. East Elementary and Morrison Gordon Elementary were replaced with new buildings on the same locations, and opened in Fall 2021, and The Plains Intermediate was significantly remodeled for a re-opening in Fall 2022. In 2019, a new Athens High School was scheduled to begin design and construction in 2024 with a planned Fall 2026 opening.[61] As a result of COVID and other work-related delays, work has not yet begun, but as a result of a tax-funded levy passed in November 2023 giving a $24 million bond to the Athens City School District (ACSD), as well as $28.5 million from the OFCC CFAP, construction will begin in 2025 and be completed within an estimated 18 to 30 months.[62][63]
On the city's east side, Athens has a public library, a branch of theAthens County Public Libraries.[64]
Railroad came to the city in the 1850s, with the last passenger train ending in 1981. That left a few freight trains passing near the city. Until 1981, Amtrak'sShenandoah (Cincinnati - Washington, D.C.) stopped atAthens station.[67] In earlier years, the daily B&O trains,Diplomat (St. Louis - Jersey City, NJ) andNational Limited (St. Louis - Jersey City, NJ) stopped at the station.[68]
The first 4-lane road into and out of the city came in the early 1970s. SR 32 from Athens to Cincinnati was completed in the early 1980s. Four lanes from Athens toBelpre/Parkersburg was completed in the late 1990s on US-50, SR-32 & 7 hooking up with I-77.[citation needed] In the early 2000s, SR-33 'Super-2' highway was complete, linking Athens to I-77 atRavenswood, WVa. In October 2013, the last section of the 4-lane highway was completed, bypassing Nelsonville's two lane road on SR-33, linking Athens withColumbus.
Ohio University has a modern regional airport[69] about 15 miles southwest of the city nearAlbany off US-50/SR-32 calledGordon K. Bush Airport. The runway is just over 5,000 feet long with landing system, lighting and hangars. The nearest airports with commercial flights areMid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport near Parkersburg, West Virginia andJohn Glenn Columbus International Airport andRickenbacker International Airport near Columbus.
Athens has a public bus system which is free to OU students and staff and at a reduced price for seniors and school age students. It has several routes inside the city and one toThe Plains.[70] OU has a bus system that links with a city bus system. Many student apartment complexes have their own bus shuttle. Athens also has an inter-city bus line from Athens toColumbus,Cincinnati,Marietta, Ohio, andCleveland–theGoBus–running twice a day with stops in-between.[71]
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AtOhio University theHeritage College of Osteopathic Medicine was established in 1975. It is currently the only osteopathic medical school in the state and offers the degreeDoctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). The college is accredited by theAmerican Osteopathic Association. In 1993, Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., was appointed to the position of dean of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; she was the first African-American woman to serve as the dean of a U.S. medical school. TheHeritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has 814 students enrolled across three campuses in Athens, Cleveland, and Dublin.[72] Ohio University partners with University Medical Associates (UMA), which was founded in 2003, and is a wide-ranging medical service provider in multiple locations around the Athens area, both on campus and off. UMA's mission is to deliver health care services to the residents of southeastern Ohio while providing clinical training opportunities for future osteopathic physicians.[73]
Ohio University also runs Campus Care, which is an on-campus clinic for enrolled students.[74]
Additionally, Athens is served byOhioHealthO'Bleness Memorial Hospital a 140+ bed non-profit community hospital founded in the early 1920s as Sheltering Arms Hospital. O'Bleness, built in the early 1970s, overlooks the Hocking River and is near the university campus. O'Bleness emergency department (as well as the lab & radiology) is open 24/7 365 days at year. The hospital has a helipad located near the ED. On the hospital grounds is the Cornwell Center, which houses a catheterization lab, cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation program as well as medical offices. The Castrop Center houses Athens Cancer Center, medical offices plus a public pharmacy. A new 2 story Doctor's Park building open in 2021 with doctor offices, including exams and Lab.[75] O'Bleness was in a management agreement with OhioHealth from 2010 until early 2014 when O'Bleness became a whole part of the OhioHealth system.[76] In early 2021 a new 2 story Medical Office building opened. Between 2019 and 2021 a new ICU opened, numerous equipment and facilities upgrades, and major expansion and renovation of the ED.[citation needed]
Hopewell Health Centers operate several health care facilities in Athens, including Athens Behavioral Health and Primary Care Clinic (90 Hospital Drive), Respite Adult Crisis Program (7976 Dairy Lane), Athens County WIC Program (215 Columbus Road, Suite 106), and Early Childhood Program (9 Kenny Drive). Hopewell Health Centers offer comprehensive behavioral health care, dental health care, and primary health care. A sliding fee scale is available for dental health care, primary health care, and some behavioral health care services. Board Certified/Board Eligible health professionals include family practice physicians, dentists, adult psychiatrists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and advanced practice nurses. Hopewell also employs social workers, counselors, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors, and a registered dietician.[citation needed]
Holzer Athens, (2131 East State Street) employs 42 health care professionals at its clinic. Their service line includes allergy and immunology, anesthesiology, audiology, breast health, cancer care, chiropractic care, ear, nose & throat, eye care, gastroenterology, gynecology, heart & vascular care, imaging & radiology, kidney care, lab services, low-dose CT, men's health, midwifery, occupational health & wellness, orthopedics, pain management, pediatrics, pharmacy, podiatry, pregnancy & birth, primary care, sleep medicine, sports medicine, surgery, therapy services, urgent care, women's health, and work health & wellness.
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Athens, Ohio travel guide from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofAthens County, Ohio,United States | ||
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