Athens

Athens is a college town in southeastern Ohio that stretches along the Hocking River, while hills rise about 300 feet (91 meters) above the riverbanks around the valley. Streets follow the river and the valleys of smaller creeks that connect the center with residential neighborhoods on the slopes.

European settlers founded the community in 1797, and seven years later Ohio University received federal land grants that laid the foundation for later growth. Salt production and coal mining shaped the local economy during the 19th century, before it shifted over time toward education and technology.

Ohio University shapes the city, and students fill cafes, bookstores and green spaces along the streets during term time. On game days, crowds move toward campus, where the neighborhood around the athletic facilities comes alive.

The city center is easy to walk, while residential areas climb the hills and include steeper sections. The town has a network of paths that run along the river and through the valleys, making it easier to reach different neighborhoods.

The town draws its drinking water entirely from aquifers beneath the river valley, tapped through a system of wells. This method has proven reliable because the river water is naturally filtered through sediment layers before reaching the wells.