Editing Athens, West Virginia

{{about|the town in West Virginia|other uses|Athens (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Athens, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Athens-State-Street-wv.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = View along State Street; Town Hall on the right
|image_flag               = Flag of Athens, West Virginia.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Athens, West Virginia.svg

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Mercer County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Athens Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location of Athens in Mercer County, West Virginia.

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[West Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Mercer County, West Virginia|Mercer]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title1            = Mayor:
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = Council Members
|leader_name2             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         =1906<ref name="West Virginia Blue Book">{{cite book|last=[[West Virginia Legislature]]|first=|title=West Virginia Blue Book, 2017-2018|url= https://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/publications/bluebook/2017-2018/0943_WVS_BlueBook.pdf|chapter=Section Ten: Municipalities|year=2018|publisher=West Virginia Legislature|location=Charleston, West Virginia|page=946}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.02
|area_land_km2            = 1.02
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.39
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_est           = 933
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 944
|population_density_km2   = 879.74
|population_density_sq_mi = 2276.65

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 2582
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|25|23|N|81|00|54|W|region:US-WV|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24712
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-03292<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2390709<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2390709}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.townofathens.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Athens''' is a town in [[Mercer County, West Virginia]], United States. The population was 944 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is part of the [[Bluefield micropolitan area]] which has a population of 107,578. Athens is the home of [[Concord University]].

==History==
The community was named Concord; however, in 1896 another post office in [[Concord, Hampshire County, West Virginia|Concord, Hampshire County]], West Virginia was established and the town's name was changed to Athens after the [[Athens|Greek city]] and center of learning.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harvey |first1=Jeff |title=What's in a name? A lot, if you lived in Athens, or Concord |url= https://www.ptonline.net/news/local_news/what-s-in-a-name-a-lot-if-you-lived/article_ba965731-125c-539e-a3bf-be42493d4109.html |work=Princeton Times |date=May 8, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kenny|first=Hamill|title=West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains|url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015009099824;view=1up;seq=116|year=1945|publisher=The Place Name Press|location=Piedmont, WV|page=88}}</ref> The community incorporated as a town on August 6, 1906.<ref name="West Virginia Blue Book"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.townofathens.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Athens-Ordinances.pdf |title=Athens Ordinances |year=2011 |publisher=Town of Athens
 |access-date=October 11, 2017 }}</ref>

Located near Athens is the [[Col. William Henderson French House]], listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1976.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
The town is situated on a bluff above Laurel Creek, a tributary of the [[Bluestone River]].  The campus of Concord University lies at the eastern end of town.  [[West Virginia Route 20]] (State Street) traverses Athens, connecting the town with [[Princeton, West Virginia|Princeton]] to the southwest and the rural towns along [[New River (Kanawha River tributary)|New River]] to the northeast.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.39|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

==Climate==

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Athens has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=553064&cityname=Athens%2C+West+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Athens, West Virginia]</ref>

<div style="width: 75%;">{{Weather box
|location = Athens, West Virginia
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 40
|Feb high F = 44
|Mar high F = 53
|Apr high F = 63
|May high F = 71
|Jun high F = 77
|Jul high F = 81
|Aug high F = 80
|Sep high F = 74
|Oct high F = 65
|Nov high F = 54
|Dec high F = 44
|year high F= 
|Jan low F = 20
|Feb low F = 21
|Mar low F = 28
|Apr low F = 37
|May low F = 47
|Jun low F = 55
|Jul low F = 59
|Aug low F = 57
|Sep low F = 51
|Oct low F = 39
|Nov low F = 31
|Dec low F = 24
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|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.95
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.72
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.27
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.31
|May precipitation inch = 3.86
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.23
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.9
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.07
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.99
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.52
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.8
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.68
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|source 1 = U.S. Climate Data<ref name=NCDC>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/athens/west-virginia/united-states/uswv0029 |title=Monthly Averages for Athens, WV |publisher=U.S. Climate Data |access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref>
|date=May 2015

}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 575
|1920= 552
|1930= 628
|1940= 682
|1950= 935
|1960= 1086
|1970= 967
|1980= 1147
|1990= 741
|2000= 1102
|2010= 1048
|2020= 944
|estyear=2021
|estimate=933
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,048 people, 347 households, and 182 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2687.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 408 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1046.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 91.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 347 households, of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.6% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the town was 23.1 years. 11.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 43.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16% were from 25 to 44; 18.4% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 1,102 people, 359 households, and 199 families living in the town.<ref name="GR2" /> The [[population density]] was 2,549.5 inhabitants per square mile (989.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 414 housing units at an average density of 957.8 per square mile (371.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 92.29% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.81% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.54% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 1.09% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 359 households, out of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.7% under the age of 18, 40.1% from 18 to 24, 17.4% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 147.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 156.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,260, and the median income for a family was $45,694. Males had a median income of $28,214 versus $20,268 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,553. About 9.7% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
<!-- ONLY ADD PEOPLE HERE IF THEY HAVE A WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ALREADY -->
*[[Don Caruth]], West Virginia politician

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Athens, West Virginia}}
*[http://www.townofathens.com Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727175604/http://www.townofathens.com/ |date=July 27, 2017 }}

{{Mercer County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Mercer County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Bluefield micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Athens, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1906]]