Geography Athens, Ohio

hocking river valley facing ohio university



the academine hill @ city s center many university buildings

athens located in unglaciated allegheny plateau. athens surrounded hills rise 3 hundred feet river valley narrow ridge tops. county extends west ohio river, centered around lower hocking river watershed. according 2010 census, city has total area of 10.05 square miles (26.0 km), of 9.83 square miles (25.5 km) (or 97.81%) land , 0.22 square miles (0.57 km) (or 2.19%) water. large sections of athens , ohio university located in floodplain of hocking river. on last 2 centuries town suffered many destructive floods, including notable floods in 1832, 1873, 1907, 1937, 1949, 1964 , 1968. in 1969 army corps of engineers completed major work rerouted , expanded channel of hocking river, stretch of several miles around town, moving river hundreds of feet south. project , ongoing efforts maintain channel have reduced negative effects of seasonally high river levels.

athens located on , around south-jutting ridge bordered loop in hocking river. underlying geology sandstone , shale, including redbed shale presents severe slip hazard when structures built on over hillsides. however, there safe zones above sandstone beds, notably connelsville sandstone outcrops high on hillsides. old athens mental hospital grounds (now part of university) built on top of hillside in late 1860s, , stable due position atop hill rather on slope. recent university courtyard apartments built on similar underlying geology across small valley, hilltop extensively removed in order create stable base. city receives water supply wells in unconsolidated river aquifers, , reputed largest city in united states so.