Economy and arts Athens, Ohio

court street, main street in uptown athens

the city of athens has been known college town, mid-1800s until 1950s, coal & brick-making major source of employment in county. today minor source, best , available coal has been extracted, , cheaper brick-making available outside area. 1 of manufacturing companies once existed in city of athens midget motors corporation, makers of small automobile, king midget.

ohio university largest employer in athens county. in addition direct employment through university, of local economy depends on tourism , events related university, through local restaurants, bars, stores , hotels. athens houses small array of manufacturing , technology related businesses, including quidel corporation (formerly diagnostic hybrids), stewart-macdonald, sunpower, fastenall, , gorman-redlich.

since 1970s athens has earned reputation 1 of more progressive (liberal) communities in southeastern ohio. reputation includes democratic political leaning, presence of international communities, support use of alternative energy, calling smart growth development, development of small farms emphasizing sustainable , organic-produced crops, , support local businesses. many of these attributes illustrated @ athens farmers market, open year-round on saturdays , wednesdays @ market on state on city s east side.

court street , several cross streets heart of uptown number of small shops, banks, offices , many national/local restaurants, coffee shops, bars, clubs , movie theater. area has number of small large student apartment buildings. court street home of many events during year , lively place until late @ night. ohio university s main college green entrance located @ court & union. student center (john calhoun baker university center) @ 1 end of court street. outside of uptown area, athens shopping areas located; largest on east state street small mall, several shopping strip centers, plus large box stores, car dealerships, hotels/motels , many local , national sit-down / fast food restaurants. on north side of town columbus road area shopping, car dealer, motels, eateries , office buildings. on south side, richland ave. area many large student housing apartment complexes , several fast food restaurants, shops, , large full-service hotel. west union st. has restaurants, offices, hospital complex, student housing , county fairgrounds. large fire in nov. 2014 damaged or destroyed 6 buildings on west union (near court st). buildings housed businesses , upper floor student apartments, no 1 hurt in fire 1 business reopened business in 2015 , rebuilding on sites started in summer of 2015.

athens has long musical tradition includes local acts , events touring musicians, performing @ ohio university , festivals in athens. folk song athens county - words joe dolce; music jonathan edwards - refers athens, ohio, edwards & dolce attended college in late 60s. edwards went on have number 2 hit song nationally sunshine while dolce moved australia , had international number 1 hit shaddap face. dolce established poet , essayist in mebourne. bands hailing athens include headstone circus, snapdragons, appalachian death ride, bears, southeast engine, ridges , metal band skeletonwitch. athens native steve reis, founder of columbus, ohio-based band mcguffey lane named band after street in athens. in 1973, ohio valley summer theater began production called appalachian green parks project. featured music, dance, , theater derived appalachian region. group won governor s award community action, released album of music, performed @ sylvan amphitheater in washington, d.c. on july 4, 1974, made numerous television appearances, provided soundtrack ohio department of natural resources public service film titled sweet ohio, designated official bicentennial touring group state of ohio, , subject of documentary film during four-year run. 2 former members of appalachian green parks project, jim mcgaw , charlie lewis began performing jimmy prouty , went on form new vinton county frogwhompers marching, singing, strumming , plucking society in 1976, become 1 of popular groups come out of region in 1970s. university park on richland ave designed athens own maya lin.