Athens, Tennessee

This article is about the city in Tennessee. For other uses, see Athens (disambiguation)

Athens is a city in McMinn County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of McMinn CountyTemplate:GR. The population was 13,220 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Location of Athens, Tennessee

Athens is located at 35°26′53″N 84°36′7″W (35.448171, -84.602069)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.1 km² (13.5 mi²). 35.1 km² (13.5 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 13,220 people, 5,550 households, and 3,590 families residing in the city. The population density was 377.0/km² (976.3/mi²). There were 6,086 housing units at an average density of 173.5/km² (449.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.33% White, 9.32% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.34% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.01% of the population.

There were 5,550 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,277, and the median income for a family was $39,563. Males had a median income of $32,170 versus $20,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,877. About 14.6% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people born or raised here

• J. Lawrence Cook - Piano roll artist.
• John Tyler Morgan - Represented Alabama in the United States Senate as a staunch segregationist. Served in the Confederate Army as a brigadier general.
• William Henry Richards - Lawyer, one of the original 29 members of W. E. B. DuBois' Niagara Movement.
• Travis Morgan - noise artist, owner of NCC Records
• Laura Hutson - Cause-celebre of Falun Gong religious movement. Created a distinctive line of "Taz" tee-shirts, in which Looney Toons characters are drawn in varying states of disbelief due to "that crazy Taz". Formed the famous "bucket brigade of '98" to save the town's beloved Lions Club Park caboose from almost certain destruction due to rioting rivals, the Elks. This local patriot is believed to have perished in the assault on Unicorn Mountain. In the confusion of battle, in which many spells and spirits were blazing about, locals say she threw herself in the way of the charging centaurs to save the townspeople once again. Bauhaus played the funeral, where it was confirmed that Bela Lugosi too was also dead. It rocked.

Athens Media

Athens is in The Chattanooga Television Market, and is serviced by Comcast Cable
Athens is served by one daily newspaper publication, The Daily Post Athenian as well as 7 radio stations, (4 FM, and 3 AM)

FM
Cat Country 93.9 Country, (which is actually licensed to Spring City, TN)
101.7 WLAR Country
J-103 religious (licensed to Etowah, TN) simulcast with WBDX in Chattanooga
WKPJ-LP 104.5 religious, an affiliate of The Life Talk Radio Network

AM
WCPH 1220 Adult Standards, (licensed to Etowah, TN) an affiliate of The Music of Your Life
WYXI 1390 Oldies
WLAR 1450 Country (Simulcast of WJSQ FM)

See also

• Battle of Athens
• Mayfield Dairy
• Tennessee Wesleyan College