Athens, Tennessee

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Athens, Tennessee
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = McMinn County Courthouse in Athens


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Athens, Tennessee


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Tennessee
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = McMinn

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 35.1
area_land_km2 = 35.1
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 13.5
area_land_sq_mi = 13.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 13220
population_density_km2 = 376.9
population_density_sq_mi = 976.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 262
elevation_ft = 860
latd = 35 |latm = 26 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 36 |longs = 7 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 37303, 37371
area_code = 423
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 47-02320GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1304889GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Athens is a city in McMinn County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of McMinn CountyGR|6 and the principal city of the Athens Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Chattanooga-Cleveland-Athens Combined Statistical Area. The population was 13,220 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Athens is located at coor dms|35|26|53|N|84|36|7|W|city (35.448171, -84.602069)GR|1. The city is situated amidst a series of narrow, elongate ridges and low hills that are characteristic of the Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley Province. The Unicoi Mountains rise roughly convert|20|mi|km east of Athens, and the Tennessee River flows nearly convert|20|mi|km to the west. Starr Mountain, one of the more noticeable ridges in McMinn County, is located roughly convert|15|mi|km southeast of Athens.

Oostanaula Creek (sometimes spelled "Eastanalle" or a similar variation) rises in the hills north of Athens and traverses the city approximately convert|30|mi|km upstream from its mouth along Hiwassee River. Other major streams in the area include Mouse Creek, which parallels Oostanaula to the west, and Chestuee Creek, which parallels Oostanaula to the east.

Athens is centered around the junction of U.S. Route 11, which connects the city to Sweetwater to the north and Cleveland to the south, and Tennessee State Route 30, which connects Athens to Etowah and U.S. Route 411 to the southeast and Decatur to the west. Interstate 75 passes just west of Athens.

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

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,220 people, 5,550 households, and 3,590 families residing in the city. The population density was 976.3 people per square mile (377.0/km²). There were 6,086 housing units at an average density of 449.4/sq mi (173.5/km²). 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.

The population consisted of 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.

History

Early history and Civil War

The Cherokee were living in McMinn County at the time of the arrival of the first Euro-American explorers. The Athens area was situated nearly halfway between the Overhill Cherokee villages of Great Tellico to the north in Monroe County and Great Hiwassee along the Hiwassee River to the south. In 1819, the Cherokee signed the Calhoun Treaty, selling the land north of the Hiwassee (including all of modern McMinn County) to the United States. McMinn County was organized on November 13, 1819 at the home of John Walker in what is now Calhoun. Pumpkintown, located nearest the center of the new county, was chosen as the county seat in 1823 and renamed Athens shortly thereafter. [C. Stephen Byrum, "McMinn County" (Memphis, Tenn: Memphis State University Press, 1984), 5-9, 20.] The name "Athens" may have been chosen due to perceived topographical similarities to Athens, Greece. [Bill Akins, " [http://www.cityofathenstn.com/history.html City of Athens - History] ." Retrieved: 27 November 2007.]

By 1834, the population of Athens had grown to over 500. [Byrum, "McMinn County", 21.] Prominent early settlers included William Henry Cooke, who operated an iron forge near modern Etowah, and Samuel Clegg (or Cleage), a construction entrepreneur. Jesse Mayfield, whose descendants founded Mayfield Dairy Farms, arrived in the early 1820s. [Byrum, "McMinn County", 11-13.] The Hiwassee Railroad received a charter in the mid-1830s to build a railroad connecting Knoxville, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia. The railroad began construction in 1837, although financial and legal problems delayed its completion until 1851. [Bill Akins, " [http://www.cityofathenstn.com/history.html City of Athens - History] ." Retrieved: 27 November 2007.] In 1836, General John Wool arrived in Athens to help coordinate the Cherokee Removal. Although initially voluntary, the operation became a forced removal in 1838 when many Cherokee refused to leave. The removal culminated in the forced march west that became known as the Trail of Tears. Wool set up his headquarters at the Bridges Hotel, which was located across the street from the McMinn County Courthouse. [Information obtained from the McMinn County Heritage Book Committee marker at the Bridges Hotel site (c. 1997). Information accessed: 26 November 2007.]

McMinn County was staunchly divided during the American Civil War. The well-established railroad brought numerous pro-secessionist and anti-secessionist speakers to the county, including Andrew Johnson, Horace Maynard, John Bell, and William "Parson" Brownlow. In 1861, McMinn County voted against secession by a narrow 1,144 - 904 margin. The county sent 12 units to the Union army and 8 units to the Confederate army. General William Tecumseh Sherman was briefly headquartered at the Bridges Hotel while preparing his "March to the Sea." [Byrum, "McMinn County", 23-32.]

Post-Civil War

After the Civil War, the railroad lured business opportunists to McMinn County. In 1887, several investors established the Athens Mining and Manufacturing Company with plans to convert the town into a model industrial community and initiate large-scale mining operations in the area. Textile mills, flour mills, and timber mills dominated the county's industry by the late 1800s, complemented by furniture and appliance factories in the 1920s. [Byrum, "McMinn County", 40-60.]

In 1946, several McMinn County World War II veterans ran for local office in hopes of removing a county government deemed corrupt. On August 1, local authorities locked themselves in the county jail along with the ballot boxes. Suspecting foul play, the veterans armed themselves and assembled on a hill across the street from the jail. After an exchange of gunfire, the county authorities surrendered. The ballots were counted, and the veterans' ticket was elected, ending the so-called Battle of Athens. [Information obtained from Tennessee Historical Commission marker 2A 102 in Athens, Tennessee. Information accessed: 26 November 2007.]

Notable people born or raised here

*J. Lawrence Cook - Piano roll artist. [" [http://www.doctorjazz.co.uk/page16.html J. Lawrence Cook - An Autobiography of the Early Years] ." Retrieved: 23 April 2008.]
*John Tyler Morgan - Represented Alabama in the United States Senate as a staunch segregationist. Served in the Confederate Army as a brigadier general. [" [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000954 Morgan, John Tyler - Biographical Information] ." "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". Retrieved: 23 April 2008.]
*William Henry Richards - Lawyer, one of the original 29 members of W. E. B. DuBois' Niagara Movement.Fact|date=April 2008
*Travis Morgan - noise artist, owner of NCC RecordsFact|date=April 2008
*JaJuan Smith- standout basketball player for the University of Tennessee, played at McMinn County High School [Stan Crawley, " [http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_79913.asp Crawley: Superb Play Of Vols' JaJuan Smith No Surprise To McMinn Coach] ." 6 February 2006. Retrieved: 23 April 2008.]

Athens Media

Athens is in The Chattanooga and Knoxville Television Markets, 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)

ee also

*Battle of Athens
*Mayfield Dairy
*Tennessee Wesleyan College
*McMinn County Airport

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofathenstn.com/index.html City of Athens Tennessee]