Athens Ohio?? Can someone give me some info?

[wellstone_democrat]

I'm interviewing for a job in Athens (OU) and don't know anything much about the area but the usual PR type of stuff by the U and the city. Can anyone give me their impressions?

Right now I'm in the reddest of the Red States and one of the most religious. I know that Ohio has a mix of Red/Blue areas but what's the scoop on Athens?

thanks very much

[mtnester]

1. Athens - Home of Ohio University

First, click here to see the 2004 election results
http://www.uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/datagraph.php?fips=39&year=2004&f=0

First thing you notice, in the dead center of the map is Franklin County, which went blue. To the southeast, the first blue county you see is Athens. Only one other county in Ohio went for Kerry more than Athens County, and that was Cuyahoga (Cleveland area)

For more information, try here - http://athensohio.net/

Personally, I live two counties to the northwest. Athens County is beautiful, and a lot of us refer to it as God's Country. Wayne National Forest, and Hocking Hills are nearby, with some of the best fall foliage in the state, with natural formations, etc. You are in the foothills of the Appalachians here my friend.

They have a great Dem party - http://www.athensco-democrats.org/

You can also try here http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=16286 (I know, funny . . Podunk)

For more Googling, try typing Athens, Athens County Ohio. It is the county seat of Athens County.

If it were a bit closer commute to Columbus, I would live there. LOTS of people commute from there and through there though (all the way in from West Virginia, every day). However, if you are working there, you have no commute issues.

So, if you are looking for a huge Blue Area in Ohio, that has some of the best by god it is pretty here areas, with great older homes to be had, Athens County is a go!

Let us know! If you come in to take a peak, contact me and we can hook up if you are in the vicinity.

[Dark]

21. Isn't OU the one with the kick ass Halloween Party? n/t

[mtnester]

22. Yeah, and many times it gets out of control, BUT

the bulk of the arrests are for OUT OF TOWN students, many that come down from OSU in Columbus and from other campuses.

[Schmajo]

2. College town

Ohio University dominates Athens. It is very well known as a 'party school.' The annual (not sanctioned by the university or the city) Halloween festivities commonly result (after the bars close)in a number of arrests.

As the other post indicates, southeast Ohio is very beautiful. Unlike flat western Ohio, this area is unglaciated Allegheny plateau -- very hilly and (since the 1930s) forested. Adjacent Hocking County has a number of state parks (e.g. "Old Man's Cave"), most centered around large sandstone gorges.

Unfortunately, there is a great deal of rural poverty. This was (and, to a certain extent, still is) coal country. Since Ohio coal is 'high-sulfur,' there is less demand than in years past. Many of the towns in the area saw their best days decades ago. However, there still is some of the old, pro-union mind set, and Democrats are not uncommon. Of course, because of OU, Athens itself is very Blue.

Good luck with your employment.

[Schmajo]

3. OU Homecoming - With Ted

ATHENS COUNTY
Saturday, October 22, 2005.

WHO: Congressman Ted Strickland, Candidate for Ohio Governor

WHAT: Participating in Ohio University's Homecoming Parade

WHEN: 10:00 AM

WHERE: Ohio University
Elmwood and S. May Streets
Athens, Ohio 45701

[Kukesa]

4. Welcome to DU, Schmajo!! n/t

[wellstone_democrat]

5. sounds like paradise

green trees? Democrats? sign me up! Well, I'm hoping that OU does but these things typically take a few months but if there is any luck at all in my future I'll be attending a DU meet-up/bar-hop next fall...

keep a good thought for me on it?

[Kukesa]

7. VolcanoJen went to college at OU

it was a lovely place then and still is. And, as mentioned in a previous post, it's BLUE, a lovely shade of dark BLUE.

We'll be keeping good thoughts for you and hope you get the job.

[AngryOldDem]

9. I wanted to go to OU...

...but my old man wouldn't fill out financial aid forms...but I digress.

I was at OU for a few weeks one summer during high school, and I remember it as a very lovely college town. The kind that would make you want to go to school there if you already didn't want to (as I did). They had (and I guess still do) a kick-ass School of Journalism.

I will always regret not being able to go there and spend time in Athens.

By the way, long time, no see, Kukesa!
:toast: :hi:

[Kukesa]

11. If memory serves me, that journalism school

was highly endowed by and named after Scripps-Howard; not too bad a name for the journalism field, I'd say.

[lfairban]

6. Don't let the bikers scare you . . .

. . . they are more colorful than dangerous. The hills attract them. They like to ride their bikes there.

The college is more arts and liberal arts than OSU in Columbus. OU is known for its annual Halloween Party. The streets full of costumed college students are a bit scarey. You may wish to avoid the immediate area durring the week.

[Botany]

8. Athens Ohio is wonderful

I lived there for 5 years and still visit the region.

O.U. is the home to some free thinkers and also very pragmatic
nuts and bolts professionals. Sure it like every other spot on the
globe has it's draw backs but overall the quality of life is very good.

1. Get your kids in Athens' schools ..... the outer areas are nice and
have progressive people but the schools are ?able.

2. In the city if you can do it get on the peak of the hill. Roosevelt Street.
If you want rural but Athens Schools try the Peach ridge area.

3. Great Arts & Music are readily available.

4. Yes they party in Athens ... one of the first Presidents of OU William
Holmes McGuffy (McGuffy readers) was reported to have had hard time
going through the middle of town because of the "wild types" .....
but that is for the college kids and should never effect you.

5. And springtime in "The Hills" is outstanding.

6. The S.E. Ohio region is poor and home to many good old boy types.
Although not everybody in the rural area is a red neck.

7. W/ US 33 being 4 lane to Athens very soon you can be in Columbus
in 1 hour or less.

Good luck to you!

[wellstone_democrat]

14. thanks very very much

to you and all the rest who answered. Believe me: it sounds ideal.

[ArtVandaley]

10. I live there now, it's amazing

I go to school at OU and Athens is one of the friendliest towns I've ever been to. It's about an hour and half away from Columbus, which is the closests large city, but there's still a lot going on in town. Very easy going, liberal minded residents for the most part. I'd definately reccomend checking it out.

[VolcanoJen]

12. Athens is gorgeous... liberal... surrounded by beautiful countryside.

One of the best cities in the state, wellstone_dem.

The campus is breathtaking... nicknamed "Harvard on the Hocking," as the buildings were designed to resemble those at Harvard. Ohio University is the oldest college west of the Alleghenies.

I hope you get the job. :-) I'll come visit, and we'll toss back a few pints at O'Hooleys!

[wellstone_democrat]

15. Jen? If I get it, I'll buy!

With the timeline on these things, it will be April before all interviews etc are done and any real decisions/acceptances are final.

First thing I'll do? Hold a DU meet-up. I've seen exact one other Du'er on here from my current location (that is: within 300 miles) in Texas since 2001. I get there, I'll buy a round for every DU'er who can stagger on in...

[mongo]

27. Be careful what you wish for..

I'm only an hour north and my daughter goes to OU so I'm down there quite a bit.

Athens is the best place to live in Ohio.

[theHandpuppet]

16. I'll second that recommendation!

And say I'm extremely jealous of anyone who has the opportunity to work/live there! My partner and I are hoping to retire to Athens or the Athens area. One of America's best kept secrets, IMHO. But let's keep that among us Dems! ;-)

[Earl from Ohio]

19. Great Celtic Sessiuns

(Irish music jams)

And they pour a decent pint.

(And all Guinness drinkers know how important THAT is!)

[realisticphish]

13. Athens is liberal

BUT... boring as hell. Why is OU a party school? Cause' theres nothing else to freaking do.

But, since you are not a student, your priorities would probably be different

[Peggy Day]

17. Athens

I thought if I were to move back to Ohio, that I would do better in Athens than most places in the rural areas. When moving to a new area, the universities and colleges have at least some people with brains. Ohio University is in Athens. I know about Southern Ohio. Gallipolis, Ohio River, etc. The people are very religious. Like some that are religious, they think their way is the only way, and don't have any world-wise views.

[Earl from Ohio]

18. Stuart's Opera House

Just a few miles north of AThens is Nelsonville, home of newly restored Stuart's Opera House. Great music, great venue, cheap tickets. Love it.

And The Coffee Cup has good food.

[Kukesa]

29. Welcome to DU, E from O. (nt)

[asthmaticeog]

20. I like that town a lot.

If you can find a place to live in a neighborhood that's not popular with students, you'll sleep a lot better on weekends - OU students party FEIRCELY. But it's a beautiful part of the state, and pretty liberal.

[mtnester]

23. Nelsonville will soon have a new SR 33 bypass

And you can always stop at the Sonic Drive through in Nelsonville to grab a bite. Their main drag has trouble handling all the interstate commuters to Columbus from WVA, thus the bypass coming.

And, if you can get back east on SR 595, there are some wonderful hiking areas (private property, try and get permission, and wear bright colors just in case) in the old mining areas. You can get pretty remote, so you should know your bearings and travel with a compass, some water, etc. Head over New Straitsville way, and just take in the wonders of just how interesting (and sometimes sad and beautiful) the Appalachian way of life is.

I just love it down there...you could find something nice as well near Burr Oak State Park. Years ago, my grandparents had a cabin there...I remember my first killer sunburn happened at Burr Oak because I was having so much fun outside.

[Kolesar]

24. ODOT is going to destroy a forest in the process

Rather than vacate a large number of private land owners, they decided to bisect the Wayne National Forest. To add insult to injury, they are going to sell the timber they destroy. This will result in habitat destruction, watershed problems, and a loss of business as people drive around Nelsonville.

[mtnester]

25. I know, I mentioned the bypass purely just as a mention

I have seen the clear cutting they have allowed in Wayne National already, and it is ugly. You can see some of it along the hillsides on the west side of SR 33 as you are driving south. It is a crime, really. Pray they find some cattails so the whole thing gets redone. (ODOT FREAKS OUT when they find large numbers of cattails in circular areas, they consider it wetlands, even if it is really a ditch, cause they could not recognize real wetlands if it bit them in the ass) So, maybe someone ought to be transplanting the CRAP out of cattails.

I will say, that the 33 Bypass portion of Lancaster bypasses hardly ANYONE. Memorial Drive still as crowded as ever. We drove the newly opened portion the weekend of Oct. 29, and it was full of leaf peeps. Came home up 664 through Logan (lovely drive).

[Kolesar]

26. I know the folks working on stopping the bypass

If you want to get involved.

[mtnester]

28. PM me please....are you part of it also? n/t

[Name removed]

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