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Athens, Ohio — Athens County Population: As of April 1, 2000, Athens County has a population of 62,223. Between 1990 and 2000, Athens County has seen a 4.5 percent increase in population. This contrasts the 13.2 percent population growth rate seen nationally. Athens County has a population density of about 122.8 people per square mile, higher than the Appalachian Ohio density average of about 102 people. Density is slightly higher than in 1990.
Unemployment/Income: The unemployment rate in Athens County has been steadily decreasing and, as of 2001, is lower than the national average. In 2001, the county saw an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent compared to the national average of 4.8. This is down from the 1999 rate of 4.9 percent and from the 2000 rate of 4.7 percent. As of March 2004, the unemployment rate for this county has increased to 5.5 percent. Athens County residents have a mean market income about $10,500 less than the national average ($15,179 compared to $25,676). Residents of Athens County are doing worse in terms of market income than in other areas of Ohio, where the mean income level is $23,974.
Poverty: Athens County’s poverty rate is much higher the national average. Year 2000 statistics indicate a level of poverty of 27.4 percent compared to the national rate of 12.4 percent. This is down from Athens County’s 1990 poverty rate of 28.7 percent and up from the 1980 poverty rate of 21.6 percent.
Education: Athens County has an adult high school graduation rate of 82.9 percent in the year 2000 compared to the national average of 80.4 percent. The adult college graduate rate for Athens County (25.7 percent) is higher than the national rate (24.4 percent). Athens County has been consistently comparable to the national average in the category of adult high school graduation rates and has consistently outperformed the national average in the category of college completion rates. In 1990, Athens County had a high school graduation rate of 74.6 percent and a college graduation rate of 23.4 percent compared to the national rates of 75.2 and 20.3 percent respectively. In 1980, the high school graduation rate was 67.9 percent and the college graduation rate was 20.3 percent compared to national rates of 66.5 and 16.2 percent respectively.
Economic Status: Athens County has an economic classification level of Distressed for fiscal year 2004. This means that Athens County is one of the most economically depressed counties. A distressed county has a three-year average unemployment rate that is at least 1.5 times the national average, a per capita market income that is two-thirds or less of the national average, and a poverty rate that is at least 1.5 times the national average. A county also is classified as distressed if its poverty rate is double the national rate and otherwise has the above levels of unemployment or income levels.
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