Athens, Louisiana

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

Athens, Louisiana
Village
Athens Town Hall
Location of Athens in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Athens Location in Louisiana Show map of Louisiana Athens Athens (the United States) Show map of the United States Athens Athens (North America) Show map of North America
Coordinates: 32°39′01″N93°01′28″W / 32.65028°N 93.02444°W / 32.65028; -93.02444
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Claiborne
Incorporated	1902
Government
Area [1]
• Total	3.50 sq mi (9.07 km2)
• Land	3.50 sq mi (9.07 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	302 ft (92 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	237
• Density	67.69/sq mi (26.13/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	318
FIPS code	22-03320
Website	www.athensla.com

Athens is a village in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 249 at the 2010 census. ^[2]

History

The village was named after the ancient city of Athens, capital of Greece. ^[3] Athens became the parish seat of Claiborne Parish in 1846, but in 1848, fire destroyed the courthouse and all the records in it. Soon thereafter, the Claiborne Parish Police Jury decided to move the parish seat to its present location in Homer. ^[4]

Geography

Athens is located at 32°39′1″N93°1′28″W / 32.65028°N 93.02444°W / 32.65028; -93.02444 (32.650219, -93.024492). ^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 5.7 km² (2.2 sq mi), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	514		—
1920	493		−4.1%
1930	461		−6.5%
1940	491		6.5%
1950	487		−0.8%
1960	406		−16.6%
1970	387		−4.7%
1980	419		8.3%
1990	278		−33.7%
2000	262		−5.8%
2010	249		−5.0%
2020	237		−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

As of the census ^[7] of 2000, there were 262 people, 112 households, and 73 families residing in the village. The population density was 119.2 inhabitants per square mile (46.0/km²). There were 137 housing units at an average density of 62.3 per square mile (24.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 72.52% White, 24.05% African American, 2.29% Native American, 0.38% Pacific Islander, and 0.76% from two or more races.

There were 112 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $18,750, and the median income for a family was $26,750. Males had a median income of $23,393 versus $22,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $13,033. About 7.0% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Athens Post Office. ^[8]

Education

Claiborne Parish School Board is the school district for all of the parish. ^[9] Students go to schools in Homer, including Homer High School. Prior to 2012, students were zoned to the Pre-K-12 Athens High School. The school had 162 students in February 2012. It closed in summer 2012, with students moved to Homer schools. ^[10]

The Mt. Olive Christian School, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, operates in the former Athens High School building, constructed in 1930, with the last graduating class there in 1969. ^[11]

Notable people

• Dorothy Brown (born 1953), politician
• Jessie Johnson Couch, wife of utilities, railroad, and radio magnate Harvey Couch, was an Athens native. ^[12]
• Kenneth L. Volentine, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, with service from 1988 to 1992, ^[13] and sheriff of Claiborne Parish from 1996 to 2004.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Athens village, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 3, 2012.
3. Leeper, Clare D'Artois (October 19, 2012). Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. LSU Press. p. 23. ISBN   978-0-8071-4740-5.
4. Harris, D. W.; Hulse, B. M., eds. (1886). The History of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, From Its Incorporation in 1828 to the Close of the Year 1885. New Orleans: W. B. Stansbury & Co. pp.  19–20, 103.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. "Post Office Location - ATHENS Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine ." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on October 2, 2010.
9. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Claiborne Parish, LA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved February 11, 2024. - Text list
10. "Athens school closes". KTBS. May 11, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
11. "Mt. Olive Christian School". privateschoolreview.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
12. "Harvey Couch, Utility and Rail Magnate Dies: Was Example of Farm Boy Who Made Good in Big Way", Minden Herald, August 1, 1941, p. 1
13. "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives" (PDF). legis.state.la.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.

External links

• Village of Athens Official Website