Athens (village), New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Athens, New York
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Village of Athens, Sept. 2007
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 Athens (village), New York
Location in New York
Athens (village), New York
Location in the United States
Athens (village), New York
Location in North America
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Greene |
| Town | Athens |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.61 sq mi (11.93 km2) |
| • Land | 3.42 sq mi (8.86 km2) |
| • Water | 1.19 sq mi (3.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,586 |
| • Density | 463.74/sq mi (179.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
12015
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-02902 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0942663 |
Athens is a small village in Greene County, New York. In 2020, about 1,586 people lived there. The village got its name from the famous ancient city of Athens. It is located on the eastern side of the town of Athens. It sits right across the Hudson River from the city of Hudson.
Contents
History of Athens Village
The history of Athens and its important old buildings are well-documented. A special study called "Village of Athens Multiple Resource Area" shares many details.
Historic Places to Visit
Many historic places in or near Athens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important and protected. Some of these sites include:
- Athens Lower Village Historic District: This area includes many old buildings near the Hudson River.
- Jan Van Loon House: This house was built a very long time ago, in 1706!
- Brick Row Historic District: Another historic area with interesting old buildings.
- Hudson–Athens Lighthouse: This lighthouse is in the Hudson River, south of Middle Ground Flats.
- Stranahan-DelVecchio House: An old house on North Washington Street.
- Albertus Van Loon House: Also on North Washington Street.
- West Athens Hill Site: A special historical site in Athens.
- Zion Lutheran Church: An old church on North Washington Street.
Early Days and Development
The land where Athens now stands was bought from the native Mohican people in 1665. Long ago, this area was known as "Loonenburgh." In the late 1700s, some French people tried to create a new town called "Esperanza" north of the village. But they ran into money problems, and the plan didn't work out. The village of Athens really started to grow around 1800. It officially became a village in 1805.
Crossing the Hudson River
In the late 1830s, Athens had a special ferry boat. It was called a "team boat" because it was powered by horses! Six horses walked on treadmills to make the boat move across the Hudson River. This was a clever way to travel before engines were common.
The ferry service stopped in 1935 when the Rip Van Winkle Bridge was built a few miles south. This bridge made it much easier to cross the river by car. However, in the summer of 2012, weekend ferry service started again. You might even see the old ferry in the 2005 movie, War of the Worlds. In the movie, Martian tripods attack people trying to escape New York City by crossing the river on this type of ferry.
Geography of Athens
Athens is located on the eastern side of Greene County. It's in the eastern part of the town of Athens. The village sits right on the west bank of the Hudson River. The village's boundary actually goes to the middle of the river!
Rivers and Islands
A small stream called Murderers Creek flows through the village and joins the Hudson River. This creek also connects to Sleepy Hollow Lake. There's also an island in the Hudson River called Middle Ground Flats. This island is part of the village, but no one lives there. Across the Hudson River to the east, you'll find Columbia County and the city of Hudson.
Roads and Travel
New York State Route 385 runs through Athens. It's known as Washington Street in the village. This road generally follows the river. If you go north on Route 385, you'll reach Coxsackie about 6 miles away. If you head southwest, you'll get to Catskill in about 5 miles.
Size of the Village
The village of Athens covers a total area of about 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.4 square miles (8.9 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers), is water.
Population of Athens
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,000 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,000 | — | |
| 1840 | 1,300 | 30.0% | |
| 1850 | 1,400 | 7.7% | |
| 1860 | 1,747 | 24.8% | |
| 1870 | 1,793 | 2.6% | |
| 1880 | 2,106 | 17.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,024 | −3.9% | |
| 1900 | 2,171 | 7.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,956 | −9.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,844 | −5.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,618 | −12.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,655 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,545 | −6.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,754 | 13.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,718 | −2.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,738 | 1.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,708 | −1.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,695 | −0.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,668 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,586 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, Athens had 1,586 people living in the village. The population has changed over the years, as you can see in the table above.
Notable person
Philip A. Goodwin was a United States Congressman who came from Athens.
See also
In Spanish: Athens (villa) para niños
