The Plains is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...
(CDP) in
Athens County
Athens County is a County (United States), county in southeastern Ohio. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 62,431. Its county seat is Athens, Ohio, Athens. The county was formed in 1805 from Washington County, ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, United States. The population was 3,080 at the
2010 census.
History
"The Plains" originally referred to the local region where the
Mound Builders
A number of pre-Columbian cultures are collectively termed "Mound Builders". The term does not refer to a specific people or archaeological culture, but refers to the characteristic mound earthworks erected for an extended period of more than 5 ...
lived and built their signature
Indian mounds
A number of pre-Columbian cultures are collectively termed "Mound Builders". The term does not refer to a specific people or archaeological culture, but refers to the characteristic mound earthworks erected for an extended period of more than 5 ...
. A post office called The Plains has been in operation since 1908.
Geography
The Plains is located at (39.370281, -82.132299).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the CDP has a total area of , of which , or 0.28%, is water.
Open space
A nature preserve was created in The Plains recently by the
Athens Conservancy
The Athens Conservancy is a 501 (c) (3) land trust based in Athens County, Ohio. It was founded in 2002. It is an all-volunteer organization.
Preserves
The Conservancy owns and manages 14 nature preserves in Athens County:
*Blair Preserve, adj ...
. An extension of the
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway
The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, known colloquially as The Bike Path or more formally (but unofficially) as The Athens County Bike Path, is a long bicycle path in Athens County, Ohio, Athens County, Ohio, in the United States. The original sectio ...
is planned to traverse the preserve and provide bikeway access for the community.
Demographics
At the
2000 census there were 2,931 people, 1,224 households, and 714 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,275.8 people per square mile (492.0/km). There were 1,344 housing units at an average density of 585.0/sq mi (225.6/km). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the CDP was 94.13% White, 2.42% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82%.
Of the 1,224 households 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 33.9% of households were one person and 11.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.
The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.5 males.
The median household income was $30,102 and the median family income was $44,761. Males had a median income of $26,687 versus $25,106 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,164. About 13.3% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
The Plains is known for its history of
Native American burial mound
Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objec ...
s and ceremonial circles. Nearly 25 mounds were identified here, and the complex has been listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
. These are collectively known as the
Wolf Plains Mound Group.
The Archaeological Conservancy
The Archaeological Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that acquires and preserves archaeological sites in the United States. Whereas nearly every other nation protects all archaeological sites within its borders as part of its nation ...
has been buying the sites of the mounds to protect them from development.
Education
Public schools
The residents of The Plains are served by the Athens City School District and
Athens High School.
Public libraries
The Plains has a public library, a branch of the
Athens County Public Libraries
The Athens County Public Libraries are a consortium of seven public libraries located in Athens County, Ohio. The library system was originally known as the Nelsonville Public Library. The original facility in Nelsonville was created in 1935 as ...
.
Notable Residents
Joe Burrow
Joseph Lee Burrow (born December 10, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with Ohio State, Burrow played college football at LSU, where he won the Heisma ...
, who went to
Athens High School, moved to The Plains when he was 9.
He was drafted first overall by the
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...
in the
2020 NFL Draft
The 2020 NFL Draft was the 85th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2020 NFL season. The first round was held on April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on April 24. The d ...
.
References
External links
Athens City School District
{{Authority control
Census-designated places in Athens County, Ohio
Census-designated places in Ohio
1908 establishments in Ohio