Athens is a village in Marathon County,

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, United States. The population was 1,105 at the 2010 census. It is part of the

Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Mosinee, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, an ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

Geography

Athens is located at (45.032641, -90.076442). Athens is almost halfway between the Equator and

North Pole The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's rotation, Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True North Pole to distingu ...

, as well as almost halfway between the

Prime Meridian A prime meridian is an arbitrary meridian (a line of longitude) in a geographic coordinate system at which longitude is defined to be 0°. Together, a prime meridian and its anti-meridian (the 180th meridian in a 360°-system) form a great ...

and 180th meridian. The Athens area is primarily agricultural with a small industrial park on the south side of the village limits. 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 t ...

, the village has a total area of , all of it land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 1,105 people, 471 households, and 298 families living in the village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 503 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 96.2%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 0.2%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.2% Native American, 0.2%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 2.4% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.8% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 4.9% of the population. There were 471 households, of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age in the village was 39.5 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

2000 census

At the 2000

, there were 1,095 people, 443 households and 299 families living in the village. The

was 448.2 people per square mile (173.3/km²). There were 469 housing units at an average density of 192.0 per square mile (74.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.72%

, 0.09% Native American, 0.55% from

, and 0.64% from two or more races.

of any race were 2.10% of the population. There were 443 households, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08. Age distribution was 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males. The median household income was $39,286, and the median family income was $52,727. Males had a median income of $30,956 versus $22,167 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the village was $17,076. About 1.3% of families and 4.5% 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 0.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Athens Library

The Athens Library is part of the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) and the Wisconsin Valley Library Service, a regional library system. The library began in the early 1900s as a small collection of books in the Bloczynski Hotel. In 1926, the Athens Women's Club assumed management of the library, moving the collection to the Athens Bank. The library moved again in 1941, to the Community Hall. In 1947, the Athens Library joined the Marathon County Library. In 1973, when the Marathon County Library and Wausau Public Library merged to form the Marathon County Public Library, the Athens Library became a branch of the MCPL.

Education

The Athens School District is made up of three schools: Athens Elementary School, Athens Middle School, and Athens High School. The middle and high schools share the same building. The Athens School District belongs to the Marawood Conference. Its mascot is the Fighting Bluejay. There are two parochial schools in the community, Trinity Lutheran and St. Anthony's Catholic School.

Notable people

* Russ Decker, Wisconsin politician, was born in Athens.'Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010,' Biographical Sketch of Russ Decker, pg. 76 *

Charles Winninger Charles J. Winninger (May 26, 1884 – January 27, 1969) was an American stage and film actor, most often cast in comedies or musicals. Life and career Winninger was born in Athens, Wisconsin, the son of Rosalia (Grassler) and Franz Winninger ...

, notable character actor, was born in Athens.

References

External links

Village of Athens official website

Athens School District
* Marathon County Public Library - Athens Branch {{authority control Villages in Marathon County, Wisconsin Villages in Wisconsin