1797 First settlers arrive in Athens County

1799 Last buffalo seen in Athens County

1800 Town named Athens because it is to be the center of learning and culture.

1803 Ohio becomes a state

1804 Ohio University chartered.   
         First post office established
         First sale of town lots, ranging in price from $10 to $132

1805 First burial in what will become West State Street Cemetery
         First school house in Athens, built where city building now stands

1818 Cutler Hall completed, first college building

1825 Athens Mirror established (now The Athens Messenger

1828 John Newton Templeton, fist African-American student, graduates from OU

1857 First public school building erected, (grades 1-12)
         First train reaches Athens

1859 Telegraph line established between Athens and Pomeroy
         First students graduate from Athens High School, including 9 women

1861 Civil War begins. 1000 Athens County men volunteer before end of summer.    By the end of the war, 2600 have enlisted, 1000 are killed or wounded

1865 Civil War ends (April 14).

1868 Women admitted as students at Ohio University

1869 Cornwell Jewelers in operation, now Athens' oldest family-owned business   (Currently located on North Court Street)  
         Court Street lighted by oil lamps

1870 Hocking Valley Railroad (Athens to Columbus) begins operations

1873 First woman to graduate from OU (Margaret Boyd)
         Flood destroys most of Hocking Canal between Athens and Nelsonville, ending canal service for Athens

1874 Athens State Hospital for the insane completed after 6 years of construction ("The Ridges," where Kennedy Museum is now located) Hospital construction provided steady employment for local craftsmen; local merchants benefitted from outfitting the institution. As patient load grew, the hospital became a major element in spurring the growth of the Athens Community. The grounds and gardens become a favorite gather place for walks and picnics. In the 1980s, the use of psychotropic medicines eliminated the need for the large hospital and the old buildings were abandoned for a newer facility on W. Union St.

         Athens City Building constructed.

1880 Athens County Courthouse opens, the third courthouse on this site.

1882 Hocking Valley railroad hauls daily an average of 700 cars of coal from mines near Nelsonville

1883 Gas lamps replace oil lighting on Court Street

1889 Streets of Athens first lighted by electricity

1891 Athens Brick Company established

1892 First paved street, West Union Street

1893 Civil War monument erected on the College Green

1895 First telephone company in Athens (some business people had employed private phone lines between their homes and businesses as early as 1881. Two firms even had a long-distance line to Columbus.

1900 OU enrollment almost 100 students

1903 Municipal electric plant established

1904 OU Centennial Celebration.
         Andrew Carnegie donates $30,000 to establish a library at OU

1905 Athens Messenger becomes a daily paper

1912 Athens (with 5000 residents) becomes a city

1917 US enters World War I.    61 Athens County men lose lives.

1920 OU college-level enrollment approximately 1000

1921 Sheltering Arms Hospital opened (currently O'Bleness)

1928 Hotel Berry fire (Court Street Diner is currently located on that spot)

1929 Peden Stadium dedicated

1931 First woman elected to City Council

1935 Public library for Athens County created (based in Nelsonville)

1941 US enters World War II
         Ohio University enrollment: 3,133

1943 OU enrollment drops to 1,306 during WW II

1946 GI's return from war: OU enrollment highest ever, nearly 5.000

1949 WOUB radio begins service

1950 OU closes when 25 inches of snow fall Thanksgiving weekend
         WATH radio begins broadcasting

1962 Dow Lake (Strouds Run State Park) dedicated

1963 WOUB-TV begins telecasting

1969 OU enrollment approaches 20,000

1970 OU closes May 14 until summer session, as a result of disturbances in reaction to Kent State killings and Vietnam War. National Guard occupies Court Street.

        O'Bleness Hospital opens

1971 Moving of the Hocking River completed (formerly the river ran under the Richland Avenue bridge where the new OU student center is currently being constructed)

1977 Athens News begins publication as alternative newspaper

1983 In Washington, DC, Vietnam Memorial Built, designed by Athenian, Maya Lin

1987 First female mayor elected, Sara Hendricker

1990 Last train passes through Athens, tracks removed