Athens, Ontario

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

Athens
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Athens
Athens
Coordinates:
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Leeds and Grenville
Settled	1792
Incorporated	January 1, 1998
Government
• Mayor	Herb Scott
• Federal riding	Leeds–Grenville
• Prov. riding	Leeds–Grenville
Area
• Land	126.46 km2 (48.83 sq mi)
Population (2006)
• Total	3,086
• Density	24.4/km2 (63/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	K0E
Area code(s)	613
Website	www.athenstownship.ca

Athens (2006 Population 3,086) is a township in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately 25 km north of the St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, west of Addison, and about 90 km south west of Ottawa.

Formerly known as Farmersville. Benoni Wiltse, a United Empire Loyalist, and his brothers settled in this area in 1792. Farmersville was renamed to Athens in 1888 by Arza Parish in honour of Athens, Greece, because it was an educational centre with grammar school, a model school for teacher training, and a high school. Currently, it is known for a series of large outdoor murals depicting historical local life, painted on the sides of various buildings.

Each year, a summer fair is held, called "Cornfest". This fair celebrates the harvest of corn and is held on the 3rd Saturday of August annually.

Another celebration that is held each year is called Farmersville Exhibition, and is also known as "Steam Fair." This fair celebrates the agricultural heritage of the town, and includes steam engines and antique tractors. This takes place in July.

Athens has its own high school Athens District High School, which is under the Upper Canada District School Board, as well as a live entertainment venue the Joshua Bates Centre which features a series of live musical performances each year.

The community of Athens proper holds the status of a designated place, separate from the rest of the township, in the Canadian census.

Demographics

Population trend:

• Population in 2006: 3086 (2001 to 2006 population change: 1.1%)
• Population in 2001: 3053
• Population in 1996:
  • Athens (village): 997
  • Rear of Yonge and Escott (township): 2043
• Population in 1991:
  • Athens (village): 961
  • Rear of Yonge and Escott (township): 1868

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1111 (total dwellings: 1320)

Mother tongue:

• English as first language: 95.4%
• French as first language: 1.1%
• English and French as first language: 0%
• Other as first language: 3.5%

Gallery

• 

  Athens Main Street

• 

  Athens Town Hall

• 

  Athens, 1910

See also

• List of municipalities in Ontario
• List of townships in Ontario

External links

• Athens Chamber of Commerce website
• Athens Fire Department
• A.D.H.S school home page
• The Mural Newspaper
• Athens Walking Tour
• Athens Township