Athens, Ontario, a township in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in Eastern Ontario, Canada, is a place of rich history and vibrant culture. With a population of 3,013 as of 2016, Athens is located approximately 25 kilometres north of the St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, west of Addison, and about 90 kilometres south west of Ottawa. This article explores the history, communities, and demographics of Athens, Ontario.
Originally known as Farmersville, Athens was settled by Benoni Wiltse, a United Empire Loyalist, and his brothers in 1792. The town was renamed to Athens in 1888 by Arza Parish in honour of Athens, Greece, due to its status as an educational centre. Today, Athens is known for its large outdoor murals depicting historical local life, painted on the sides of various buildings.
Athens, Ontario, hosts a summer fair called "Cornfest" on the 3rd Saturday of August annually, celebrating the harvest of corn. Another annual event is the "Farmersville Exhibition", also known as "Steam Fair", which celebrates the town's agricultural heritage with displays of steam engines and antique tractors.
Athens District High School, under the Upper Canada District School Board, serves the educational needs of the town. The Joshua Bates Centre, a live entertainment venue, features a series of live musical performances each year.
Athens, Ontario, is home to several communities including Anoma Lea, Beales Mills, Charleston, Glen Elbe, Glen Morris, Hayes Corners, and Wiltsetown. The township administrative offices are located in Athens.
Beales Mills is a small settlement located southwest of Athens, close to Charleston. Founded in the mid-19th century by Benjamin Beale, the community once thrived with a sawmill, gristmill, and a flour mill. Today, it is largely considered a ghost town, with the ruins of a stone mill and dam still visible.
Athens, Ontario, is home to several old cemeteries, including Barber Cemetery, Charleston Village Cemetery, Temperance Lake Cemetery, Kincaid's Corners Cemetery, Holmes Cemetery, Lake Eloida Cemetery, and an unnamed pioneer cemetery. The town of Athens has a Roman Catholic cemetery, St. Denis Roman Catholic Cemetery, and a non-denominational community cemetery. East of Athens, there is a mass gravesite associated with the House of Industry, marked by a large stone reading "Pioneers of Leeds & Grenville 1895 – 1946".
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Athens had a population of 3,042 living in 1,214 of its 1,325 total private dwellings, a change of 0.8% from its 2016 population of 3,018. The majority of the population speaks English as their first language, with a small percentage speaking French or other languages.
Discover the rich history and vibrant culture of Athens, Ontario, a township that offers a unique blend of past and present.
