Athens County Demographics

A map of Athens County's Population by Race

Athens County, Ohio has an estimated population of 61,737, a slight decrease from the 62,431 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.6% White, 4.6% Multiracial, 2.3% Hispanic, 2.2% Black, 2.0% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Athens County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Athens has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Ohio overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Athens County, that probability was 24.5% in 2020 and 21.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Athens County is ranked the 41st most populous county in Ohio, out of 88 counties. Athens County was ranked the 41st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Athens County's White Population

54,699 residents of Athens County, or 88.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Athens County is considerably higher than in Ohio overall, where 75.8% of the population is White. Athens County ranks 58th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.1%. White residents' share of Athens County's population has increased from 86.6% to 88.6%.

Athens County is less White than neighboring Meigs County (95.8% White), Morgan County (90.2% White), Perry County (95.7% White), Vinton County (95.9% White), and Hocking County (94.6% White).

Athens County's Black Population

1,349 residents of Athens County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Athens County is lower than in Ohio overall, where 12% of the population is Black. Athens County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens County's Black population has declined by an estimated 51.3%. Black residents' share of Athens County's population has decreased from 4.4% to 2.2%.

Athens County is more Black than neighboring Meigs County (0.9% Black), Perry County (0.2% Black), Vinton County (1% Black), and Hocking County (0.3% Black). Athens County is less Black than neighboring Morgan County (2.9% Black).

Athens County's Asian Population

1,257 residents of Athens County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Athens County is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Athens County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 3.9%. Asian residents' share of Athens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.0%.

Athens County is more Asian than neighboring Meigs County (0.3% Asian), Morgan County (0.1% Asian), Perry County (0.1% Asian), Vinton County (1.4% Asian), and Hocking County (0.5% Asian).

Athens County's Hispanic Population

1,422 residents of Athens County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Athens County is slightly lower than in Ohio overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Athens County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 1.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Athens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Athens County is more Hispanic than neighboring Meigs County (0.5% Hispanic), Morgan County (1.2% Hispanic), Perry County (0.9% Hispanic), Vinton County (0.2% Hispanic), and Hocking County (1% Hispanic).

Athens County's Native American/Other Population

144 residents of Athens County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Athens County is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Athens County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 70.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Athens County's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.2%.

Athens County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Perry County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Vinton County (0.1% Native American/Other). Athens County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Morgan County (1.1% Native American/Other), and Hocking County (0.4% Native American/Other).

Athens County's Multiracial Population

2,866 residents of Athens County, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Athens County is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 4.3% of the population is Multiracial. Athens County ranks 36th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Athens County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 17.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Athens County's population has increased from 3.9% to 4.6%.

Athens County is more Multiracial than neighboring Meigs County (2.4% Multiracial), Morgan County (4.4% Multiracial), Perry County (3% Multiracial), Vinton County (1.4% Multiracial), and Hocking County (3.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.