Explore our Historic River Town

The Town of Athens is located at the eastern end of Greene County, and was established on February 25th, 1815. Portions of the Towns of Catskill and Coxsackie were used to form the Town of Athens. The town has since developed a rich heritage with diverse architecture spanning over three centuries.

After the bridge went up in 1935, the need for the ferry was eliminated and it closed in 1947. Athens’ layout and architecture have remained essentially the same since its heyday in the late 19th century. It has more than 300 buildings on national and state historic registers and has the feel of a living museum of American architecture, with examples of many of the predominant styles of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Stick, Second Empire, Folk Victorian and Queen Anne.

The small and friendly community is made up of an eclectic group of artisans, business people, and families who all enjoy the beauty of this historic area and the essence of small town life. To visit the Village of Athens website and learn more about the Village, please click here.

 

Town of Athens
2 First Street
Athens, NY 12015
518-945-1052

In Search of: Town Historian

The Town of Athens is looking to appoint a new historian. The right candidate would be someone who loves history, the town of Athens, and would like to spend some of their spare time diving into the past. This is a “passion project” position, with a nominal volunteer stipend. The Town historian would collaborate with the Village historian to further the overall preservation of Athens history.

The town historian's role is to preserve, interpret, and share the history of the Town of Athens. Their responsibilities may include such duties as:

Researching: Gathering and evaluating evidence, and writing about the town's history.
Educating: Sharing the town's history with the public and promoting an appreciation for it.
Consulting: Advising local authorities on historical matters and building relationships with the local historical community.
Lobbying: Using their knowledge of local government to promote community history, applying for potential grants.

In New York State, every municipality is required to have a public historian, as mandated by the Historians Law of 1919.  

If you would like to take up the historian torch, please email a letter of interest toTown Supervisor Michael Pirrone at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your qualifications.