Total population (1996 census): 61,162
County seat: Athens City
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 79 | 2182 | 195140 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 13 | 518 | 195140 bu | |
| Oats | 3 | 47 | D | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 13 | 1508 | 47015 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 362 | 15234 | 30025 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 119 | 2683 | 6027 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 17 | 295 | 482 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 236 | 9027 | 17760 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 77 | 2665 | 4402 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 20 | 564 | 4056 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 20 | 560 | 8596 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Asparagus | 3 | D | ||
| Snap Bean | 8 | 6 | ||
| Beets | 3 | Z | ||
| Cucumbers & Pickles | 3 | D | ||
| Lettuce and Romaine | 3 | D | ||
| Green Peas | 3 | 1 | ||
| Sweet Peppers | 5 | 3 | ||
| Potatoes | 7 | 4 | 511 bu | |
| Spinach | 3 | 1 | ||
| Squash | 3 | D | ||
| Sweet Corn | 7 | 23 | ||
| Tomatoes | 8 | 6 | ||
| Turnip Greens | 8 | 6 | ||
| Other Vegetables | 3 | Z | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 13 | 20 | 1096 trees | |
| Cherries, Total | 3 | 1 | 9 trees | |
| Cherries, Not Specified | 3 | 1 | trees | |
| Grapes | 6 | 1 | 849 vines | |
| Peaches | 6 | 2 | 52 trees | |
| Pears | 6 | 1 | 41 trees | |
| Other Fruits and Nuts | 3 | 1 | 20 trees | |
| Blackberries | 5 | 3 | 9233 lbs | |
| Raspberries | 3 | D | 816 lbs | |
| Strawberries | 3 | 4 | D | |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops, Cut Christmas Trees Harvested, Mushrooms, and Sod Grown for Sale | Farms | Sq. ft. under glass or other protection | Acres in the open | Sales ($1,000) |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 31 | 45920 | 199 | 764 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 7 | X | 19 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 12 | 22120 | D | 195 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 11 | 15770 | 11 | 136 |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 10 | X | 79 | 337 |
| Nursery Crops | 7 | D | 29 | 73 |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 7 | D | 74 | 6 |
| Herb, Spice, Medicinal, Bioactive... | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Tobacco | 3 | 18 | 35519 lbs | |
| Maple Trees Tapped | 4 | 56 | 2020 | |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.
Z=Less than half of the unit shown.