Athens is located at (39.329427, -82.096237). Athens is located in the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. The county extends west from the Ohio River, mostly centering around the lower Hocking River watershed. Athens is located mostly on and around a south-jutting ridge bordered by a loop in the Hocking River. The underlying geology is mostly sandstone and shale, including "redbed" shale that presents a severe slip hazard when structures are built over it on hillsides. Most hillsides, though, are solid sandstone and present very little slip potential. The old Athens Mental Hospital grounds (now part of the university), for example, was built on the top of a hillside in the late 1860s, and is completely stable. The new University Courtyard Apartments is built on the same ridge with the same underlying geology on the other side of a cut made by a small creek. The city receives all its water supply from wells in unconsolidated river aquifers, and is reputed to be the largest city in the United States to do so. Strouds Run State Park is located just outside the city, bordering the city line. This park features 2,606 acres (11 km sq) of wooded hills, including many bluff (disambiguation)bluffs and rock shelters, centered around a man-made lake. Camping (recreation)Camping is available. The City of Athens has recently established a preserve project, currently including some 345 acres (140 hectares), to save land from development adjacent to the state park. This preserve includes an 85-acre (340,000 m sq) old-growth forest known as "Hawk Woods", or, more formally, the Dale & Jacki Riddle State Nature Preserve. The City has been developing an extensive scenic trail system in the city lands, adjacent Strouds Run State Park, and the Blair Preserve owned by the Athens Conservancy. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.6 km sq (8.3 square miles), all land. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens%2C_Ohio