Family dairy farms were once plentiful in Athens County but are now facing extinction due to commercial farming. At nearly 80 years old, Bernard and Loretta Allen are one of the few remaining dairy businesses in the county.

Carrousel Antiques and Divine Junque are two of the few businesses in what was once a bustling town of Coolville. Their owners both lament and celebrate the atmosphere of small-town commerce.

Although oil drilling has taken place in Ohio since the early 1800s, Ohio is not immediately associated with the industry. Explore the interactive graphic to learn more about the process, history and industry of oil in Ohio and in Athens County.

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Shawnee, Ohio, is a shadow of its former self. In 1872, the town was carved out of a hill in mineral-rich Southeast Ohio. Twenty years later, Shawnee boasted a population of 3,266, which has since steadily emptied down to 608 residents who face a decaying Main Street.