About Athens, Texas:
Athens, Texas, is located in East Texas, about 70–80 miles southeast of Dallas. It has a population of roughly 13,000–13,500 (2020 census: 12,857; recent estimates are a bit higher). The city was founded in the 1850s, incorporated in 1856, and named after Athens, Greece (or possibly Athens, Alabama, according to some accounts).
Athens styles itself the “Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World” and claims to be the birthplace of the hamburger (credited to “Uncle” Fletcher Davis in the late 19th century). It hosts the annual Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree and related events.The local economy includes manufacturing, healthcare, education (including Trinity Valley Community College), retail, and services.
Attractions feature Lake Athens (popular for fishing and boating), the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, the East Texas Arboretum, a historic downtown, and nearby outdoor recreation areas.
Catholic places of interest in Athens, Texas:
St Edward Catholic Church
800 E Tyler St, Athens, TX 75751
+1 (903) 675-2509
Visit the official website of Saint Edward Catholic Church in Athens, Texas.
Traveling to Athens, Texas:
By car: As mentioned, Athens is about 70 miles southeast of Dallas and about 20 miles west of Tyler, Texas. It is located on highway 175.
By air:The closest airport to Athens is Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR), a medium-sized airport located approximately 28.4 miles (45.7 km) east of Tyler. The driving distance is about 33.6 miles (54.1 km), which typically takes around 46 minutes by car. The nearest major airport would be Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).