Little Cities of Black Diamonds Day digs up history, heritage

Nelsonville, just a 15-minute drive from Athens, is no stranger to history. It is one of the oldest cities in Ohio, dating back to the start of the 19th century. It has been home to thousands of families and faces in those 200 hundred years, and continues to be home to just over 5,000 people, according to the 2020 census.

Many different veins of history converged in Nelsonville on Saturday. Little Cities of Black Diamonds Day took place in Stuart’s Opera House, bringing together speakers, performers and Athens County residents for a sweeping look at Southeast Ohio history and Appalachian cultural heritage.