Concord University

Concord University is a public liberal arts university in Athens, West Virginia. Founded in 1872 by a group of old Virginia families who donated enough money to begin teaching during the early days, its campus now comprises more than 120 acres.

In 1896, Concord the town was renamed Athens to reflect its new status as an educational hub, but the university retained the Concord name, hence why it continues to be known by it even though the surrounding town isn’t.

Athens is located 15 miles from the border with the state of Virginia, and 100 miles from Charleston, West Virginia’s largest city, one of the smallest state capitals, bisected by the Kanawha River.

The institution’s size only grew slowly for much of the early 1900s, with its male population decreasing during the Second World War. During World War II, Concord accommodated the US Army Air Corp’s 15^th College Training Detachment. CU held a special 50-year anniversary in 1993.

By the 1980s, the university’s endowment had become the largest of any state institution in West Virginia, and certain buildings were renovated. In 2004, it officially became Concord University rather than Concord College.

Numerous sports teams have competed in high-level competition, while there are around 200 student organisations across the main campus. Concord also offers a range of modules at its Beckley Campus in Beaver, 30 miles north, including accounting, management and social work

Its most famous alumnus is Christy Martin, a world champion boxer who helped raise the profile of women’s boxing after winning dozens of memorable fights across the globe.