Chillicothe, Ohio

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City of Chillicothe
The south side of West Main Street. The squat, square building left of center is a replica of Ohio's first capitol building and serves as the office of the Chillicothe Gazette.
The south side of West Main Street. The squat, square building left of center is a replica of Ohio's first capitol building and serves as the office of the Chillicothe Gazette.
Official seal of City of Chillicothe
Seal
Nickname: Ohio's First Capital
Location in the state of Ohio
Location in the state of Ohio
Coordinates: 39°20′11″N 82°59′2″W / 39.33639, -82.98389
Country United States
State Ohio
County Ross
Government
 - Mayor Joseph P. Sulzer (D)
Area
 - Total 9.7 sq mi (25.2 km²)
 - Land 9.5 sq mi (24.7 km²)
 - Water 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
Elevation 630 ft (190 m)
Population (2006)
 - Total 22,216
 - Density 2,284.6/sq mi (882.1/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 45601
Area code(s) 740
FIPS code 39-14184[1]
GNIS feature ID 1060960[2]
Website: http://ci.chillicothe.oh.us/

Chillicothe (pronounced /ˌtʃɪlɨˈkɒθi/ CHILL-i-KOTH-ee) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Ross County[3]. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town." It was the first and third capital of Ohio.

The population was 21,796 at the 2000 census. According to the US Census 2006 estimate, Chillicothe has a population of 22,216[4], while the Columbus-Marion-Chillicothe, OH Combined Statistical Area has 1,953,575 people[5]. The city is the largest in Ross County, and the center of the Chillicothe Micropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003).

Contents

[edit] History

First capital sign at edge of town
First capital sign at edge of town

Chillicothe served as the capital of Ohio from the beginning of statehood in 1803 until 1810 when Zanesville became the capital for two years.[6] The capital moved to Zanesville as part of a deal to get a bill passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In 1812 the capital moved back to Chillicothe until 1816 when the capital moved to Columbus.[7] Columbus became the capital because of the desire to have the capital near the geographic center of the state.

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[edit] Geography

The Scioto River at Chillicothe in 2003
The Scioto River at Chillicothe in 2003

Chillicothe is located at 39°20′11″N, 82°59′2″W (39.336525, -82.983822)[8].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.2 km²), of which, 9.5 square miles (24.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (2.05%) is water.

The city is surrounded by farming communities, and Chillicothe residents describe the area as the foothills of the Appalachians.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1820 2,426
—
1830 2,846 17.3%
1840 3,977 39.7%
1850 7,100 78.5%
1860 7,626 7.4%
1870 8,920 17.0%
1880 10,938 22.6%
1890 11,288 3.2%
1900 12,976 15.0%
1910 14,508 11.8%
1920 15,831 9.1%
1930 18,340 15.8%
1940 20,129 9.8%
1950 20,133 0.0%
1960 24,957 24.0%
1970 24,842 -0.5%
1980 23,420 -5.7%
1990 21,923 -6.4%
2000 21,796 -0.6%
Est. 2006 22,216 1.9%

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 21,796 people, 9,481 households, and 5,754 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,283.7 people per square mile (882.1/km²). There were 10,303 housing units at an average density of 1,079.5/sq mi (417.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.21% White, 7.51% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 9,481 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,991, and the median income for a family was $42,477. Males had a median income of $35,199 versus $25,010 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,101. About 9.3% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

Ross County Court House
Ross County Court House

[edit] Public officials

Chillicothe is governed by a mayor-council structure in which the mayor is elected separately from the members of the city council. Chillicothe's mayor is Joseph P. Sulzer (D). The members of the city council are

Ward City Councillor Ward City Councillor
First Ward Thomas E. Trutschel (R) At Large Cynthia L. Henderson (R)
Second Ward Nancy Ames (R) At Large Dustin Proehl (D)
Third Ward Queen Lester (D) At Large Napoleon Cross (D)
Fourth Ward Jean Malone (D) Council President Robert L. Shoultz (R)
Fifth Ward William J. Bonner II (D)
Sixth Ward Pat Patrick (R)

Current events from local newsprint at the Chillicothe Gazette:

Other municipal officials:

  • City council clerk John Fosson
  • Chief of staff Matt Allen
  • Economic Development Director Doug Corcoran
  • Safety and Service Director Mike Pfeifer
  • City Engineer Charles R. Ortman
  • Transit System Director Michael Scholl
  • Chief of Police Jeffrey Keener
  • Fire Chief Bruce Vaughan
  • Utilities Director Richard Johnson
  • City Auditor William Morrissey (R)
  • City Law Director Toni L. Eddy (R)
    • Assistant Law Directors:
      • Edward R. Bunstine II (D) (former law director, defeated by his own assistant Eddy in re-election bid; currently awaiting trial on charges of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice.)
      • Robert C. Hess
      • Mark A. Preston
      • Michele R. Rout
  • Fair Housing Administrator Tamra Lowe
  • Civil Service Administrator Sharon Maughmer
  • Human Resources Director Nancy McNeely

The officials of the Chillicothe Municipal Court are:

  • Judge Thomas E. Bunch (D)
  • Judge John B. Street (R)
  • Magistrate Jane Spring Martin
  • Clerk Roseanna J. "Jeanie" Strong

[edit] Public services

[edit] Parks and recreation

Chillicothe has several public parks, including Yoctangee Park, Poland Park, Strawser Park, Manor Park, Goldie Gunlock Park, Pine Street Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and Western View Park.

Chillicothe's floodwall, protecting the city from floods of the Scioto River, has a 4.0 mile-long paved bike path. This path connects to the Tri-County Triangle Trail which currently is 17.2 miles long, measured from Bridge St. (SR 159) in Chillicothe, to Frankfort and then to Austin. The Tri-County Triangle Trail's goal is to connect Chillicothe with Washington Court House and Greenfield. This same former railroad continues to Jamestown and Xenia , but those connections are a long range plan.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is found on the north end of the town. The park is administrated by the National Park Service and has a large concentration of Native American earthworks.

[edit] Education

A branch of Ohio University, Ohio University-Chillicothe (OU-C), is located at the top of University Hill in Chillicothe. The public 4-year institution enrolls about 2,000 students each year.

Samuel Stephen College (formerly Southeastern Business College) is located on Ohio St. Rt. 104. They offer five different 2-year programs that include Information Technology and Office Administration.

The city of Chillicothe provides education for pre-school through grade 12 students. The Chillicothe City School District includes the following facilities: Allen Elementary; Mt. Logan Elementary, previously Mt. Logan Middle School; Tiffin Elementary; Worthington Elementary; Western Latchkey/Preschool/Western Administration Office, the headquarters of the Board of Education;Chillicothe Middle School; and Chillicothe High School, which was expanded extensively and dedicated on August 20, 2006.

The Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library holds a rich collection of historical and genealogical resources. The main library is located on South Paint Street. The library also has branch locations in the Northside (on Buckeye Street) as well as in Bainbridge, Frankfort, Kingston, Richmond Dale, and South Salem.

Chillicothe is also home to the Recording Workshop, audio engineering school.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Majestic Theater

Chillicothe is home to the 152-year-old continuously operating Majestic Theatre where the stage was graced by such greats as Laurel and Hardy, Milton Berle, George Arliss, Sophie Tucker, as well as many others.

[edit] Fairs and festivals

Chillicothe, rich in Native American history, hosts the annual Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival. Started in 1984, the May festival draws crowds of approximately 85,000. Yoctangee Park, in the historic downtown, is the setting for this family oriented three-day event featuring Native American music, dancing, traders and exhibits, a mountain men encampment rendezvous with working craftsmen and demonstrations, an extensive arts and crafts show with over 80 crafters and commercial exhibits. The main stage has a schedule of family-friendly entertainment, such as local school bands and performers. The streets become lined with food booths and games/contests. The festival is both recreational with games, contests and food booths that line the streets and also educational. Handicap parking is available from the alley of West Water to Walnut Street. Events are free to the public and typically include: the Laser Light Show (Friday, Saturday & Sunday), Main Stage Entertainment, Kid's Fun Run (Saturday), Senior Citizens Day & Bingo (Friday), Gospel Day (Sunday), Parade, Duck Race (ducks are free at the Hospice Booth), and more.

On the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day in September, Chillicothe hosts the annual Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival. The festival features indoor concert performances by several highly acclaimed and award-winning storytellers. Storytelling concerts are held throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday. Venues have included the Majestic Theatre and auditoriums/gymnasiums at the Ohio University-Chillicothe Branch.

The Fall Harvest Festival is held in Chillicothe's Yoctangee Park the first weekend in October. The festival has entertainment, crafts, flea market, and more.

[edit] Athletic events

The Chillicothe Paints are a minor league baseball team established in February 1993. The team is a member of the Frontier League and is affiliated with no Major League Baseball team.

In June, the streets of Chillicothe near Yoctangee Park are blocked off to accommodate temporary courts for the Gus Macker three-on-three basketball competition.

[edit] Notable natives

Chillicothe has been the home of many national figures over the years. See the following list for articles about them.

[edit] Athletes

[edit] Business Leaders

[edit] Musicians

[edit] Ohio Founders

  • Duncan McArthur, Ohio's 11th Governor
  • Edward Tiffin, dominant role in political development of Ohio Country and made Chillicothe the political center
  • Thomas Worthington, "Father of Ohio Statehood" and Ohio's 6th Governor. Worthington was born in Virginia but settled in Ohio early in his life and remained there. His estate in Chillicothe, called Adena, is open to the public.

[edit] Political figures

[edit] Sister city

Chillicothe is the sister city of Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico. This relationship is honored through the Foreign Exchange Student Program with students at Chillicothe High School.

[edit] Cultural references

  • In the novel Laughing Gas by P.G. Wodehouse, Chillicothe is mentioned several times as the home of child star Joey Cooley. Joey desires escape the constant scrutiny of life in Hollywood and return to his home in Chillicothe where he can eat whatever he likes.
  • In the Nero Wolfe novels by Rex Stout, Chillicothe is the hometown of Archie Goodwin.
  • The USS Chillicothe was named after Chillicothe, Ohio.
  • In Robert Heinlein's novella Methuselah's Children, the ship that Lazarus Long pilots to pick up the members of the Howard Families is named "The Spirit of Chillicothe."
  • Chillicothe is mentioned in the Elvis Presley movie Viva Las Vegas.
  • Chillicothe was shown twice on the Daily Show's Midwest Midterm Midtacular.
  • In the HBO hit series Deadwood, regular character Sol Star mentions having lived in Chillicothe prior to moving to Deadwood.
  • Chillicothe appeared prominently in a trilogy of popular and award-winning frontier novels by Conrad Richter: The Trees, The Fields, and The Town (which won the 1951 Pulitzer Prize). Known collectively as The Awakening Land series, the trilogy was the basis of a highly acclaimed 1978 NBC mini-series The Awakening Land. The character of Portius Wheeler (portrayed by Hal Holbrook in the miniseries) is a judge in Chillicothe during the early 19th century.

[edit] See also

In the Harvey Girls (1946), the character of Alma played by Virginia O'Brien was from Chillicothe, Ohio. She mentions it in the famous song, "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" and was a popular song at the time which refers to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  5. ^ Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-04-05.
  6. ^ tfd. Zanesville definition of Zanesville in the Free Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  7. ^ tfd. Chillicothe definition of Chillicothe in the Free Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  8. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Ross County, Ohio
County seat: Chillicothe
Cities

Chillicothe
Map of Ohio highlighting Ross County
Villages
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Census-designated place
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