Scioto County, Ohio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Scioto County, Ohio | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Ohio |
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 Ohio's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | March 24, 1803[1] |
|---|---|
| Seat | Portsmouth |
| Largest city | Portsmouth |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
616 sq mi (1,596 km²) 612 sq mi (1,586 km²) 4 sq mi (10 km²), 0.62% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
79,195 129/sq mi (50/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Website: www.sciotocountyohio.com | |
| Named for: a Native American word for deer or deer-hunting | |
Scioto County is a county located in the south central region of the state of Ohio, United States at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers. As of the 2000 census, the population was 79,195. It is named for an Indian word referring to deer or deer-hunting,[2] and its county seat is Portsmouth.[3] The county was formed on March 24, 1803 splitting from Adams County. It is the home of current Ohio governor, Ted Strickland.[4]
Contents |
[edit] County Government
Main article: Ohio county government
Portsmouth is the county seat for Scioto County with the county courthouse located at the corner of Sixth and Court Streets. It was constructed in 1936.
The county jail, once located in the courthouse, is now located in a new facility in the same location where the Norfolk and Western rail depot used to stand near U.S. 23. It was constructed in 2006.
The county maintenance garage is located in Lucasville.
[edit] Current county officials[5]
Scioto County Commissioners: Mike Crabtree (D), Tom Reiser (D), and Skip Riffe III (D).
Auditor: David L. Green (D)
Treasurer: William K. Ogg (D)
Clerk of Courts: Mildred E. Thompson (R)
Sheriff: Marty Donini (R)
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 616 square miles (1,596 km²).612 square miles (1,586 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10 km²) of it (0.62%) is water. Many parts of Scioto County are heavily forested, especially in the western half of the county with Shawnee State Park.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Pike County (north)
- Jackson County (northeast)
- Lawrence County (east)
- Greenup County, Kentucky (south)
- Lewis County, Kentucky (southwest)
- Adams County (west)
[edit] Major parks and cultural institutions
Shawnee State Forest and Park, the state's largest with over 88,000 acres, covers most of western Scioto County and Brush Creek State Park touches part of northwestern Scioto County. The county also has numerous parks and recreational areas in each of its townships, including Earl Thomas Conley Park on U.S. 52, west of Portsmouth.
Within the city limits of Portsmouth, there are fourteen parks for the residents and for community use. These parks include Alexandria Park (Ohio and Scioto River confluence), Allard Park (Bonser Ave. in Sciotoville), Bannon Park (near Farley Square), Branch Rickey Park (on Williams Street near levee), Buckeye Park (near Branch Rickey Park), Cyndee Secrest Park (Sciotoville), Dr. Hartlage Park (Rose Street in Sciotoville), Labold Park (near Spartan Stadium), Larry Hisle Park (23rd Street & Thomas Ave.), Mound Park (17th & Hutchins Streets), York Park (riverfront), Spartan Stadium, Tracy Park (Chillicothe & Gay Streets), and Weghorst Park (Fourth & Jefferson Streets).[6]
The Vern Riffe Arts Center, on the campus of Shawnee State University, hosts many local and traveling performances, including Broadway plays and Miss Ohio pageants. Scioto County is also home to the Boneyfiddle Historical District (which is on the National Register of Historic Places), SSU's Clark Planetarium, the renovated Columbia Music Hall which has unfortunately recently been destroyed by arson[7], the 1810 House, Greenup Locks & Dam, the Philip Moore Stone House, Roy Rogers' Memorabilia Exhibit, the Southern Ohio Museum, and Spartan Municipal Stadium.
The Portsmouth Public Library and its five branches have served the county since 1879. The library has branches in Lucasville, New Boston, McDermott, South Webster, and Wheelersburg.
[edit] Notable festivals and parades
Scioto County (Portsmouth) is best-known for its River Days' activities that include a parade, a pageant associated with the local high schools, boat races on the Ohio River (in the past), musical performances, a carnival, and other festive activities. River Days occurs on Labor Day (the first Monday of September) weekend with the activities beginning on Thursday evening and the parade and pageant on Saturday.
Scioto County also hosts the Scioto County Fair on the first full week of August of each year. It is one of the largest in the state drawing approximately 75,000 visitors each year (with the single-day record being 17,000).[8] The origins of the first county fair date back to 1828[9], and located to Lucasville in 1908 when three fairs (Mount Joy, Portsmouth, and Lucasville) merged into one.[10] The Roy Rogers' Homecoming Festival is held each June and the county has numerous fireworks demonstrations on the Fourth of July.
[edit] Economy
Scioto County's economy has come and gone with the success and failures of Portsmouth's economy. Until the 1970s, heavy industry such as steel mills and shoe factories drove the county's economy. Since the closure of these factories, Scioto County has suffered a loss of jobs and revenue. Today, the service industry such as the Southern Ohio Medical Center is the largest employer in the county. Scioto County is also home to the newest state university in Ohio, Shawnee State University. Shawnee State enrolls between 3,300 and 4,000 students and grants Associate and Baccalaureate degrees. The school also issues a very limited number of Master’s Degrees. Much of the recent economic growth and change is based on service to SOMC and Shawnee State University.
In November of 2002, the Portsmouth Uranium Enrichment Plant in nearby Piketon, Ohio was recognized as an ANS Nuclear Historic Landmark by the American Nuclear Society. It had served a military function from 1952 until the mid-1960s when the mission changed from enriching uranium for nuclear weapons to one focused on producing fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. The Portsmouth Uranium Enrichment Plant ended enriching operations in 2001 and began to support operational and administrative functions and perform external contract work. All uranium enrichment in the area has been taken over by a sister plant located in Paducah, Kentucky. Uranium enrichment functions had previously been shared by the two plants. USEC interests in the area remain strong with the American Centrifuge Plant under construction in Piketon. This commercial uranium enrichment facility is expected to employ up to 500 people and reach an initial annual production level of 3.5 million SWU by 2010.
Scioto County has also been the benefactor of Suncoke (coke (fuel) production) and Duke Energy (electricity) facilities near Franklin Furnace. Mitchellace, Inc., the largest manufacturer of shoelaces in the world, is also located in the county.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Highways
Scioto County is served by two major highways, the north-south U.S. 23 and the east-west U.S. 52. Other routes include SR 73, SR 104, SR 125, SR 139, SR 140, SR 335, SR 348, SR 522, SR 728(Lucasville-Minford Road), andSR 776.
[edit] Rail
Norfolk Southern offers a railyard for long distance shipping and is currently reopening the repair shops. Amtrak offers passenger service to the Portsmouth/Scioto County area under the Cardinal route. The passenger station is located in South Shore, Kentucky across the Ohio River.
[edit] Air
Scioto County also offers air services with the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport located in Minford, Ohio, which is approximately 14 miles northeast of Portsmouth on SR 335. The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is Huntington-Tristate (HTS) located approximately 60 miles east of Portsmouth on I 64.
[edit] Public Transportation
Public transportation for Scioto County is offered through Access Scioto County (ASC).
[edit] Demographics
| Scioto County Population by year[1] |
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2000 79,195 |
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As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 79,195 people, 30,871 households, and 21,362 families residing in the county. The population density was 129 people per square mile (50/km²). There were 34,054 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.88% White, 2.73% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 30,871 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,008, and the median income for a family was $34,691. Males had a median income of $32,063 versus $21,562 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,408. About 15.20% of families and 19.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Localities
[edit] City
[edit] Villages
[edit] Townships
[edit] Census-designated places
[edit] Other localities
[edit] Education
[edit] Colleges and universities
Scioto County used to be home to Ohio University Southern Campus; however, it moved to Lawrence County (Ironton) in the early 1980s. The former Ohio University buildings became home to Shawnee State University, which was founded in 1986 as Ohio's thirteenth and newest institution, after first becoming Shawnee State Community College. Scioto County is also home to the Southeastern Business College.
[edit] K-12 schools
Scioto County has ten public school districts, one private school system, and one charter school system as well as several Christian schools. These districts include Bloom-Vernon (South Webster), Clay, Green, Minford, New Boston, Northwest, Notre Dame (Catholic), Portsmouth, Sciotoville Community School/East HS (charter), Valley, Washington-Nile (Ports. West), and Wheelersburg. These school systems are noted not only for their educational endeavors but also their athletic and community endeavors.
See also Ohio High School Athletic Association, Ohio High School Athletic Conferences, Southeastern Ohio Athletic League, and Southern Ohio Conference
[edit] Media
Scioto County is a dividing line of numerous television markets, which includes the Columbus, Cincinnati, and Huntington-Charleston markets. There is one local television station in Portsmouth. It is WQCW, a CW affiliate. Local radio stations WIOI, WNXT, WPAY, WZZZ, and WHRR-LP serve the radio listeners in the county and surrounding areas.
The county is also served by three newspapers. The Portsmouth Daily Times is the county's only daily newspaper. The Community Common is a free bi-weekly newspaper and the Scioto Voice is a weekly newspaper, which is mailed to subscribers. The University Chronicle is the student-led newspaper at Shawnee State University.
[edit] Sports
[edit] Professional
Scioto County had a series of semi-pro football teams in the 1920s and 1930s, the most notable being the Portsmouth Shoe-Steels, whose roster included player-coach Jim Thorpe. From 1929 to 1933, Portsmouth was home to a professional football team, The Portsmouth Spartans. This team later became the NFL franchise Detroit Lions in 1934. The Portsmouth Spartans also competed in the first professional football night game versus the Green Bay Packers in 1930.[12][13]
On the baseball front, the Portsmouth Explorers were one of the original teams in the Frontier League, a non-affiliated minor league baseball organization. The Explorers played in the league's first three seasons, from 1993 to 1995. In 1938, Portsmouth was also the home of the Portsmouth Red Birds, a minor league team owned by the St. Louis Cardinals.
[edit] Collegiate
Shawnee State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA-Division II). SSU has participated in 24 National Championships in 6 of 11 sponsored sports. The university's women's basketball team has won an NAIA National Title in 1999 and finished in the final four in 1995.[14] The softball team has had national exposure as well, reaching the "Sweet 16" on several occasions. The team finished 10th in 1992, 8th in 1995, 9th in 1996, and 9th in 2001.[15]
[edit] Amateur
Of course, the twelve local high schools, the other educational institutions, the adult leagues, and the development leagues (e.g. AAU and club organizations) generate a great deal of participation as either participants or as followers of sports' teams. The teams have made 55 trips to the Ohio High School Athletic Association championships, winning 15 state titles. These have included three softball titles by Clay HS (1980, 1981, & 1983); three baseball titles (East HS in 1973, Valley HS in 1975, & Wheelersburg HS in 1996); three football titles (two by Notre Dame HS in 1967 and 1970 and Wheelersburg HS in 1989); and six boys' basketball titles (1931, 1961, 1978, & 1988 by Portsmouth HS and 2006 by South Webster HS).[16][17]
[edit] Miscellanea
Scioto County is the home of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, which is located in Lucasville. The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility is Ohio's only maximum security prison and the location of Ohio's death house where death row inmates are executed.
[edit] Notable individuals from Scioto County
- Dale Bandy - former Ohio University basketball coach
- Al Bridwell (1884-1969) - former Major League Baseball player
- Kathleen Battle (1948- ) - opera singer
- Gene Bennett - baseball scout and executive, Cincinnati Reds
- Earl Thomas Conley (1941- ) - country music singer and writer
- Martin Dillon (1957-2005) - American musician
- Chuck Ealey (1950- ) - football player
- Bill Harsha (1921- ) - American politician
- Larry Hisle (1947- ) - former Major League Baseball player, currently in Milwaukee Brewers organization
- Rocky Nelson (1924-2006) - former Major League Baseball player
- Al Oliver (1946- ) - former Major League Baseball player
- Dave Pyles - graduate of Miami University and former National Football League player with the Oakland Raiders[18]
- Branch Rickey (1881-1965) - baseball executive
- Vern Riffe, Jr. (1925-1997) - Ohio politician (1959-95), Speaker of the House (1975-94)
- Barbara Robinson - American author
- Roy Rogers (1911-1998) - famous singer and cowboy movie star
- Ted Strickland (1941- ) - Ohio governor (2007- )
- Gene Tenace (1946- ) - former Major League Baseball player
- Josh Newman (1982- ) - current major league pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ohio County Profiles: Scioto County (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ Scioto County data. Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Allen, Wayne. "Strickland to Visit Area". Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
- ^ "Portsmouth Area Resource Guide 2007-2008", The Community Common, 2007-07-29, p. 3. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
- ^ "Portsmouth Area Resource Guide 2007-2008", The Community Common, 2007-07-29, p. 4. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
- ^ Frank Lewis. "Fire Decimates Columbia". Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
- ^ "Gahm: Heat Doesn't Deter Fairgoers", Portsmouth Daily Times, 2007-08-11, p. A1.
- ^ "County fairs of yesteryear", Scioto Voice, 2007-08-02, p. A8. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Scioto County Fair Board. "Fair Preview: Scioto County Fair has long history", Portsmouth Daily Times, 2007-08-05, p. 12.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Ohio Historical Society. "National Football League". Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
- ^ Chris Murphy. Portsmouth Spartans Historical Society. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
- ^ SSU Athletic Department. SSU Women's Basketball - Quick Facts. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ SSU Athletic Department. SSU Softball - Quick Facts. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Southern Ohio Conference
- ^ Portsmouth High School
- ^ Oakland Raiders. Oakland Raiders: All-Time Roster. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
[edit] External links
- County information
- Scioto County Government's website
- Clay Local School District
- Ohio Historical Society
- 50 Miles of Heroes
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