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Scioto County, Ohio facts for kids

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Scioto County
U.S. county
Scioto County Courthouse
Scioto County Courthouse
Flag of Scioto County
Flag
 Official seal of Scioto County
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Scioto County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Ohio
Founded March 24, 1803
Named for Scioto River
Seat Portsmouth
Largest city Portsmouth
Area
 • Total 616 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Land 610 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Water 5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  1.0%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 74,008 Decrease
 • Density 120/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Scioto County is a county along the Ohio River in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. At the 2020 census, the population was 74,008. Its county seat is Portsmouth. The county was founded on March 24, 1804, from Adams County and is named for a Native American word referring to deer or deer-hunting. Scioto County comprises the Portsmouth, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio rivers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 616 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 610 square miles (1,600 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (1.0%) is water. Many parts of Scioto County are heavily forested, especially in the western half of the county with Shawnee State Park.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Wayne National Forest (part)

Other parks

Shawnee State Forest and Park, the state's largest with over 63,000 acres (250 km2), covers most of western Scioto County, and Brush Creek State Forest 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. Public lands in the county also include the Wayne National Forest on the Ironton Ranger District. The 241,000-acre (980 km2) forest encompasses almost 12,000 acres (49 km2) in three townships in Scioto County (Vernon 6,793.50 acres (27.4923 km2), Green township 81,695 acres (330.61 km2), and Bloom 4,008.29 acres).

Within the city limits of Portsmouth, there are 14 parks for the residents and for community use. These parks are Alexandria Park (Ohio and Scioto River confluence), Allard Park (Bonser Avenue 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 and Thomas Avenue), Mound Park (17th and Hutchins Streets), York Park (riverfront), Spartan Stadium, Tracy Park (Chillicothe and Gay Streets), and Weghorst Park (Fourth and Jefferson Streets).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810 3,399 —
1820 5,750 69.2%
1830 8,740 52.0%
1840 11,192 28.1%
1850 18,428 64.7%
1860 24,297 31.8%
1870 29,302 20.6%
1880 33,511 14.4%
1890 35,377 5.6%
1900 40,981 15.8%
1910 48,463 18.3%
1920 62,850 29.7%
1930 81,221 29.2%
1940 86,565 6.6%
1950 82,910 −4.2%
1960 84,216 1.6%
1970 76,951 −8.6%
1980 84,545 9.9%
1990 80,327 −5.0%
2000 79,195 −1.4%
2010 79,499 0.4%
2020 74,008 −6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2020

2010 census

At the 2010 United States Census, 79,499 people, 30,870 households, and 20,911 families resided in the county. The population density was 130.3 per square mile (50.3/km2). There were 34,142 housing units at an average density of 56.0 per square mile (21.6/km2). The county's racial makeup was 94.4% white, 2.7% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.9% were German, 15.0% were Irish, 12.1% were American, and 10.1% were English.

Of the 30,870 households, 32.2% had children under 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families and 27.4% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 38.8.

The median household income was $32,812 and the median family income was $44,122. Males had a median income of $40,876 and females $29,675. The per capita income was $17,778. About 16.4% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under 18 and 11.8% of those 65 or over.

Economy

Scioto County's economy has been strongly based on that of Portsmouth after heavy industry replaced agriculture and river trade as most important. Through the early 20th century and until the 1970s, heavy industry such as steel mills and shoe factories drove the county's economy. Since these factories closed, Scioto County has lost jobs and revenue.

In the early 21st century, the service industry and healthcare, such as the Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), is the county's largest employer. Scioto County is home to Ohio's newest state university, Shawnee State University, which enrolls between 3,300 and 4,000 students and grants associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees. Much of the recent economic growth and change in the county is related to SOMC and Shawnee State University. Recently Infra-Metals announced the development of a new steel shipping/fabrication site in New Boston, Ohio in the Bob Walton Industrial Park. The plant is under construction and will have access to both barge and rail loading facilities.

In November 2002, the Portsmouth Uranium Enrichment Plant in nearby Piketon 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 producing fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. The Portsmouth Uranium Enrichment Plant ended enriching operations in 2001. It 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 in Paducah, Kentucky. Uranium enrichment functions had been shared by the two plants. USEC interests in the area remain strong, and the American Centrifuge Plant was constructed in the first decade of the 21st century in Piketon. This commercial uranium enrichment facility was 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). Sole Choice, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of shoelaces, is in the county. Graf Brothers Flooring and Lumber, the world's largest manufacturer of rift and quartered oak products, has two satellite log yards in the county. Its main office is across the river in South Shore, Kentucky.

Education

Colleges and universities

The Ohio University Southern Campus was in Scioto County until the early 1980s, when it relocated to Lawrence County (Ironton). Shawnee State Community College used the former Ohio University buildings. The curriculum and facilities were developed to a full four-year undergraduate program and graduate studies, being established in 1986 as Shawnee State University from the former Scioto County Technical College, Ohio's 13th and newest higher education institution.

K–12 schools

Scioto County has ten public school districts, one career technical center, one private school system, one charter school system, and several Christian schools. These districts include Bloom-Vernon (South Webster), Clay, Green, Minford, New Boston, Northwest, Notre Dame (Catholic), Portsmouth, Scioto County Career Technical Center (serving both K–12 and post-secondary students), Sciotoville Community School/East HS (charter), Valley, Washington-Nile (Ports. West) and Wheelersburg.

See also Ohio High School Athletic Association and Southern Ohio Conference.

Libraries

The Portsmouth Public Library was established as a Carnegie library in 1906. It now has four branches and a bookmobile to serve the county as well. The library has branches in Lucasville, New Boston, South Webster and Wheelersburg.

Transportation

GrantBridge
A nighttime view of the newly built U.S. Grant Bridge carrying U.S. 23 over the Ohio River into downtown Portsmouth from Kentucky

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, SR 776, and SR 823.

Rail

See also: South Portsmouth-South Shore (Amtrak station)

Norfolk Southern offers a railyard for long-distance shipping and is currently reopening the repair shops. Amtrak offers a 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.

Air

Scioto County offers air services with the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport located in Minford, Ohio, which is approximately 14 miles (23 km) northeast of Portsmouth on SR 335. The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is Huntington/Tri-State Airport (HTS) in West Virginia, about 60 miles (97 km) east of Portsmouth on I-64.

Public transportation

Public transportation for Scioto County is offered through Access Scioto County.

Media

Scioto County is a dividing line of numerous television markets, which includes the Columbus, Cincinnati and Huntington-Charleston markets. Local television stations include WSAZ-NBC (channel 3.1), WZAS-myNetwork (myZtv channel 3.2), WOWK-CBS (channel 13.1), WCHS-ABC (channel 8.1) and WQCW, a CW affiliate with an office in Portsmouth and Charleston, and more recently WTZP-LD "The Zone", an America One Affiliate that offers more local programming, such as news, high school sports, community events and locally produced shows about the area. Local radio stations WIOI, WPYK, WNXT and WZZZ serve 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 biweekly newspaper, and the Scioto Voice is a weekly newspaper that is mailed to subscribers. The University Chronicle is Shawnee State University's student-led newspaper. Of these, only three are locally owned and operated (WTZP, WIOI, and The Scioto Voice).

Sports

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.

The Portsmouth Explorers were one of the original baseball teams in the Frontier League, a non-affiliated minor league organization. The Explorers played in the league's first three seasons, from 1993 to 1995. In 1938, Portsmouth was also home to the Portsmouth Red Birds, a minor-league team owned by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Collegiate

Shawnee State University (SSU) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA-Division II). It has participated in 24 national championships in 6 of 11 sponsored sports. The university's women's basketball team won an NAIA National Title in 1999 and finished in the final four in 1995. The softball team has also had national exposure, reaching the "Sweet 16" on several occasions. The team finished 10th in 1992, 8th in 1995, 9th in 1996, and 9th in 2001.

Amateur

The 12 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 60 trips to the Ohio High School Athletic Association championships, winning 19 state titles. These have included four softball titles (Clay HS in 1980, 1981, & 1983 and Wheelersburg HS in 2016); five baseball titles (East HS in 1973, Valley HS in 1975, and Wheelersburg HS in 1996, 2012, and 2013); four football titles (two by Notre Dame HS in 1967 and 1970 and two by Wheelersburg HS in 1989 and 2017); and six boys' basketball titles (1931, 1961, 1978 and 1988 by Portsmouth HS and 2006 by South Webster HS).

Culture

The Vern Riffe Arts Center, on the Shawnee State University campus, hosts many local and traveling performances, including Broadway plays and Miss Ohio pageants. Scioto County is home to the Boneyfiddle Historical District (which is on the National Register of Historic Places), SSU's Clark Planetarium, the 1810 House, Greenup Locks & Dam, the Philip Moore Stone House, Roy Rogers' Memorabilia Exhibit, the Southern Ohio Museum, and Spartan Municipal Stadium.

Events

Scioto County is best known for Portsmouth's "River Days" activities, which include a parade, a pageant associated with local high schools, boat races on the Ohio River (in the past), musical performances and a carnival. River Days occurs on Labor Day (the first Monday of September) weekend. Activities begin on Thursday evening and the parade and pageant is on Saturday.

The Scioto County Fair is held in 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 (the single-day record is 17,000). The first county fair was held in 1828; in 1908 Lucasville became the official site when three fairs (Mount Joy, Portsmouth and Lucasville) merged into one. The Roy Rogers' Homecoming Festival is held each June.

Communities

Map of Scioto County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Scioto County, with municipal and township labels

City

Villages

Townships

  • Bloom
  • Brush Creek
  • Clay
  • Green
  • Harrison
  • Jefferson
  • Madison
  • Morgan
  • Nile
  • Porter
  • Rarden
  • Rush
  • Union
  • Valley
  • Vernon
  • Washington

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents

See also

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