Rockford, Ohio

Last updated

Rockford, Ohio
Main north of Pearl, Rockford.jpg
Main Street downtown
Motto: 
"Oldest Village in Mercer County"
Mercer County Ohio incorporated and unincorporated areas Rockford highlighted.svg
Location in Mercer County and the state of Ohio.
Coordinates: 40°41′28″N84°38′59″W / 40.69111°N 84.64972°W / 40.69111; -84.64972
Country United States
State Ohio
County Mercer
Township Dublin
Government
   Mayor Amy Joseph[ citation needed ]
Area
[1]
  Total0.88 sq mi (2.28 km2)
  Land0.86 sq mi (2.24 km2)
  Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
[2]
807 ft (246 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total1,051
  Density1,216.44/sq mi (469.43/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
45882
Area code 419
FIPS code 39-67874 [3]
GNIS feature ID2399105 [2]
Website Village website

Rockford is a village in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The village is on the St. Mary's River near the center of the western Ohio border 12 miles Northwest of Celina. The population was 1,051 at the 2020 census.

Contents

The village was founded in 1815 by French-Indian trader Anthony Madore, and was originally named Shanesville.

Name

Anthony Shane

Anthony Shane, born Antoine Chene, was a French-Indian trader who lived with his wife in a double-log cabin north of the current area of Rockford. He ran a trading post, and was given a large tract of land known as the Shanes Grant for his role as a scout for General Anthony Wayne's army. The grant consisted of 640 acres (2.6 km2) north of the town and 320 acres (1.3 km2) at the town site.

On June 23, 1820, Shane filed his plot to the town of Shanesville, which then comprised 42 lots on the south side of the river. Shane lived in Shanesville until 1832, when acting as a government agent, he accompanied the Shawnee Indians to Kansas. It is not known if he ever returned to Shanesville. [4]

Changes

Shanesville was renamed Shane's Crossing, and eventually renamed again to Rockford by Post Office Department decree.

History

Carnegie library Rockford Carnegie Library.jpg
Carnegie library

Prior to European colonisation, the high ground adjacent to St. Marys River at Rockford was used as a camping ground and village site for Native American tribes. Artefacts including weapons and tools have been found on the site.

Early traders, trappers and adventurers used the St. Marys River as a thoroughfare, and frequented trails along the banks of the river. Most notable of these is the Piqua-Fort Wayne Trail linking the Great Lakes to the Ohio River, which crossed to the north bank at Rockford.

During the Indian Wars of the late 18th century, many armies transited Rockhold, most notably General Josiah Harmar en route to his defeat at Kekionga. General Anthony Wayne built Fort Adams in the area of Rockford in the early August 1794, as a temporary relay station and supply depot. Fort Adams was initially garrisoned with 100 soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Underhill. Fort Adams was abandoned in 1796, and is now an archaeological preserve operated by The Archaeological Conservancy. There are no physical remains of the fort. [5]

The earliest records of Rockford originate from French-Indian trader Anthony Madore, who operated a trading post to the north of the current town, on the southern bank of the St. Marys River. It is not known how long Madore owned the post, but he died around 1815.

During the War of 1812, General William Henry Harrison camped in Rockford en route to fight the British and Indian coalition. He was joined at the camp by 200 mounted Ohio volunteers and 800 foot soldiers. [4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.84 square miles (2.18 km2), of which 0.82 square miles (2.12 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water. [6]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890 993
1900 1,20721.6%
1910 1,186−1.7%
1920 1,075−9.4%
1930 887−17.5%
1940 1,06620.2%
1950 1,1124.3%
1960 1,1553.9%
1970 1,2074.5%
1980 1,2453.1%
1990 1,119−10.1%
2000 1,1260.6%
2010 1,120−0.5%
2020 1,051−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

2010 census

As of the census [8] of 2010, there were 1,120 people, 454 households, and 301 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,365.9 inhabitants per square mile (527.4/km2). There were 495 housing units at an average density of 603.7 per square mile (233.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 454 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the village was 41.5 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census [3] of 2000, there were 1,126 people, 453 households, and 298 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,747.9 inhabitants per square mile (674.9/km2). There were 489 housing units at an average density of 759.1 per square mile (293.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.11% White, 0.27% African American, 0.53% Native American, and 0.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.

There were 453 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,574, and the median income for a family was $45,735. Males had a median income of $30,980 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,699. About 4.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Parkway Local Schools

Media

The community is served by WRKD-LP 101.3 FM

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuscarawas County, Ohio</span> County in Ohio, United States

Tuscarawas County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 93,263. Its county seat is New Philadelphia. Its name is a Delaware Indian word variously translated as "old town" or "open mouth". Tuscarawas County comprises the New Philadelphia–Dover, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland–Akron–Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockford, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,177 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Shawnee, Ohio</span> CDP in Ohio, United States

Fort Shawnee is census-designated place (CDP) in Allen County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,263 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Fort Shawnee is adjacent to the city of Lima and the village of Cridersville in Auglaize County. In 2012, village residents voted to disincorporate the village. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of 7.25 square miles (18.78 km2), of which 7.21 square miles (18.67 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgeport, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Bridgeport is a village in eastern Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It lies across the Ohio River from Wheeling, West Virginia, at the mouth of Wheeling Creek and is connected by two bridges to Wheeling Island. The population was 1,582 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Wheeling metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defiance, Ohio</span> City in Ohio, United States

Defiance is a city in and the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States, about 55 miles (89 km) southwest of Toledo and 47 miles (76 km) northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Ohio's northwestern corner. The population was 17,066 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mingo Junction, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Mingo Junction is a village in eastern Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,347 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rayland, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Rayland is a village in southern Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 389 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wintersville, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Wintersville is a village in central Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,609 as of the 2020 Census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area. The village is suburban in nature and is governed by a mayor and council elected by non-partisan ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesapeake, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Chesapeake is a village in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States. The population was 765 as of the 2020 census. It lies across the Ohio River from Huntington, West Virginia, at the mouth of Symmes Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa Hills, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Ottawa Hills is a village in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,790 at the 2020 census. The village was developed on both sides of the Ottawa River (Ohio) and serves as a bedroom community and suburb of Toledo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Covington, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Covington is a village in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,548 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village was incorporated as Covington in 1835 on the site of the 1793 Fort Rowdy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Jennings, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Fort Jennings is a village in the southwestern corner of Putnam County, Ohio, United States. The population was 525 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Loramie, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Fort Loramie is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States, along Loramie Creek, a tributary of the Great Miami River in southwestern Ohio. It is 42 miles north-northwest of Dayton and 20 miles east of the Ohio/Indiana border. The population was 1,590 at the 2020 census. The village was founded in 1837 near the former site of a colonial fort of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolivar, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Bolivar is a village in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,000 at the 2020 census. Bolivar is also home to Fort Laurens, the only American Revolutionary War-era fort in what is now Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcomerstown, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Newcomerstown is a village in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States, 85 miles (137 km) east-northeast of Columbus. The population was 3,702 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugarcreek, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Sugarcreek is a village in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,373 at the 2020 census. It is known as "The Little Switzerland of Ohio." Located in Ohio's Amish Country, the village is part of a large regional tourism industry. In the center of town stands one of the world's largest cuckoo clocks, which was previously featured on the cover of the Guinness World Records book in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willshire, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Willshire is a village in Van Wert County, Ohio, United States. The population was 405 at the 2020 census. It is included within the Van Wert, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverly, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Beverly is a village in Washington County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Marietta micropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Sandusky, Ohio</span> City in Ohio, United States

Upper Sandusky is a city in and the county seat of Wyandot County, Ohio, United States, along the upper Sandusky River. The city lies approximately 59 miles (95 km) south of Toledo and 62 miles (100 km) north of Columbus. The population was 6,698 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Springs, Ohio</span> Village in Ohio, United States

Green Springs is a village in Sandusky and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,233 at the 2020 census.

References

  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rockford, Ohio
  3. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. 1 2 Baltzell, Fred and Baltzell, Martha. "Rockford Sesquicentennial Journal". Reference Materials. Rockford Carnigie Library. April 15, 2008. Page 3.
  5. Kaufmann, J. E. (2004). Fortress America : the forts that defended America, 1600 to the present. Kaufmann, H. W. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. ISBN   0-306-81294-0. OCLC   56912995.
  6. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 6, 2013.