Port Jefferson, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Port Jefferson is a village in Salem Township
, Shelby County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 321 at the 2000 census.
. The purpose of the feeder was to provide a steady flow of water to the Miami Canal at the Lockington Locks
. A large dam in the river east of Port Jefferson diverted the waters into the feeder.
Because Port Jefferson was the closest point on the canal system for the vast territory east of Sidney
and Port Jefferson, it became an important center for commercial activity almost overnight. All grain, lumber, and other products north and east of town, destined for the canal, passed through it. The canal feeder at Port Jefferson was completed to Sidney by 1841, some 4 years before the Miami & Erie Canal was opened between Cincinnati and Toledo.
Samuel Rice heard about the bright economic prospects of the village in the early 1840s. After first touring a small underdeveloped town called Chicago
in northern Illinois, he traveled here, evaluated the prospects of Port Jefferson, and chose to invest here. He purchased a substantial amount of property around the village, and waited.
During its heyday between 1845 and the 1860s, Port Jefferson almost rivaled Sidney in size and influence. Nearly 150 Port Jefferson men worked in the wooden products (barrels and staves) business. Four blacksmiths, including Epler and Johnson, were kept busy by the canal boat work. Gottlieb Allinger built a large mill on the canal in 1871, now the site of the locally famous Hussey's Restaurant. Three dry goods stores, three groceries, and a shoe shop blossomed.
Construction of two major railroads in Sidney by 1860 signaled the decline of the canal's importance and that of Port Jefferson as well. Samuel Rice's bet that his town would become a major Midwest trading center never materialized. However, local residents did refer to Port Jefferson as 'Little Chicago' for a number of years.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 321 people, 122 households, and 90 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,084.8 people per square mile (826.3/km2). There were 128 housing units at an average density of 831.3 per square mile (329.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.69% White and 0.31% Asian.
There were 122 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $34,306, and the median income for a family was $47,000. Males had a median income of $31,063 versus $21,154 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,897. About 5.0% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio
Salem Township is one of the fourteen townships of Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,231 people in the township, 1,910 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, Shelby County
Shelby County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,910 people, 17,636 households, and 13,085 families residing in the county. The population density was 117 people per square mile . There were 18,682 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 321 at the 2000 census.
History
First known as Pratt, the village adopted its present name when it was incorporated on April 18, 1842. Port Jefferson was located where the Sidney feeder canal connected with the Great Miami RiverGreat Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
. The purpose of the feeder was to provide a steady flow of water to the Miami Canal at the Lockington Locks
Lockington Locks
The Lockington Locks are a group of canal locks on the former Miami and Erie Canal in Lockington, Ohio, United States. Built beginning in 1833, the locks opened for regular use in 1845. The system consists of seven locks: six together at one end, and a seventh at the southern end...
. A large dam in the river east of Port Jefferson diverted the waters into the feeder.
Because Port Jefferson was the closest point on the canal system for the vast territory east of Sidney
Sidney, Ohio
Sidney is a city in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,211 at the 2000 census. It is named after English poet Sir Phillip Sidney and is the county seat of Shelby County.Sidney was the recipient of the 1964 All-America City Award...
and Port Jefferson, it became an important center for commercial activity almost overnight. All grain, lumber, and other products north and east of town, destined for the canal, passed through it. The canal feeder at Port Jefferson was completed to Sidney by 1841, some 4 years before the Miami & Erie Canal was opened between Cincinnati and Toledo.
Samuel Rice heard about the bright economic prospects of the village in the early 1840s. After first touring a small underdeveloped town called Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in northern Illinois, he traveled here, evaluated the prospects of Port Jefferson, and chose to invest here. He purchased a substantial amount of property around the village, and waited.
During its heyday between 1845 and the 1860s, Port Jefferson almost rivaled Sidney in size and influence. Nearly 150 Port Jefferson men worked in the wooden products (barrels and staves) business. Four blacksmiths, including Epler and Johnson, were kept busy by the canal boat work. Gottlieb Allinger built a large mill on the canal in 1871, now the site of the locally famous Hussey's Restaurant. Three dry goods stores, three groceries, and a shoe shop blossomed.
Construction of two major railroads in Sidney by 1860 signaled the decline of the canal's importance and that of Port Jefferson as well. Samuel Rice's bet that his town would become a major Midwest trading center never materialized. However, local residents did refer to Port Jefferson as 'Little Chicago' for a number of years.
Geography
Port Jefferson is located at 40.330423°N 84.090979°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 321 people, 122 households, and 90 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,084.8 people per square mile (826.3/km2). There were 128 housing units at an average density of 831.3 per square mile (329.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.69% White and 0.31% Asian.
There were 122 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $34,306, and the median income for a family was $47,000. Males had a median income of $31,063 versus $21,154 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $16,897. About 5.0% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.