Scioto County, Ohio
Encyclopedia
As of the census
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.
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.
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.
The county maintenance garage is located in Lucasville.
Scioto County Engineer: Craig Opperman (D)
Auditor: David L. Green (D)
Treasurer: William K. Ogg (D)
Recorder: Irene Ashley (D)
Clerk of Courts: Lisa D. White (R)
Sheriff: Marty Donini (R)
Prosecutor: Mark Kuhn (R)
, SR 125
, SR 139
, SR 140
, SR 335
, SR 348, SR 522, SR 728(Lucasville-Minford Road), and SR 776. State Routes 239, 253, 371, 772, and 852 go through Scioto County
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
.
located in Minford, Ohio
, which is approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of Portsmouth on SR 335. The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is Huntington/Tri-State Airport (HTS) located approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) east of Portsmouth on I-64.
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, baccalaureate and master's degrees. Much of the recent economic growth and change is based on service to SOMC and Shawnee State University.
In November 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 located 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, with the company's main office being located across the river in South Shore, Kentucky
.
; 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 Daymar College
, which has in excess of 300 students (summer 2010).
s, 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
, Cincinnati
and Huntington
-Charleston
markets. There are two local television stations in Portsmouth: WQCW
, a CW
affiliate with an office in Portsmouth and Charleston, and more recently WTZP "The Zone" which is an America One Affiliate that offers a larger amount of local programming such as news, high school spots, community events and locally produced shows about the area. 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 newspaper
s. 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.
Of the media mentioned only three are actually locally owned and operated. They are WTZP in television, WIOI in radio and The Scioto Voice in newspaper.
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.
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
.
(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. 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.
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, and 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, and 1988 by Portsmouth HS and 2006 by South Webster HS).
Census
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 79,195 people, 30,871 households, and 21,362 families residing in the county. 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 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.73% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.63% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.24% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.31% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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
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, 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
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 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.
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.
Scioto County is the home of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison in Lucasville, Ohio, United States. The prison was constructed in 1972 and currently contains the death house for Ohio where death row inmates are executed...
, 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
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
inmates are executed.
The county maintenance garage is located in Lucasville.
Current county officials
Scioto County Commissioners: Mike Crabtree (D), Tom Reiser (D), and Skip Riffe III (D).Scioto County Engineer: Craig Opperman (D)
Auditor: David L. Green (D)
Treasurer: William K. Ogg (D)
Recorder: Irene Ashley (D)
Clerk of Courts: Lisa D. White (R)
Sheriff: Marty Donini (R)
Prosecutor: Mark Kuhn (R)
Communities
Villages
|
Rarden, Ohio Rarden is a village in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 176 at the 2000 census. It was originally called "Moccasin" by early Pennsylvania settlers, and it originated in 1846.-Geography:Rarden is located at .... South Webster, Ohio South Webster is a village in northeast Scioto County, Ohio, United States. It lies along State Route 140, and the population was 764 at the 2000 census.South Webster was platted by John Bennett in 1853... |
Townships
|
Harrison Township, Scioto County, Ohio Harrison Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,497 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the eastern part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Madison Township - north... Jefferson Township, Scioto County, Ohio Jefferson Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,751 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:... Madison Township, Scioto County, Ohio Madison Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,794 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northeastern corner of the county, it borders the following townships:... Morgan Township, Scioto County, Ohio Morgan Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,297 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northwestern part of the county, it borders the following townships:... |
Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio Nile Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,024 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the southwestern corner of the county along the Ohio River, it borders the following townships:... Porter Township, Scioto County, Ohio Porter Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found people in the township, of whom lived in the unincorporated parts of the township.-Geography:... Rarden Township, Scioto County, Ohio Rarden Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,122 people in the township, 946 of whom lived in the unincorporated parts of the township.-Geography:... Rush Township, Scioto County, Ohio Rush Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,144 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the center of the county, it borders the following townships:*Morgan Township - north... |
Union Township, Scioto County, Ohio Union Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,105 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Morgan Township - north... Valley Township, Scioto County, Ohio Valley Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,256 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:... Vernon Township, Scioto County, Ohio Vernon Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,855 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the southeastern part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Bloom Township - north... Washington Township, Scioto County, Ohio Washington Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,971 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the southern part of the county along the Ohio River, it borders the following townships:... |
Census-designated places
|
Rosemount, Ohio Rosemount is a census-designated place in Clay Township, Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,043 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rosemount is located at .... Sciotodale, Ohio Sciotodale is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 982 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sciotodale is located at .... |
West Portsmouth, Ohio West Portsmouth is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,458 at the 2000 census. The citizens of West Portsmouth are served by the Washington-Nile Local School District .... Wheelersburg, Ohio Wheelersburg is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1820 and was originally known as Concord. It lies along the northern banks of the Ohio River in Southern Ohio. Wheelersburg is approximately 7 miles east of Portsmouth and 14 miles west of Ironton... |
Other communities
|
Minford, Ohio Minford is a census-designated place located on the border of Harrison and Madison Townships in northeastern Scioto County, Ohio, United States, about 14 miles northeast of the county seat of Portsmouth.-History:... Mule Town, Ohio Mule Town is an unincorporated community in southwestern Madison Township, Scioto County, Ohio, United States. Located at the intersection of State Route 335, Lucasville-Minford Road and Bennett Road, it lies just north of the unincorporated community of Minford, 7 miles east of the... Scioto Furnace, Ohio Scioto Furnace is an unincorporated community in western Bloom Township, Scioto County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45677. It lies along State Route 140.-References:... |
Transportation
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 104Ohio State Highway 104
State Route 104 ' is a north–south highway in Southern Ohio. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 23 in Portsmouth, Ohio and its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 33 in Columbus. The route passes through or close to the towns of Portsmouth, West Portsmouth, Coles Park, Waverly,...
, SR 125
Ohio State Route 125
State Route 125 is an east–west state highway in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its western terminus is within the Cincinnati city limits, about east of downtown, at U.S. Route 50 – this is also the western terminus of State Route 32 and the southern terminus of State...
, SR 139
Ohio State Highway 139
State Route 139 is a north–south road that stretches from New Boston, Ohio at its southern terminus to Jackson, Ohio at its northern terminus. This route offers a quick, yet narrow and sharp route to Jackson. U.S. Route 23 and State Route 32 offer a more straight route with a higher speed...
, SR 140
Ohio State Highway 140
State Route 140 is an east–west state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. The highway has its western terminus in Portsmouth at a diamond interchange with U.S. Route 52. Its eastern terminus is at State Route 93 approximately south of Oak Hill.State Route 140 first...
, SR 335
Ohio State Highway 335
State Route 335 is a north–south state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 52 in the village of Sciotoville, part of Portsmouth, and its northern terminus is at State Route 220 in Waverly where it’s concurrent with U.S...
, SR 348, SR 522, SR 728(Lucasville-Minford Road), and SR 776. State Routes 239, 253, 371, 772, and 852 go through Scioto County
Rail
Norfolk Southern offers a railyard for long distance shipping and is currently reopening the repair shops. AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
offers a passenger service to the Portsmouth/Scioto County area under the Cardinal route. The passenger station
South Portsmouth-South Shore (Amtrak station)
South Portsmouth-South Shore is located at Main Street and US 23 in South Shore, Kentucky. The station is just across the Ohio River from Portsmouth, Ohio....
is located in South Shore, Kentucky
South Shore, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,226 people, 539 households, and 335 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,916.9 people per square mile . There were 605 housing units at an average density of 945.9 per square mile...
across the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
.
Air
Scioto County also offers air services with the Greater Portsmouth Regional AirportGreater Portsmouth Regional Airport
Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport also known as Scioto County Airport is an airport located about a mile south of Minford, Ohio and ten miles northeast of Portsmouth, Ohio...
located in Minford, Ohio
Minford, Ohio
Minford is a census-designated place located on the border of Harrison and Madison Townships in northeastern Scioto County, Ohio, United States, about 14 miles northeast of the county seat of Portsmouth.-History:...
, which is approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of Portsmouth on SR 335. The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is Huntington/Tri-State Airport (HTS) located approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) east of Portsmouth on I-64.
Public transportation
Public transportation for Scioto County is offered through Access Scioto County (ASC).Economy
Scioto County's economy has come and gone with the success and failures of Portsmouth's economy. Until the 1970s, heavy industryHeavy industry
Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning...
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 University
Shawnee State University is a public university in southern Ohio. It is Ohio's newest state-supported university and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County.Shawnee State University was established in 1986...
. Shawnee State enrolls between 3,300 and 4,000 students and grants associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees. Much of the recent economic growth and change is based on service to SOMC and Shawnee State University.
In November 2002, the Portsmouth Uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
Enrichment Plant in nearby Piketon, Ohio
Piketon, Ohio
Piketon is a village in Pike County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The village is best known for the uranium enrichment plant located there . The population was 1,907 at the 2000 census...
, was recognized as an ANS
American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society is an international, not-for-profit 501 scientific and educational organization with a membership of approximately 11,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and other associate members. Approximately 900 members live outside the United States in 40 countries....
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
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
. 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)
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
production) and Duke Energy
Duke Energy
Duke Energy , headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an energy company with assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America.-Overview:...
(electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
) facilities near Franklin Furnace. Mitchellace, Inc., the largest manufacturer of shoelaces
Shoelaces
Shoelaces, which are also called shoe-strings, shoe laces, or boot laces, are a system commonly used to secure shoes, boots and other footwear. They typically consist of a pair of strings or cords, one for each shoe, finished off at both ends with stiff sections, known as aglets...
in the world, is located in the county. Graf Brothers Flooring and Lumber
Graf Brothers Flooring and Lumber
Graf Brothers Flooring and Lumber specializes in, and is the world's largest manufacturer of, rift and quarter sawn oak products. Rift & Quartered lumber results from a unique way of sawing that maximizes the yield of lumber with vertical grain. Vertical grain is preferred because of its excellent...
, the world's largest manufacturer of rift and quartered oak products, has two satellite log yards in the county, with the company's main office being located across the river in South Shore, Kentucky
South Shore, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,226 people, 539 households, and 335 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,916.9 people per square mile . There were 605 housing units at an average density of 945.9 per square mile...
.
Colleges and universities
Scioto County used to be home to Ohio University Southern CampusOhio University Southern Campus
Ohio University Southern Campus is located at 1804 Liberty Avenue in Ironton, Ohio. While not as large as the main Ohio University campus located in Athens, Ohio, several degree programs are offered. The Southern Campus also features an extension located in Proctorville, Ohio, a Nature Center, and...
; however, it moved to Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
(Ironton
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
) in the early 1980s. The former Ohio University buildings became home to Shawnee State University
Shawnee State University
Shawnee State University is a public university in southern Ohio. It is Ohio's newest state-supported university and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County.Shawnee State University was established in 1986...
, 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 Daymar College
Daymar College
Daymar College is a for-profit career training school based in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA. Founded in 1963 and operated as Owensboro Business College until 2001, Daymar offers over 35 career tracks in 13 different academic programs...
, which has in excess of 300 students (summer 2010).
K-12 schools
Scioto County has ten public school districtSchool district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
s, one private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
system, and one charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
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 Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio...
, Ohio High School Athletic Conferences, Southeastern Ohio Athletic League, and Southern Ohio Conference
Southern Ohio Conference
The Southern Ohio Conference is an athletic conference in Ohio. The conference is also a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the governing body of Ohio athletics. There are currently sixteen member schools in the conference. The S.O.C...
Media
Scioto County is a dividing line of numerous television markets, which includes the ColumbusColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
-Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
markets. There are two local television stations in Portsmouth: WQCW
WQCW
WQCW is the CW affiliate for the Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia television market. It is licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio and is the one of two commercial stations in the market licensed outside of West Virginia. Its transmitter is located in West Portsmouth, Ohio...
, a CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
affiliate with an office in Portsmouth and Charleston, and more recently WTZP "The Zone" which is an America One Affiliate that offers a larger amount of local programming such as news, high school spots, community events and locally produced shows about the area. Local radio stations WIOI, WNXT
WNXT (AM)
WNXT is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio, USA. The station is currently owned by Hometown Broadcasting of Portsmouth, Inc. and features programing from ABC Radio and ESPN Radio.-History:...
, WPAY
WPAY (AM)
WNKE is a radio station licensed to New Boston, Ohio. Its original call letters were a carryover from its former sister station WPAY , which signed on in 1933 as a country yodeling and country music station, from which the call letters were derived...
, WZZZ
WZZZ
WZZZ is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio, USA. The station is currently owned by Hometown Broadcasting of Portsmouth 2, Inc. and features programing from Jones Radio Network.-History:...
and WHRR-LP serve the radio listeners in the county and surrounding areas.
The county is also served by three newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s. 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.
Of the media mentioned only three are actually locally owned and operated. They are WTZP in television, WIOI in radio and The Scioto Voice in newspaper.
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-coachPlayer-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
. From 1929 to 1933, Portsmouth was home to a professional football team, The Portsmouth Spartans. This team later became the NFL franchise Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in 1934. The Portsmouth Spartans also competed in the first professional football night game versus the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 1930.
On the baseball front, the Portsmouth Explorers were one of the original teams in the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
, 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
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Collegiate
Shawnee State University (SSU) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
(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. 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.
Amateur
The twelve local high schools, the other educational institutions, the adult leagues, and the development leagues (e.g. AAUAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
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
Ohio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio...
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, and 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, and 1988 by Portsmouth HS and 2006 by South Webster HS).
Notable natives and residents
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