Middleport, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Middleport is a village in Meigs County
, Ohio
, United States
, along the Ohio River
. The population was 2,525 at the 2000 census.
Middleport was the home of Walter "Mother" Watson
, a Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
at the mouth of Leading Creek
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.74%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,525 people, 1,103 households, and 659 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,396.1 people per square mile (538.6/km²). There were 1,243 housing units at an average density of 687.3 per square mile (265.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.64% White, 2.38% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.12% from other races
, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.
There were 1,103 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,532, and the median income for a family was $29,349. Males had a median income of $27,264 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $13,138. About 16.3% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Her explanation of why Middleport was so called is told in her words:
She explains that the coal yard of her father was the halfway point on this river route and would be the meeting point of the competing boats, each boat reaching the yard at about the middle of the day following its departure from its home port. In her words:
. Campuses serving the village include Meigs Primary School (Grades K-2), Meigs Intermediate School (Grades 3-5), Meigs Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Meigs High School
(Grades 9-12).
Meigs County, Ohio
Meigs County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,770. Its county seat is Pomeroy, and it is named for Return J. Meigs, Jr., the 4th Governor of Ohio.-Geography:...
, 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...
, along 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...
. The population was 2,525 at the 2000 census.
Middleport was the home of Walter "Mother" Watson
Mother Watson
Walter L. "Mother" Watson was an American professional baseball player in the mid-1880s. Born in Middleport, Ohio in 1865, he started two games at pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of the American Association. He completed one of his starts, and in 14 innings pitched, he had a 5.79 ERA, and was 0–1...
, a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Geography
Middleport is located at 38°59′56"N 82°3′26"W (38.998829, -82.057204), along the Ohio RiverOhio 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...
at the mouth of Leading Creek
Leading Creek (Ohio)
Leading Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in southeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
.
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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.74%) is water.
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 2,525 people, 1,103 households, and 659 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 1,396.1 people per square mile (538.6/km²). There were 1,243 housing units at an average density of 687.3 per square mile (265.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.64% White, 2.38% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.12% 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 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.
There were 1,103 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,532, and the median income for a family was $29,349. Males had a median income of $27,264 versus $21,875 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 $13,138. About 16.3% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Early history
An interesting history of the early years in Middleport has been kept in a letter written by Philip Jones' daughter, Mrs. Lora Weldon and which is owned by Mrs. James Harley, Middleport, one of the descendants of Lieutenant Smith.Her explanation of why Middleport was so called is told in her words:
- In the 1840's there grew up such a strife between the cities of Cincinnati and Pittburgh, as to which (city) could send out the finest boats and as which of these boats could make the shortest time between the two cities. To test the matter of speed, each city was to send out a boat daily at the same hour. It took a boat about three days to make a trip from one city to the other and among the boats were the Alliquippa, the Hiberna, the Pittsburgh, the Cincinnati, and the Virginia.
She explains that the coal yard of her father was the halfway point on this river route and would be the meeting point of the competing boats, each boat reaching the yard at about the middle of the day following its departure from its home port. In her words:
- There was much cheering among the boat passengers and crew shouting, just halfway - middle port and the name was settled.
Education
Public education in the village of Middleport is provided by the Meigs Local School DistrictMeigs Local School District
The Meigs Local School District is a public school district based in Pomeroy, Ohio, United States.The school district includes all of Rutland Salem, Salisbury, Scipio as well as most of Bedford Township, and a very small portion of Chester Township....
. Campuses serving the village include Meigs Primary School (Grades K-2), Meigs Intermediate School (Grades 3-5), Meigs Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Meigs High School
Meigs High School
Meigs High School is a public high school in Pomeroy, Ohio, United States. It is one of three high schools in the Meigs Local School District. The school mascot is the Marauders.-Athletics:...
(Grades 9-12).