Rockford, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Rockford is a village in Mercer County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 1,126 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,126 people, 453 households, and 298 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,747.9 people per square mile (679.3/km²). There were 489 housing units at an average density of 759.1 per square mile (295.0/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.
There is no doubt that the high ground adjacent to the St. Marys River at Rockford served as a camping ground and village site for Indian tribes long before Columbus discovered America. Weapons, tools, arrow heads and stone axes tell of long occupancy.
From time immemorial the St. Marys River has been a busy thoroughfare for traders, trappers, and adventurers. Trails along the banks of the rivers were used greatly, one of these became known as the Piqua-Fort Wayne Trail, which crossed to the north side of the river here, a part of the journey from the Great Lakes
to the Ohio River
.
The earliest records of the history of Rockford and community, begins with that of Anthony Madore, a French-Indian who ran a trading post located just north of the Junction of Routes 118 and 33, and east of the Rockford American Legion home. It is not known how long Madore owned the post, but he died around 1815.
A few years before this period were the bloody Indian Wars. The Miamis and the Shawnees and other tribes were then entrenched in their stronghold at Fort Wayne. General Josiah Harmar and his army went through Rockford en route to Fort Wayne where he was more or less defeated.
This bloodshed went on unchecked until General Anthony Wayne came on the scene. After mopping up at Fort Recovery
, he built a stockade which was unsuccessfully stormed by the Indians. He made his way diagonally across Mercer County to the St. Marys where he built Fort Adams, a temporary relay station and supply depot, east of U.S. Route 127
, North of Mercer. Wayne and his army dealt the Indians many defeats.
During the War of 1812
, Rockford heard martial music. General William Henry Harrison camped here with his army en route to Detroit to fight the British and their Indian allies. He was joined at Rockford by 200 mounted Ohio volunteers and 800 foot soldiers. The Indians who were besieging the garrison at Fort Wayne fled when Harrison's army approached. When Tecumseh, the famous Indian warrior was killed in a duel with Col. Richard M. Johnson at the Battle of Thames, this almost ended the War of 1812 in this country.
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 here until 1832 when he acted as a government agent and accompanied the Shawnee Indians to Kansas. It is not known if he ever returned to this part of the country.
Mercer County, Ohio
Mercer County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. Its county seat is Celina and is named for Hugh Mercer, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.The Celina Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Mercer County.-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...
. The population was 1,126 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Rockford is located at 40°41′28"N 84°38′55"W (40.691022, -84.648627).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 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 1,126 people, 453 households, and 298 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 1,747.9 people per square mile (679.3/km²). There were 489 housing units at an average density of 759.1 per square mile (295.0/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
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, 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
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 $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.
Early history
Deep into remote times dip the history of what once was Shanesville, later Shane's Crossing, and last by Post Office Department decree, Rockford. This community is rich in lore and legend.There is no doubt that the high ground adjacent to the St. Marys River at Rockford served as a camping ground and village site for Indian tribes long before Columbus discovered America. Weapons, tools, arrow heads and stone axes tell of long occupancy.
From time immemorial the St. Marys River has been a busy thoroughfare for traders, trappers, and adventurers. Trails along the banks of the rivers were used greatly, one of these became known as the Piqua-Fort Wayne Trail, which crossed to the north side of the river here, a part of the journey from the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
to 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 earliest records of the history of Rockford and community, begins with that of Anthony Madore, a French-Indian who ran a trading post located just north of the Junction of Routes 118 and 33, and east of the Rockford American Legion home. It is not known how long Madore owned the post, but he died around 1815.
A few years before this period were the bloody Indian Wars. The Miamis and the Shawnees and other tribes were then entrenched in their stronghold at Fort Wayne. General Josiah Harmar and his army went through Rockford en route to Fort Wayne where he was more or less defeated.
This bloodshed went on unchecked until General Anthony Wayne came on the scene. After mopping up at Fort Recovery
Fort Recovery
Fort Recovery was a United States Army fort begun in late 1793 and completed in March 1794 under orders by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. It was located on the site of the present-day village of Fort Recovery, Ohio, United States, on the Wabash River within two miles of the boundary with...
, he built a stockade which was unsuccessfully stormed by the Indians. He made his way diagonally across Mercer County to the St. Marys where he built Fort Adams, a temporary relay station and supply depot, east of U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
, North of Mercer. Wayne and his army dealt the Indians many defeats.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Rockford heard martial music. General William Henry Harrison camped here with his army en route to Detroit to fight the British and their Indian allies. He was joined at Rockford by 200 mounted Ohio volunteers and 800 foot soldiers. The Indians who were besieging the garrison at Fort Wayne fled when Harrison's army approached. When Tecumseh, the famous Indian warrior was killed in a duel with Col. Richard M. Johnson at the Battle of Thames, this almost ended the War of 1812 in this country.
Anthony Shane
Anthony Shane, a French-Indian and his wife lived for years in a double-log cabin, just north of the town now named Rockford. He ran a trading post and for his services as a scout for the army of General Anthony Wayne was given a large tract of land known as the Shanes Grant, and all abstracts of title for royalty here start with this grant. 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 here until 1832 when he acted as a government agent and accompanied the Shawnee Indians to Kansas. It is not known if he ever returned to this part of the country.