Russia, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Russia (ˈruːʃiː) is a village in Loramie Township
, Shelby County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 551 at the 2000 census.
in 1853. Later settlers soon founded a dry goods
store and multiple sawmill
s; Russia's economy was once heavily dependent on its sawmills. The earliest settlers were Frenchmen
who had formerly lived in the Russian Empire
; they named the village "Russia" because it lay in countryside that resembled the lands of their former home.
Russia was established in an area that was already predominately French. In the early part of the nineteenth century, a large number of emigrants from Alsace
, Lorraine
, and other parts of France settled in southwestern Shelby County and the adjacent portions of northeastern Darke County
. Besides Russia, these immigrants founded the communities of Frenchtown
and Versailles
. By the middle of the 1850s, the heavily Roman Catholic population had grown to the point that multiple parish
es were established in the area. A log church was built and dedicated to Saint Remigius
, the patron saint
of France, and Mass
was first celebrated there on June 15, 1854. The congregation soon outgrew its building and constructed a new brick church; when it became too small, a larger brick church was constructed and completed in 1892. Today, St. Remy's Catholic Church
dominates Russia's skyline. The village is one of many small communities in a heavily Catholic region of western Ohio known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
".
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 551 people, 197 households, and 157 families residing in the village. The population density
was 854.0 people per square mile (327.3/km²). There were 206 housing units at an average density of 319.3 per square mile (122.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.46% White, 0.18% Asian, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.
There were 197 households out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $51,250, and the median income for a family was $62,143. Males had a median income of $40,208 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $23,577. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.
Loramie Township, Shelby County, Ohio
Loramie Township is one of the fourteen townships of Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,438 people in the township, 1,887 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 551 at the 2000 census.
History
Russia was founded by Lewis Phillips, who purchased and platted the land where the village now sits. Phillips' house, built in 1853, was the first house in Russia; other settlers followed by the late 1850s. Phillips was also the first businessman in the village, opening a grocery storeGrocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
in 1853. Later settlers soon founded a dry goods
Dry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
store and multiple sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s; Russia's economy was once heavily dependent on its sawmills. The earliest settlers were Frenchmen
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
who had formerly lived in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
; they named the village "Russia" because it lay in countryside that resembled the lands of their former home.
Russia was established in an area that was already predominately French. In the early part of the nineteenth century, a large number of emigrants from Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, and other parts of France settled in southwestern Shelby County and the adjacent portions of northeastern Darke County
Darke County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 53,309 people, 20,419 households, and 14,905 families residing in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile . There were 21,583 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
. Besides Russia, these immigrants founded the communities of Frenchtown
Frenchtown, Ohio
Frenchtown is an unincorporated community in Wayne Township, Darke County, Ohio, United States. The community lies at the intersection of State Route 185 with Burns and Mangen Roads, approximately northwest of the village of Versailles...
and Versailles
Versailles, Ohio
Versailles is a village in Darke County, Ohio, United States. It is the only village in Wayne Township. The population was 2,589 at the 2000 census. The proper local pronunciation of the name is "Ver Sales", with the accent on the second syllable.-History:...
. By the middle of the 1850s, the heavily Roman Catholic population had grown to the point that multiple parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es were established in the area. A log church was built and dedicated to Saint Remigius
Saint Remigius
Saint Remigius, Remy or Remi, , was Bishop of Reims and Apostle of the Franks, . On 24 December 496 he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of France, and Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
was first celebrated there on June 15, 1854. The congregation soon outgrew its building and constructed a new brick church; when it became too small, a larger brick church was constructed and completed in 1892. Today, St. Remy's Catholic Church
St. Remy's Catholic Church
St. Remy's Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Russia, Ohio, United States. Built in 1890, it continues to house an active parish, and it has been recognized as a historic site because of its architecture.-Parish history:...
dominates Russia's skyline. The village is one of many small communities in a heavily Catholic region of western Ohio known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches
The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches is a rural region in the western part of the U.S. state of Ohio, centered near Maria Stein in Mercer County. Its name is derived from the dense concentration of large Catholic churches that dominate the area's architecture...
".
Geography
Russia is located at 40°14′5"N 84°24′37"W (40.234696, -84.410416).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 551 people, 197 households, and 157 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 854.0 people per square mile (327.3/km²). There were 206 housing units at an average density of 319.3 per square mile (122.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.46% White, 0.18% Asian, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.
There were 197 households out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $51,250, and the median income for a family was $62,143. Males had a median income of $40,208 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 $23,577. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.