Silverton, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Silverton is a city in Hamilton County
, Ohio
, United States
. The city was formed out of Columbia
and Sycamore
Townships, but withdrew from both and formed a paper township
. The population was 5,178 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,178 people, 2,534 households, and 1,256 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,647.8 people per square mile (1,801.1/km²). There were 2,662 housing units at an average density of 2,389.4 per square mile (925.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.52% White, 50.31% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 2,534 households out of which 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples
living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 45.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,117, and the median income for a family was $43,633. Males had a median income of $27,682 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,971. About 5.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
2010 Census: The 2010 Census puts the population at 4,788 people and the racial makeup as 44% white, 51.4% black, and about 4% other.
. Legislative authority under this form of government is vested in City Council
, the body that is chosen by the electorate. Council hires the manager to serve as the city's full-time chief executive officer
.
Silverton City Council consists of six members elected at-large to serve two year terms. In addition to appointing the city manager and passing legislation, Council approves the annual operating budget, contracts in the city's name, levies taxes, and appoints a city attorney
. The Mayor
, who is directly elected to a two-year term, serves as the official and ceremonial head of the city and presides over all meetings of Council. He has the right to introduce legislation and to take part in discussion of all matters before Council with the right to vote in the event of a tie.
The city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, implements Council action, hires and oversees the staff, prepares and implements the annual operating budget and keeps the elected officials advised of the city's financial viability.
voted to form the Deer Park Silverton Joint Fire District. The district offers fire protection and EMS/paramedic services to the communities of Silverton and Deer Park, as well as portions of Amberley Village and Columbia Township.
Residents of Silverton enjoy two parks: Ralph Ficke Memorial Park and Silverton Park.
Ficke Park was the larger of the two at 12 acres (48,562.3 m²). It offered a playground, baseball diamonds, a regulation size soccer field, full court basketball, hard court tennis and a batting cage. Two shelters were available for rental. Park events include an annual Easter egg hunt and a summer concert series.
The City council unanimously approved a land swap with Cincinnati Public Schools in order to build a new school on half of Ficke Park. The move is opposed by nearby residents, especially in neighboring Sycamore Township who argue that they were not consulted or informed of the proposed land swap. The land swap will likely be challenged on the premise that the land deed forbids the use of the land for anything other than a park or similar. On July 14, 2008, the Cincinnati Board of Education approved the land swap.
As a result of the land swap CPS now owns half of Ficke park. The CPS owned half contains the shelters (that are no longer available for rental), the tennis courts (which no longer have nets), the playground and the basketball court. When construction for the new school begins, all these facilities will be lost. Some are scheduled to be rebuilt in the remaining half of the park.
Silverton Park is located in the center of town in a "village green" setting. The Kuhnell Museum, a replica of the City's original train depot, is located in the
park. The museum is a source of great pride for Silverton residents. Johnny Kuhnell, the City's Chief of Police from 1946 to 1969, envisioned a replicated station as a focal point of the community, so he organized an effort to reconstruct the station. His goal was realized in 1974 when construction of the replica was completed. The museum was rededicated in honor and memory of Chief Kuhnell in 2001.
The station today serves as a museum dedicated to the preservation of Silverton history for future generations. Inside you will find photographs, articles and memorabilia related to the Silverton area from the 1800s to the present. Visitors will gain perspective on the city's history and the pride employed by area pioneers. The museum is open to the public on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, April through September.
The future of the community was forever changed in 1883 when the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railroad opened a line through town, enabling residents to commute to jobs in Cincinnati. Seth Haines and Robert Cresap platted Silverton's first subdivision shortly thereafter. It is widely accepted that the town was renamed Silverton in honor of Haines' wife, Elizabeth Silver Haines.
In 1884 the community was incorporated as the Hamlet of Silverton. The early subdivisions were designed to appeal to investors as well as prospective homeowners. The lots were generally small, most of them with 25 feet (7.6 m) frontages. Silverton was promoted as a healthful and economical alternative to life in the city.
The hamlet slowly developed into a suburb over the next twenty years, with village status attained by general election in 1904. The village was by then served by the Interurban Railway & Terminal Company line, which ran along Montgomery Road (State Route 22), as well as the CL&N. Residents regularly commuted to jobs in Cincinnati. By 1910 the village had a population of 459. Silverton grew rapidly over the next 50 years, attaining city status in 1961 with a population exceeding 5,500.
Around the beginning of the 20th century the John C. Meier Grape Juice Company, Inc. purchased land along the railroad line and began producing grape juice and wine in Silverton. Now known as Meier’s Wine Cellars
it is both the oldest and largest winery in Ohio.
Silverton's demographics began to shift in the 1960s when African-American families,attracted by the City's strong neighborhoods and convenient location, began to reside in the area. In order to avoid the "white flight
" experienced by many other communities, the Silverton Neighborhood Association was formed to break through cultural barriers and to promote dialogue between neighbors. As a result, Silverton transcended racial issues and transformed itself into an intentionally integrated community.
Silverton today is a community of rich diversity in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Its location northeast of Cincinnati along Interstate 71 and Montgomery Road (SR 22) provides residents with easy access to a wealth of recreational and cultural amenities. Homeowners enjoy living in stable, established neighborhoods of historic homes with tree canopies served by a mix of retail and service businesses. The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well as demonstrated by a number of community organizations, including the Silverton Business Association, the Silverton Block Watch Association (Ohio's largest), the Play Field Mother's Club, and the Silverton Sweet Pea Society.
Silverton received recognition as a Tree City USA
community in 2008.
grew up in Silverton on South Berkley Avenue. Fortune 500 CEO Carl Lindner lived on South Avenue. Cincinnati Reds shortstop and Gold Glove winner Barry Larkin
grew up on Elwynne Drive. Olympian George Quigley, Jr. (skeet) also grew up on Elwynne Drive.
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 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 city was formed out of Columbia
Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Columbia Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 6,557 people in the township, 4,619 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
and Sycamore
Sycamore Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Sycamore Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 19,675 people in the township.-Geography:...
Townships, but withdrew from both and formed a paper township
Paper township
A paper township is a type of civil township under Ohio law that does not act as a functioning unit of civil government. Such townships usually exist due to annexation by cities and villages.-Defunct townships:...
. The population was 5,178 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Silverton is located at 39°11′28"N 84°24′10"W (39.191160, -84.402762).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 city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 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 5,178 people, 2,534 households, and 1,256 families residing in the city. 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 4,647.8 people per square mile (1,801.1/km²). There were 2,662 housing units at an average density of 2,389.4 per square mile (925.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.52% White, 50.31% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.77% 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 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 2,534 households out of which 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% 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, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 45.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,117, and the median income for a family was $43,633. Males had a median income of $27,682 versus $27,500 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 city was $18,971. About 5.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
2010 Census: The 2010 Census puts the population at 4,788 people and the racial makeup as 44% white, 51.4% black, and about 4% other.
Government
The City of Silverton is a charter municipality and operates under the council-manager form of government, combining the strong political leadership of elected officials with the professional expertise of an appointed city managerCity manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
. Legislative authority under this form of government is vested in City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, the body that is chosen by the electorate. Council hires the manager to serve as the city's full-time chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
.
Silverton City Council consists of six members elected at-large to serve two year terms. In addition to appointing the city manager and passing legislation, Council approves the annual operating budget, contracts in the city's name, levies taxes, and appoints a city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
. The Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, who is directly elected to a two-year term, serves as the official and ceremonial head of the city and presides over all meetings of Council. He has the right to introduce legislation and to take part in discussion of all matters before Council with the right to vote in the event of a tie.
The city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, implements Council action, hires and oversees the staff, prepares and implements the annual operating budget and keeps the elected officials advised of the city's financial viability.
Municipal services
Silverton offers a wide range of municipal services. The City is patrolled by a police department consisting of 10 full time officers and three full time dispatchers. In 1999 the residents of Silverton and neighboring Deer Park, OhioDeer Park, Ohio
Deer Park is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,736 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Deer Park is located at ....
voted to form the Deer Park Silverton Joint Fire District. The district offers fire protection and EMS/paramedic services to the communities of Silverton and Deer Park, as well as portions of Amberley Village and Columbia Township.
Residents of Silverton enjoy two parks: Ralph Ficke Memorial Park and Silverton Park.
Ficke Park was the larger of the two at 12 acres (48,562.3 m²). It offered a playground, baseball diamonds, a regulation size soccer field, full court basketball, hard court tennis and a batting cage. Two shelters were available for rental. Park events include an annual Easter egg hunt and a summer concert series.
The City council unanimously approved a land swap with Cincinnati Public Schools in order to build a new school on half of Ficke Park. The move is opposed by nearby residents, especially in neighboring Sycamore Township who argue that they were not consulted or informed of the proposed land swap. The land swap will likely be challenged on the premise that the land deed forbids the use of the land for anything other than a park or similar. On July 14, 2008, the Cincinnati Board of Education approved the land swap.
As a result of the land swap CPS now owns half of Ficke park. The CPS owned half contains the shelters (that are no longer available for rental), the tennis courts (which no longer have nets), the playground and the basketball court. When construction for the new school begins, all these facilities will be lost. Some are scheduled to be rebuilt in the remaining half of the park.
Silverton Park is located in the center of town in a "village green" setting. The Kuhnell Museum, a replica of the City's original train depot, is located in the
park. The museum is a source of great pride for Silverton residents. Johnny Kuhnell, the City's Chief of Police from 1946 to 1969, envisioned a replicated station as a focal point of the community, so he organized an effort to reconstruct the station. His goal was realized in 1974 when construction of the replica was completed. The museum was rededicated in honor and memory of Chief Kuhnell in 2001.
The station today serves as a museum dedicated to the preservation of Silverton history for future generations. Inside you will find photographs, articles and memorabilia related to the Silverton area from the 1800s to the present. Visitors will gain perspective on the city's history and the pride employed by area pioneers. The museum is open to the public on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, April through September.
History
Formed out of Columbia and Sycamore townships, Silverton had its beginnings in the post-Revolutionary War land grants. In 1809 David Mosner opened a general store at the crossroads of Plainfield Pike and Montgomery Road. For the next several decades the surrounding town was known alternately as Mosner or Enterprise. The Mosner name was formalized in 1861 when a post office opened under that designation.The future of the community was forever changed in 1883 when the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railroad opened a line through town, enabling residents to commute to jobs in Cincinnati. Seth Haines and Robert Cresap platted Silverton's first subdivision shortly thereafter. It is widely accepted that the town was renamed Silverton in honor of Haines' wife, Elizabeth Silver Haines.
In 1884 the community was incorporated as the Hamlet of Silverton. The early subdivisions were designed to appeal to investors as well as prospective homeowners. The lots were generally small, most of them with 25 feet (7.6 m) frontages. Silverton was promoted as a healthful and economical alternative to life in the city.
The hamlet slowly developed into a suburb over the next twenty years, with village status attained by general election in 1904. The village was by then served by the Interurban Railway & Terminal Company line, which ran along Montgomery Road (State Route 22), as well as the CL&N. Residents regularly commuted to jobs in Cincinnati. By 1910 the village had a population of 459. Silverton grew rapidly over the next 50 years, attaining city status in 1961 with a population exceeding 5,500.
Around the beginning of the 20th century the John C. Meier Grape Juice Company, Inc. purchased land along the railroad line and began producing grape juice and wine in Silverton. Now known as Meier’s Wine Cellars
Meier’s Wine Cellars
Meier’s Wine Cellars is a winery in Silverton, Ohio. The company began in 1895 as the John C. Meier Grape Juice Company, Inc. and bottled juice from grapes grown in what is now the Kenwood Towne Centre. Drawn by the presence of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the company purchased land in...
it is both the oldest and largest winery in Ohio.
Silverton's demographics began to shift in the 1960s when African-American families,attracted by the City's strong neighborhoods and convenient location, began to reside in the area. In order to avoid the "white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
" experienced by many other communities, the Silverton Neighborhood Association was formed to break through cultural barriers and to promote dialogue between neighbors. As a result, Silverton transcended racial issues and transformed itself into an intentionally integrated community.
Silverton today is a community of rich diversity in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Its location northeast of Cincinnati along Interstate 71 and Montgomery Road (SR 22) provides residents with easy access to a wealth of recreational and cultural amenities. Homeowners enjoy living in stable, established neighborhoods of historic homes with tree canopies served by a mix of retail and service businesses. The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well as demonstrated by a number of community organizations, including the Silverton Business Association, the Silverton Block Watch Association (Ohio's largest), the Play Field Mother's Club, and the Silverton Sweet Pea Society.
Silverton received recognition as a Tree City USA
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
community in 2008.
Notable residents
Many prominent citizens have called Silverton home. Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Roger StaubachRoger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
grew up in Silverton on South Berkley Avenue. Fortune 500 CEO Carl Lindner lived on South Avenue. Cincinnati Reds shortstop and Gold Glove winner Barry Larkin
Barry Larkin
Barry Louis Larkin is a retired Major League Baseball player. Larkin played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds from 1986 to 2004 and was one of the pivotal players on the 1990 Reds' World Series championship team...
grew up on Elwynne Drive. Olympian George Quigley, Jr. (skeet) also grew up on Elwynne Drive.