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History
of Circleville
Circleville was unique among early American towns,
built to conform to a circular prehistoric earthworks. When Pickaway County was
formed in 1810 there were no existing settlements that seemed suitable for a county
seat. Therefore, a new town was laid out within the ancient's "circle"
on the high bank east of the Scioto River. It's streets radiated from an octagonal
courthouse in the center of the circle.
Two communities existed near Circleville
prior to its being laid out as the county seat. Jefferson and Livingston ceased
to exist several years after Circleville was designated the seat of government
in 1811. When the Ohio Canal reached Circleville, the shape of the town within
the circle proved to be a hindrance, and in 1838 a group of enterprising businessmen
began to "square the circle". Over the next 20 years the job was accomplished
and all traces of the ancient earthworks disappeared.
The completion
of the Ohio Canal gave a great impetus to the prosperity of Circleville. The construction
of the canal gave employment to large numbers of men and, upon completion, allowed
ready import and export of produce. When another route was proposed for the canal,
residents of Circleville had to raise part of the construction costs to bring
the waterway through town. An aqueduct was constructed to lift the canal boats
across the river to the west.
The canal business continued to increase until
1856 when the first railroad was constructed through Circleville. By 1878 traffic
on the canal had almost ceased with the openings of another railroad. An old lock
and part of the canal still remain west of town.
Circleville was, for
many years, the home of Caleb Atwater, the "Father of Ohio's Public School
System", an amateur historian and archeologist of note. It was also the boyhood
home of Benjamin Hanby, composer of "My Darling Nellie Gray" and "Up
on the Housetops". Noted entertainer Ted Lewis was born in Circleville and
spent his youth here. The city park is named in his honor and a museum has been
opened to display his memorabilia.
Circleville has always been a diverse
community balanced by manufacturing, commerce and agriculture. Past manufacturing
concerns, such as canning, brooming, carriage works, and tanneries have given
way to commercial resins, lamps, paper industrial films, and picture tubes. Yet
the town still retains its charming character as a "nice place to live and
work".
History or Pickaway County:
(From Pickaway County
at a Glance)
The prehistoric Mound Builders occupied Pickaway County several
thousand years before the arrival of the Indians and, later, European settlers.
They left mounds throughout the area, some of which were burial mounds. Circleville
itself was initially built to conform to circular prehistoric earthworks. A remarkable
specimen of the ancient mounds remains near Tarlton in the form of a Greek cross.
The recorded history of Pickaway County began in 1774 when Lord Dunmore led
an army into the Ohio Valley in the war with the Indians. Lord Dunmore's troops
were camped east of Circleville at Camp Charlotte. After many battles and the
loss of lives, a meeting was arranged to draw up a truce to end the wars. The
meeting took place on the Pickaway Plains under a huge elm tree whose branches
spread 120 feet in diameter. It was during this meeting that the famous speech
of Chief Logan was delivered and the tree became known as the Logan Elm. Logan's
speech has been translated into virtually every language and is widely known as
one of the most eloquent speeches ever delivered.
Pickaway County is
located in the Virginia Military Grant of 1784, west of the Scioto River, and
The Congress Lands of 1785 east of the river. The first permanent settlers arrived
in late 1796 or early 1797 and erected cabins along an old Indian trail that ran
between Lancaster and Chillicothe. One of the first permanent settlements was
Newellstown, now known as Tarlton, which was established in 1801 along the Indian
trail, or Zane's Trace. Pickaway County was created by an act of the Ohio Legislature
in 1810 from three surrounding counties and Circleville was designated the County
Seat in 1811.
A
Geographic Sketch of Pickaway County Area:
502.2 square miles (1300.7 km2) Population:
53,500 (estimate) Historical
Census:
YEAR 1810
1820
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010 |
POPULATION 7124
13,149
16,001
19,725
21,006
23,469
24,875
27,415
26,959
27,016
26,158
25,788
27,238
27,889
29,352
35,855
40,071
43,662
48,255
53,500 (estimated)
58,930 (projected) |
County
Seat: Circleville
(1998 population estimate 12,107) Original
Land Surveys: Land
west of the Scioto River is within the Virginia Military District, and land east
of the Scioto River is within the Congress Lands Ohio River Survey; Ranges 20
and 21 are based on the Ohio River Base, and Range 22 is based on the Scioto River
Base. Eight
incorporated villages: Ashville (1998 population estimate 2,679), South
Bloomfield (987), Williamsport (926), New Holland (751), Commercial Point (518),
Tarlton (341), Darbyville (310), Orient (272). Occupied
housing units (1990): 15,602 (68.2% owner occupied) Per
capita personal income (1997):
$17,983 Number
of farms (1992): 683 (81% of total county land area) Number
of farms (1982): 871 (87% of total county land area) Highway
mileage:
U.S. Highways: 54.76, State: 138.79, County: 226.58 miles, Township: 400.61 Rainfall
(mean annual): 39.04
inches Snowfall
(mean annual): 14.9 inches Mean
annual temperature: 51.7 degrees F Mean
January temperature: 26.6 degrees F Mean
July temperature: 74 degrees F Lowest
recorded temperature: -23 degrees F on January 13, 1912 Highest
recorded temperature:
109 degrees F on July 20, 1930 Average
annual wind speed: 8.7 miles per hour Length
of growing season (32 degree F base): 172 days median (125 shortest,
224 longest) Highest
elevation: approximately 1085 feet in Walnut Township Section 36 near
the Fairfield County boundary. Lowest
elevation: approximately 630 feet in Pickaway Township at the Scioto
River at the Ross County boundary. History
of Towns & Villages
Ashville
Located nine miles north
of Circleville, the village has a population of approximately 2,600 (1998 Ohio
Dept. of Development Estimates). A large July 4th Celebration is held each year
in the spacious community park, which attracts visitors from allover Ohio and
nearby states.
Commercial Point
This village was settled
in 1841 as Genoa. In 1843 the name was changed to Rome and finally Commercial
Point in 1872. According to the Ohio Dept. of Development estimates in 1998 the
village has a population of approximately 520. The community holds a Homecoming
Celebration each year.
Darbyville
The Shawnee Indians, at
one time, had several villages and a large burial ground in the vicinity. Darby
Creek, which flows along the village, is now designated as a National and State
Scenic River. Both Darby Creek and Darbyville are named for the Shawnee Indian
Chief Darby.
Millport
A small village one mile west of Ashville
was established because of the Ohio Canal. Lock Number 31 on the canal can be
seen as well as part of the canal and towpath. Also, the engine house of the old
gristmill is still standing. The village is presently a residential area.
New Holland
Located on the Pickaway-Fayette County line, the
town was settled in 1818 as Flemingsburg. The name was changed to New Holland
and incorporated in 1835. Deer Creek State Park is located nearby.
Orient
The village is located in the northwestern part of Pickaway County .The Pickaway
Correctional Institution, Orient Correctional Institution, Corrections Receiving
Center, and Corrections Training Academy are located outside the village.
South Bloomfield
Originally a stagecoach stop on the Columbus-Chillicothe
line, the town was laid out in 1804 with the hope that it might become the county
seat; however the founder's dreams were never realized. As the Ohio Canal was
built and Millport established, and I with the railroad line built through Ashville,
the town declined as a center of commerce. I It is now a rapidly growing community
with approximately 990 residents (1998 ODOD estimates) Tarlton
Probably the first settlement in Pickaway County, Tarlton was settled
in 1801 as Newellstown. Zane's Trace passed through Tarlton and was once the principal
route from Kentucky to the East. General Jackson and Henry Clay stopped on their
way to Washington, D.C. An Engineering Battalion of the Ohio Guard is headquartered
outside the village. Cross Mound, a remarkable specimen of an ancient mound, is
located outside Tarlton. The community holds two festivals each year; a funfest
and fish fry are held in the spring and a Halloween parade and festival in October.
Williamsport
Located nine miles west of Circleville on US
Route 22, the village was settled in 1818. It was noted for many years as a health
spa because of the mineral spring, which was thought to have medicinal value.
The community purchased vacated school grounds in the center of town for a community
park. For
More Information on Pickaway County History Contact:
Pickaway County Visitors Bureau
Phone: 740-474-3636, 888-770-PICK
Email: info@pickaway.com |
