Middletown, Ohio

This article is about the city. For the unincorporated community in Champaign County, see Middletown, Champaign County, Ohio. For the community in Crawford County, see Middletown, Crawford County, Ohio.

City in Ohio, United States

Middletown, Ohio

City

Downtown Middletown

Motto(s):

"Bright past, brighter future"

Location of Middletown in Butler County and the state of Ohio

Coordinates: 39°30′N 84°23′W﻿ / ﻿39.500°N 84.383°W﻿ / 39.500; -84.383
Country| United States
State| Ohio
Counties| Butler, Warren
Government

• Mayor| Nicole Condrey (R)[1]
Area

[2]

• Total| 26.46 sq mi (68.54 km2)
• Land| 26.14 sq mi (67.70 km2)
• Water| 0.32 sq mi (0.84 km2)
Elevation

[3]

| 656 ft (200 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total| 50,987
• Density| 1,950.61/sq mi (753.13/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes|

45042-45044

Area code| 513
FIPS code| 39-49840[4]
GNIS feature ID| 1061519[3]
Website| https://www.cityofmiddletown.org/

Middletown is a city located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, about 35 miles (47 km) north of Cincinnati. The population as of the 2020 census was 50,987. It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.[5]

Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886. The city was the home of AK Steel Holding Corporation (formerly Armco), a major steel works founded in 1900. Although offices were moved to nearby West Chester Township in 2007, the AK Steel factory is still in Middletown. Middletown is also home to Hook Field Municipal Airport (airport code MWO), which was formerly served by commercial airlines but is currently only for general aviation. A regional campus of Miami University is located in Middletown. In 1957, Middletown was designated as an All-America City.[6]

## Name[edit]

The city's name is believed to have been given by its founder, Stephen Vail, but questions remain unanswered as to why. One local historian stated that the city received its name because Vail had come from Middletown, New Jersey. Another writer believed that the city was named Middletown because it was the midway point of navigation on the Great Miami River, which was then considered a navigable stream. Another theory is credited to the city being roughly halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati.[7][8] Vail centered the city in Fractional Section 28 of Town 2, Range 4 North. One of the first settlers in Middletown was Daniel Doty, who migrated there from New Jersey in the late 18th century.

## Geography[edit]

Middletown is located at 39°30′N 84°23′W (39.5060, -84.3759).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.43 square miles (68.45 km2), of which 26.19 square miles (67.83 km2) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.[9]

Middletown adjoins the Great Miami River. Middletown also borders the cities of Franklin, Monroe, Trenton, and Liberty and Madison Townships.

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1820| 314| | —
1840| 809| | —
1850| 1,087| | 34.4%
1860| 2,070| | 90.4%
1870| 3,046| | 47.1%
1880| 4,538| | 49.0%
1890| 7,681| | 69.3%
1900| 9,215| | 20.0%
1910| 13,152| | 42.7%
1920| 23,584| | 79.3%
1930| 29,992| | 27.2%
1940| 31,220| | 4.1%
1950| 33,695| | 7.9%
1960| 42,115| | 25.0%
1970| 48,767| | 15.8%
1980| 43,719| | −10.4%
1990| 46,758| | 7.0%
2000| 51,605| | 10.4%
2010| 48,694| | −5.6%
2020| 50,987| | 4.7%
Sources:[4][10][11][12]

### 2020 census[edit]

As of the census[13] of 2020, there were 50,987 people in 20,057 households in the city. The population density was 1,951.0 inhabitants per square mile (753.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.3% White, 11.2% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 20,057 households with an average 2.39 people living in each, 81% of whom had lived in the same house for at least 1 year. 85% of residents were high school graduates, and 15.6% had received Bachelor's degrees or higher. 6.2% of residents were under the age of 6, 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 17.2% were over the age of 65. The gender makeup of the city was 52.3% female and 47.7% male. The percentage of persons under 65 with a disability was 16.8%.

The median household income was $42,290, and the annual per capita income average was $24,184. Approximately 22.5% of persons were below the poverty line. The average travel time to work was 23.1 minutes. 59.2% of residents worked in the civilian labor force, 54.5% of whom were female.

### 2010 census[edit]

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 48,694 people, 20,238 households, and 12,505 families living in the city. The population density was 1,859.3 inhabitants per square mile (717.9/km2). There were 23,296 housing units at an average density of 889.5 per square mile (343.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.3% White, 11.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 20,238 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

### 2000 census[edit]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 51,605 people, 21,469 households, and 13,933 families living in the city. The population density was 2,011.4 inhabitants per square mile (776.6/km2). There were 23,144 housing units at an average density of 902.1 per square mile (348.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.98% White, 10.59% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 21,469 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,215, and the median income for a family was $43,867. Males had a median income of $35,705 versus $23,865 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,773. About 9.2% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation[edit]

Ohio State Route 4 runs north-south through Middletown. Ohio State Route 73 and Ohio State Route 122 run east-west through the city. Ohio Route 122 accesses Interstate 75 running to the east of Middletown.

Middletown had multiple railroad stations serving the different railroads running through the city, Baltimore and Ohio, Erie Railroad, New York Central (earlier, the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway) and Pennsylvania Railroad.[14] The last passenger trains were the Baltimore and Ohio's Cincinnatian and Penn Central's Cincinnati-Columbus train, both ending in 1971.[15]

The Butler County Regional Transit Authority provides bus service in the city with connections to Hamilton, Oxford, as well as Springdale, where riders can transfer to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority serving greater Cincinnati.

## Notable people[edit]

* Todd Bell, NFL safety
* Gay Brewer, professional golfer
* James E. Campbell, 38th governor of Ohio
* Butch Carter, NBA player and coach; brother of Cris
* Cris Carter, Hall of Fame NFL player
* Dan Daub, MLB pitcher
* Brooklyn Decker, fashion model
* Shaun Foist, drummer for Breaking Benjamin
* Goodwen, rock band
* William Gross, financier for Janus Capital Group and PIMCO
* Bill Hanzlik, basketball player and coach
* J. Eugene Harding, U.S. representative
* Kayla Harrison, two-time Olympic champion in judo
* Thomas Howard, former MLB player
* Howard Jones, Hall of Fame college football player and coach
* Patrick L. Kessler, Medal of Honor recipient
* Frank Lickliter, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
* Jerry Lucas, Ohio State and NBA basketball player
* Buz Lukens, U.S. Representative[16]
* Jalin Marshall, former NFL Player, currently CFL player
* McGuire Sisters, vocal trio
* Debra Monk, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress
* Scott Nein, member of the Ohio Senate
* Clarence Page, columnist for the Chicago Tribune
* Susan Perkins, Miss America 1978
* Chrystee Pharris, television and film actress
* Rufus Phillips, politician and businessman
* Gordon Ray Roberts, Medal of Honor recipient
* Charlie Root, MLB pitcher
* Terry Rukavina, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
* Van Gordon Sauter, American Communications Executive
* Ed Schrock, U.S. representative
* Kyle Schwarber, MLB left fielder
* Shepherd Sisters, vocal quartet
* Paul J. Sorg, U.S. representative
* Ferdinand Van Derveer, brigadier general in the Civil War
* Roy Lucas, American football coach
* J. D. Vance, lawyer, venture capitalist, political candidate, author of Hillbilly Elegy, United States Senator for Ohio
* William Verity, Jr., 27th secretary of commerce between 1987 and 1989
* John M. Watson, Sr., trombonist and actor
* Virtue Hampton Whitted, jazz singer and bassist

## In popular culture[edit]

J. D. Vance describes his life in Middletown in Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis (2016). His family had moved there from Jackson, Kentucky and became caught in the problems of industrial restructuring and loss of jobs.

Bristol Palin wrote negatively about a 2008 visit to Middletown in her autobiography Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far (2017).[17]

Kimmy Schmidt from the eponymous Netflix show falsely claims she is from Middletown, Ohio, in Season 1, Episode 3. Xanthippe looks it up on her phone, expecting Kimmy has made the place up, but is irritated to find that such a place exists.[citation needed]

Middletown, Ohio is the home town of James Donovan Halliday, the creator of the OASIS in Ready Player One.

## See also[edit]

* South Middletown, Ohio

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Election Results". Journal News. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. ^ Statistical and Science Policy Branch, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (December 1, 2009). METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS(OMB Bulletin No. 10-02) (PDF). p. 28\. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017 - via National Archives. `{{cite book}}`: `|author=` has generic name (help); `|work=` ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ^ "Fear, caution, patriotism watchwords in Middletown".
7. ^ Peacefull, Leonard (1996). A Geography of Ohio. Kent State University Press. p. 217\. ISBN 9780873385251. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
8. ^ "Butler County Towns and How They Obtained Their Names". The Journal News. January 27, 1923. p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2014 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
10. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
11. ^ "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
12. ^ "Quick Facts: Middletown city, Ohio". census.gov. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
13. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
14. ^ "Index of Railroad Stations". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 54 (1). January 1921.
15. ^ "Project 1971," U. S. Passenger Trains operating on the eve of Amtrak, Reference: Journey to Amtrak; Harold A. Edmonson, Ed.; Kalmbach Publications; ©1972 https://www.streamlinerschedules.com/project1971.html
16. ^ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1987). The Almanac of American Politics 1988. p. 935. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
17. ^ "Bristol Palin slams Middletown in new book". Fox 19 Now. Raycom Media. Fox19. 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2017.

## Further reading[edit]

* Bert S. Barlow, W.H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, and Frederick Schneider, eds. Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio. Hamilton, Ohio: B.F. Bowen, 1905.
* Jim Blount. The 1900s: 100 Years In the History of Butler County, Ohio. Hamilton, Ohio: Past Present Press, 2000.
* Butler County Engineer's Office. Butler County Official Transportation Map, 2003. Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio: The Office, 2003.
* A History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio with Illustrations and Sketches of Its Representative Men and Pioneers. Cincinnati, Ohio: Western Biographical Publishing Company, 1882.
* Ohio. Secretary of State. The Ohio municipal and township roster, 2002-2003. Columbus, Ohio: The Secretary, 2003.

## External links[edit]

* City of Middletown
* Middletown Chamber of Commerce
* Middletown Historical Society
* Middletown Journal
* Middletown City Schools
* Middletown Library
* Middletown News
* Middletown Lyric Theatre
* Middletown travel guide from Wikivoyage
* "In Depth: America's Fastest-Dying Towns: 10. Middletown, Ohio"

* v
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Municipalities and communities of Butler County, Ohio, United States

County seat: Hamilton

Cities|

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