La Rue, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

La Rue is a village in Marion County, Ohio, United States. The population was 775 at the 2000 census.

Dr. Charles E. Sawyer, a homeopathic physician who is blamed for giving a false diagnosis of U.S. President Warren G. Harding that led to Harding's premature death, practiced medicine in La Rue.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Events
5 External links

[edit] Geography

La Rue is located at 40°34′38″N, 83°22′57″W (40.577262, -83.382396)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 775 people, 308 households, and 207 families residing in the village. The population density was 623.4/km² (1,608.5/mi²). There were 330 housing units at an average density of 265.4/km² (684.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.23% White, 0.13% Native American, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.

There were 308 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $44,808. Males had a median income of $27,250 versus $25,238 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,873. About 4.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

La Rue is named after French immigrant Major William La Rue. He and his wife, Cynthia, purchased a plot of land of approximately 350 acres on the east bank of the Scioto River in the 1840's. Soon after, La Rue began selling plots and the village was mapped. La Rue was incorporated as a village in 1851.

La Rue has the distinction of being the smallest town to ever have an NFL franchise. In the early 1920's La Rue was home to famous athlete Jim Thorpe, who coached the Oorang Indians football team in 1922-1923.

La Rue's historic 19th century business district, located on High Street, is still active and boasts a grocery store, a restaurant, hardware store, library, barber shop, pizzeria, and two bars.

[edit] Events

A festival, in Honor of the Oorang Indians and Thorpe is held on the 2nd weekend of June, and features a parade, food, rides, and live music. The festival was organized by Harry Roberts (1924-2003) to fund improvements to the then derlict municipal swimming pool and park, located 1 mile north of the village.