Milford, Ohio

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Milford, Ohio
Location of Milford, Ohio
Location of Milford, Ohio
Coordinates: 39°10′30″N 84°17′4″W / 39.175, -84.28444
Country United States
State Ohio
Counties Clermont, Hamilton
Area
 - Total 3.8 sq mi (9.9 km²)
 - Land 3.8 sq mi (9.7 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation [1] 548 ft (167 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 6,284
 - Density 1,672.1/sq mi (645.6/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 45150
Area code(s) 513
FIPS code 39-50176[2]
GNIS feature ID 1061523[1]

Milford is a city in Clermont and Hamilton Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, along the Little Miami River in the southwestern part of the state. Milford, an abbreviated form of mill ford, was so named because it was the first safe ford across the Little Miami north of the Ohio River, and was the only way for many people to reach the local oil mill. The population was 6,284 at the 2000 census. The Little Miami Bike Trail, which runs to Spring Valley, Ohio, begins here. The current Mayor of Milford is David Hunter.

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[edit] History

The areas known as Milford, Old Milford, and Miami Township were built on a survey by John Nancarrow, a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia. The area known as Miami Township was named after the Little Miami River and the tribe of Native Americans who once controlled this area. Miami Township was originally named O'Bannon Township in honor of the county's first surveyor.

Because of financial troubles, Nancarrow never visited Milford, and instead sold his share of 230 acres of land to Phillip Gatch December 20, 1802, for a total of $920.00. Four years later, Gatch decided to sell 125 acres to Ambrose Ransom who, soon after, sold 64 acres to John Hageman. Hageman became the first permanent settler and named the area Hageman's Mills.

By 1815, Hageman had left for Indiana, and the name "Milford" had come into popular use. In 1818 a wooden bridge across the Little Miami was completed, making the ford obsolete. More than a century later, on January 1, 1920, the mill that was the city's namesake burned down.

About 40 years ago Milford was the typical American small town. The photo (top left) is of the bustling Main Street on a Saturday morning. Small grocery stores, a butcher shop, five & dime, drug store, barber shop and a taxi company that doubled as the fire dispatcher for the volunteer fire department, served as the hub of community activity. Today (top right) these buildings remain busy as antique and collectible shops. Bottom left: The Little Miami River has been declared both a State and National Scenic River. This recent photo was taken from the bridge spanning the river at Milford. Bottom right: The old bridge at rush hour approximately 40 years ago.

[edit] Geography

Milford is located at 39°10′30″N, 84°17′4″W (39.174883, -84.284383)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.9 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.83%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 6,284 people, 2,945 households, and 1,534 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,672.1 people per square mile (645.3/km²). There were 3,112 housing units at an average density of 828.0/sq mi (319.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.08% White, 3.33% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 2,945 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.9% were non-families. 43.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,923, and the median income for a family was $51,919. Males had a median income of $36,538 versus $25,873 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,529. About 4.1% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links