Montgomery, Ohio

Montgomery, Ohio
—  City  —
Downtown Montgomery
Location of Montgomery, Ohio
Coordinates: 39°14′50″N 84°20′51″W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Hamilton
Government
• Mayor	Gerri Harbison
Area
• Total	5.3 sq mi (13.8 km2)
• Land	5.3 sq mi (13.8 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	801 ft (244 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	10,163
• Density	1,908.7/sq mi (736.9/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	45242
Area code(s)	513
FIPS code	39-51716
GNIS feature ID	1065047
Website	http://www.ci.montgomery.oh.us/

Montgomery is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States settled in 1796. The town was a coach stop on the Cincinnati-Zanesville Road, later known as the Montgomery Pike with an Inn, two taverns, a grist mill and a carding mill to process its agricultural products. It would remain a rather sleepy hamlet until the 1960s when it would become an affluent bedroom community for people working in the City of Cincinnati. To this day it retains its historic downtown with many other 19th century houses scattered throughout the community. It is currently accessed from exit 15 off Interstate 71, exit 50 off Interstate 275 and is the eastern terminus of the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway about five miles northeast of the Cincinnati city line. The population was 10,163 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Montgomery is located at 39°14′50″N 84°20′51″W (39.247359, -84.347556).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (14 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,163 people, 3,616 households, and 2,943 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,908.7 people per square mile (737.6/km²). There were 3,716 housing units at an average density of 697.9 per square mile (269.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.00% White, 1.57% African American, 0.05% Native American, 3.26% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 3,616 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $89,224, and the median income for a family was $100,158. Males had a median income of $78,881 versus $45,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $45,460. About 2.0% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Montgomery is served by the Sycamore Community School District which has received the highest rating from the state of Ohio ten consecutive years. The city is also served by the private schools of Moeller High School for boys and Ursuline Academy for girls. Montgomery lies within the Great Oaks joint vocational school district.

Parks

The City of Montgomery boasts six beautiful parks and one virgin nature preserve.

Duller Park- 15.3 acres, 10530 Deerfield Road. (directions) Natural turf walking trail is .67 miles or 3520 feet.

Located in the heart of Montgomery’s residential area, Dulle Park has activities and amenities for every age group! Fossil collecting along Sycamore Creek, hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, two baseball fields, a soccer field, playset for ages 5-12 and basketball court are just some of the activities you may encounter during your visit. Dulle Park also offers a picnic shelter which is available to reserve online. Dulle Park is also home to the city’s largest and most attractive lodge, Terwilliger Lodge. Named after one of the city’s founders, Nathaniel Terwilliger, the lodge is a favorite place for year round receptions, parties and special events.

Johnson Nature Preserve- 7 acres, 10840 Deerfield Road. Natural turf walking trail .35 mi or 1825 feet.

The Johnson Nature Preserve got a new facelift 10 years after the 1999 tornado. A new paver walkway provides easy access to all and invites park visitors to come on in and enjoy the nature. Flower beds with native plants and cedar log benches allow for peaceful enjoyment of the local wildlife and natural setting in this valley of trees. The pergola provides just enough shelter for a small group discussion on nature and forest rebirth. The recovery plan is to enhance the powerful natural reforestation process by leaving much of the fallen timber in place to provide stabilization of slopes, an enhanced wildlife habitat and to add organic content to the soil of the forest floor. The City is monitoring the recovery and natural reforestation process. The recovery plan will be modified or adapted to achieve the desired result of returning the Johnson Nature Preserve to an urban forest and point of community pride as well as an area for recreation, enjoyment and study for visitors to the preserve. The City is also offering gifting opportunities to help maintain this important natural preserve.

Montgomery Park- 5 acres, on the corner of Montgomery Road and Schoolhouse Lane. (directions) Paved trail .36 mi or 1907 feet.

Montgomery Park is a favorite destination for kids, walkers, knothole baseball, basketball and picnicking, not to mention sledding in the wintertime. Montgomery Park is host to the July 3rd Concert and Independence Day Festival each year and the new pathway is lined with games for youth and vendors selling food and drinks as part of this great hometown event. The natural bowl shape of this park provides the perfect seating option for the free July 3rd Concert which draws 3,000 guests to hear the patriotic songs performed by the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. Part of the Independence Day Festival is the popular ALL STAR tee-ball championship game played on the ballfield diamond in Montgomery Park. Also, kids of all ages pack the park on snowy winter days to sled the hillside on tubes, saucers and kneeboards. A tot-lot and school-age playground offers challenges and adventure for kids of all ages and the sand tables make for great imaginative play. Montgomery Park has a large picnic shelter that is reserveable at no charge. Reservations for this shelter can be made online or in person at City Hall starting in March for residents and April for non-residents. Also in this park is the Recreational Annex building. Buried in the hillside, this garage turned multi-purpose room is home to a variety of fitness, art and fun class options for all ages. Being situated right behind City Hall and in the center of town, this park is a popular destination for family picnics, school class parties and pick-up basketball games. The fun doesn’t stop when summer is over, this park is a favorite destination for winter sledding fun.

Pfeifer Park - 2.6 acres, Corner of Montgomery Road and Pfeiffer Road.

Pfeiffer Park, despite being the smallest of Montgomery’s parks, is one of the most visible parks given its location on the corner of Pfeiffer and Montgomery Roads. This park’s beauty, with blossoming trees, iconic statue and sprinkling fountain surrounded by flowers, sets the expectation for that landscape beauty that Montgomery has come to be known for throughout the region. The brick paver sidewalk and paths are used by runners and walkers of all ages so the benches, gazebo and water fountain are a nice shady respite for those pausing to catch their breath on their way around town. The tennis courts have a backboard allowing for use by single players but also, the two courts are popular for doubles given the shade and easy access. The tot-lot with nearby bench seating is a draw for families to enjoy some time together outdoors. The bronze cycling sculpture by Gary Price is titled ”Family Outing.” It depicts three people – a father and his two daughters – smiling and riding bikes. One girl’s hair is flying in the wind. Everybody’s having a good time. The models for this work of art were Tony Grieb and his girls, Sally and Tonya. Tony is the son of Willie Grieb. The founder of Montgomery Cyclery, Willie donated the sculpture to the city since he started his business here. This sculpture is a well-known icon of the City of Montgomery.

Pioneer Park - 25.6 acres, 10505 Deerfield Road Paved park trail .54 mi or 2865 feet.

Located directly across from Dulle Park, Pioneer Park is the most natural and interactive park in the Montgomery Park System. Amenities in this park are varied and range from active areas to natural use areas. This park has a combination of great natural scenery coupled with structures that allow for easy enjoyment of this park. The Pioneer Park gazebo is very picturesque for wedding photos or family gatherings. The position of the gazebo, looking over Sycamore Creek and Pioneer Park bridge surrounded by the butterfly shaped flower beds and the wildflower meadow, is just perfect for all types of uses and can be reserved for social gatherings at no cost. Also, Pioneer Pond docks with bench swings along the shoreline make for a great place to rest and listen to the fountain or the croaks of the bullfrogs, enjoy a good book or cast in a line on a warm summer day. The trail through Pioneer Park gives walkers and runners options as it meanders through the woods, over bridges, along the soccer and baseball fields, downhill to the creek and back to the pond. The walkway borders the wildflower meadow, open fields, and wooded areas. People enjoy walking their dogs and meeting up with neighbors and friends in this park named for the founding pioneers of Montgomery who traveled here from New York along the Sycamore Creek. Plaques about the history of our founders and a tree grove memorializing past citizens who have served the community add to the diversity in this scenic park. Each year, this park is home to the Pumpkin Walk kids recreation event in October. Kids in costume gather around the gazebo for a magic show, hayrides and fun in the pumpkin patch before parading along the trail to gather treats from friendly costumed characters.

Pioneer Park offers a gazebo shelter which is available to reserve online.

The natural area of the park, approximately 7 acres, includes:

   35 foot gazebo with a deck overlook (available by reservation)
   pond and adjoining boardwalk
   grass play area
   council ring
   wildflower meadow
   butterfly gardens
   grove of flowering native trees
   paved park trail .54 mi or 2865 feet

Swaim Park - 13.3 acres, Corner of Zig Zag and Cooper Road. Paved trail is .39 mi or 2033 feet.

Swaim Park is part of an original farmstead with the Wilder-Swaim farmhouse still standing on the corner of ZigZag Road and Cooper Road. This historic building is c. 1832 and is open to the public for special tours and events throughout the year. The Montgomery Historic Preservation Association maintains historic documents, photographs and artifacts in this home and during tours, the public can touch and feel the history of our home town coming alive. To compliment the farmhouse, the LazyWilder Swaim farmhouse Daisy Garden Club maintains an heirloom garden in the backyard. Swaim Park also offers a variety of passive and active spaces for fun play and for quiet respite. Todd pond, with its natural landscape, ducks, geese and pathway is often used for fishing and reflection. Each June, the Montgomery Kiwanis Club offers a fishing contest for kids at this pond. There is also an overlook and decorative fountain on the hillside inside the park that the Montgomery Citizens’ Leadership Academy class of 2008 built to offer seating for people to watch the pond activity or keep an eye on children playing on the playground. Nestled amongst the landscape around the pond is a large gazebo built in partnership with the Blue Ash Montgomery Rotary. The gazebo is a great place for social parties and for pictures too and can be reserved online for convenient use along with either of the two park shelters in Swaim Park.

The active play spaces in Swaim are plentiful. There are two tennis courts, a basketball court, a tot lot and a school age playground as well as baseball diamonds, sand volleyball and a walking/cycling pathway. Swaim LodgeSwaim Park is the location of Swaim Lodge and it offers two picnic shelters and a gazebo which are available to reserve online: A variety of recreational amenities include:

   All season restrooms
   2 Tennis courts
   Sand volleyball
   Playground
   Tot Lot
   2 Horseshoe pits
   Basketball court
   2 Baseball fields
   Soccer field
   2 Picnic shelters
   1 Gazebo with picnic tables
   Paved trail is .39 mi or 2033 feet

Garden and Swaim ParkSwaim Park is where the fall Harvest Moon festival and the July lunchtime series, LafnLunch, make for fun times year round. The Harvest Moon festival is offered the first Saturday of October and brings out 3000 people to enjoy hayrides, cider, pumpkin painting and live music. The LafnLunch series on Wednesdays at noon in July is coined, “Entertainment You’re a Part of!” since this variety themed series gets the audience on their feet learning new tricks and participating with the entertainers.

Take a walk and enjoy this beautiful historic park!

Weller Park - 20.4 acres, 8832 Weller Road. Paved trail .64 mi or 3370 feet

Weller Park is the active play park of Montgomery with sand volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields and a large playground. Weller Park is located at the north end of Montgomery off Kemper Road. Weller Park is the place to be for playgroups and sport teams. The long walking/running pathway around the park connects to pathways around the neighboring church property and into the Vintage Club neighborhood to make a winding, scenic off-road option for exercisers or strollers. Kids make their own fun at Weller Park. From imaginative play in the sands of the volleyball courts to the creative structures in the playground, kids can have a great time climbing, jumping, swinging and laughing in the largest of the Montgomery playgrounds. The park shelter and restrooms are conveniently located right next to the play area making for a perfect spot for birthday parties and play dates. The shelter can be reserved online. The shade trees and landscapes around this park add to the options for family picnics and quiet spots to read or relax.Weller also is home to the much-anticipated yearly Touch a Truck event where city staff and vehicles are brought out to the park and kids are given the opportunity to climb in the driver’s seat and talk to the operators of the fire trucks, police cruisers and public works tractors.

Notable residents

• Daniel von Bargen — Actor, best known for his roles in Seinfeld, Malcolm in the Middle, and numerous films.
• Kevin Youkilis - Current All-Star professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox(MLB)(first baseman).
• Scott Rolen - Current All-Star professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds (MLB)(third baseman).
• Paul O'Neill - Former Reds and Yankees (MLB) star outfielder.
• Chris Sabo - Former Reds (MLB) first baseman.
• Jane French — singer and songwriter.
• Tony Yates — Former University of Cincinnati basketball champ and coach for UC Bearcats.
• Connie Pillich — Ohio state representative.
• John B. Weller — Governor of California.
• Pete Gillen - Former Xaiver Men's Basketball Coach.
• Andy Star - Former NFL lineman. Owner of the premier wedding shop in Cincinnati, Bridal and Formal.
• Tom Wilson I – creator of the comic strip Ziggy

Sister cities

Montgomery has one sister city, as designated by the Sister Cities International:

- Neuilly-Plaisance, Ile-de-France, France

External links

• Montgomery official website
• Montgomery Photographs