Greenfield, Ohio

Greenfield, Ohio
Village
Motto:  "A Perfect Place To Raise A Family"
Location of Greenfield, Ohio
Location of Greenfield in Highland County
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Counties	Highland, Fayette, Ross
Area
• Total	2.06 sq mi (5.34 km2)
• Land	2.06 sq mi (5.34 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	912 ft (278 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,639
• Estimate  (2012)	4,562
• Density	2,251.9/sq mi (869.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	45123, 45165
Area code	937
FIPS code	39-32088
GNIS feature ID	1064755
Website	http://www.greenfieldohio.net

Greenfield is a large village in Highland, Fayette and Ross counties, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,639. Since the population declined to under 5,000, the Census Bureau may still call it a city, but by Ohio's laws it is technically deemed a village. Since the change from city to village there is no longer a mayor of the town but a city manager; the current city manager is Ron Coffey, who was born and raised in Greenfield. Greenfield is most well known because of its rich history, including its community members helping in the underground railroad, new industries, and a school.

History

Greenfield was named for its rural appearance.

General Duncan McArthur founded the town in 1799. Greenfield has had many innovators, such as Edward Lee McClain who was well known for his detachable horse collar. The American Pad and Textile Company was created by McClain later in life. This company provided job opportunities for Greenfield, and created products such as the life vest used in World War II. His memory will never be forgotten by Greenfield however because he donated a great gift to the town. Edward Lee McClain High School which opened on September 23, 1915, was named after him. People who wished to attend paid a fee of 15 cents for admission. Located in the center of town and serving as a focal point for the town, the school has many sculptures, paintings and murals, making it a well known school in Ohio. It was the first school in Ohio to have an indoor swimming pool, which is still there today, with minor construction revisions.

The crossing watchman and the coal shoveler at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot in Greenfield, 1920.

The first African American owned car company was first founded in Greenfield. The Patterson Car Company started as a buggy company but quickly started to produce buses and cars. C.R. Patterson, alongside his friend Lowe, moved to Greenfield where they founded the car company. After Lowe died, the company was left solely to Patterson. The Patterson Car Company provided Greenfield schools buses to conduct routes. Other industries in Greenfield include Ruckers Quarry, which day and night quarried stone such as limestone on a large scale for the Cincinnati market. Another industry was Harps Manufacturing which was most well known for the Never-fail Oil Can, which was originally designed by Eugene Arnott but then perfected by Harp's Manufacturing.

Most of Greenfield's settlers moved from their comfortable homes in the founding states to unfamiliar territory, Ohio, because they were against slavery. In April 1833, the Abolition Society of Paint Valley was founded. Its main effort was to educate and do missionary work in the stance of ending slavery. The Abolition Society of Paint Valley was later disbanded but was quickly re-organized as the Greenfield Antislavery Society. Records become thin due to the large number of citizens helping African Americans to gain freedom. Greenfield played a major part in the ending of slavery. Former slaves passed through the area on their way to Canada during the operation of the Underground Railroad with much help from Greenfield's community members.

Historic sites

Much of Greenfield's early history concentrates on the Travellers' Rest Inn at the eastern end of Jefferson Street. Constructed in 1812, it was the village's first stone building. It also served as its first post office, and was the space for its first doctor's office. Now operated as a museum, the inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Samuel Smith House and Tannery is also listed on the National Register.

Current

As of today, much of Greenfield's rich history has gone; many storefronts are vacant where prominent businesses once stood. However, the Travelers Rest remains, along with other buildings such as the former post office and the school. In 1988, the 29.5-mile railroad line connecting the city to the national rail network was scheduled to be decommissioned, but Greenfield bought it for $2.4 million and kept it operational in order to retain a transportation outlet for the local manufacturing industry. This also made the city the smallest in the U.S. to own its own rail line.

Geography

Greenfield is located almost entirely in Highland County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.06 square miles (5.34 km²), all land.

Climate

Greenfield receives an annual average of 38 inches of rain, and averages 25 inches of snow. Both averages are very similar to those of the United States. Greenfield averages 173 sunny days and 128 rainy days. The average high temperature is 84 degrees and the average low is 20.6 degrees.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	1,011		—
1860	1,500		48.4%
1870	1,712		14.1%
1880	2,104		22.9%
1890	2,460		16.9%
1900	3,979		61.7%
1910	4,228		6.3%
1920	4,344		2.7%
1930	3,871		−10.9%
1940	4,228		9.2%
1950	4,862		15.0%
1960	5,422		11.5%
1970	4,780		−11.8%
1980	5,150		7.7%
1990	5,172		0.4%
2000	4,906		−5.1%
2010	4,639		−5.4%
2014 (est.)	4,575		−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2012

The most recent calculations of population indicate that the total population is equal to 4,562, population has gone down 7 percent since 2000. The estimated median household income in 2012 was 26,944 however for the state of Ohio the estimated median household income was 46,829 which is just shy of 20,000 dollars difference, to be exact its a 19,885 difference.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,639 people, 1,829 households, and 1,148 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,251.9 inhabitants per square mile (869.5/km²). There were 2,141 housing units at an average density of 1,039.3 per square mile (401.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 1.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 1,829 households of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,906 people, 1,955 households, and 1,253 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,536.3 people per square mile (981.5/km²). There were 2,099 housing units at an average density of 1,085.1 per square mile (419.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.78% White, 2.20% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 1,955 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $30,805, and the median income for a family was $36,952. Males had a median income of $32,156 versus $21,352 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,306. About 12.3% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Greenfield's village council comprises Robert Bergstrom, Betty Jackman, Harvey Everhart, Bill Redenbaugh, and Brenda Losey.

Notable people

• Otway Curry, poet and legislator.
• David T. Daniels, Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Brad Martin, country music artist
• David Noggle, jurist
• Johnny Paycheck, Country singer
• Frederick Patterson, First African-American to play football for The Ohio State University Buckeyes 1891-93, Also was the first African-American automobile manufacturer circa 1915

Gallery

• 
  Greenfield corporation limit sign.
• 
  Intersection of Jefferson Street and Washington Street (central business district) in Greenfield.
• 
  Clock tower in central Greenfield.