Martins Ferry, Ohio
Encyclopedia
During the census
of 2000, there were 7,226 people, 3,202 households, and 1,959 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,345.1 people per square mile (1,291.7/km²). There were 3,680 housing units at an average density of 1,703.6 per square mile (657.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.19% White, 5.11% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 3,202 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples
living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,960, and the median income for a family was $32,365. Males had a median income of $30,486 versus $21,979 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,672. About 16.1% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Martins Ferry is also home of the corporate headquarters of United Bancorp, a financial institution operating two banks, The Citizens Savings Bank of Martins Ferry and the Community Bank of Lancaster. These two banks have a total of 15 locations across Eastern and Southern Ohio. The city is also home of Carolina Furniture Company and The Times Leader, one of East Central Ohio’s largest newspapers serving more than 50,000 people.
Over the 2007 Christmas vacation, all Martins Ferry Public School students were relocated to their new K-12 campus-style school. The new school cost a reported $40.9 million dollars. It includes a new elementary school building and combination middle/high school building. 75% of the cost, or $31.9 million, was covered by the state, while the remaining 25%, or $9 million, was funded locally. Land for the campus was donated by the Ayers family.
On March 28, 2008, The Times Leader reported that Elm Middle School, as well as the former high hchool, were set to be demolished. Demolition cost a reported $458,000. The high school area is now an empty lot. The lot where Elm Middle School was has become a person's residence. Both North School and South School remain closed, awaiting bids for the space.
The city has multiple cemeteries, including Riverview Cemetery, St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery and Walnut Grove Pioneer Cemetery. The latter is the burial place of local heroine, Betty Zane
, who saved Fort Henry
in Wheeling during one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War by hiding gunpowder inside her dress. Her brother, Ebenezer Zane
, who cut Zane's Trace
from Wheeling to Maysville, Kentucky
, opening the west for settlement, is also buried in Walnut Grove Pioneer Cemetery, along with Absalom and Ebenezer Martin and other important early settlers.
.
In early Spring, the city hold a Soap Box Derby going down Hanover Street and the pit boxs are where the original High School Was. The 2010 winner of the race was Jacob Wilkerson
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,226 people, 3,202 households, and 1,959 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,345.1 people per square mile (1,291.7/km²). There were 3,680 housing units at an average density of 1,703.6 per square mile (657.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.19% White, 5.11% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 3,202 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,960, and the median income for a family was $32,365. Males had a median income of $30,486 versus $21,979 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,672. About 16.1% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Today, Martins Ferry's largest employers include East Ohio Regional Hospital, a 250 bed hospital that is home to a level three trauma center, a popular birthing unit and a rapidly expanding surgical department. A new surgical building is scheduled for completion this year. Other major employers include Nickles Bakery, one of three modern bakeries in the Nickles family providing fresh baked goods to a 7 state area; United Dairy, a family owned dairy serving nine states; and the Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, which operates their galvanizing plant in Martins Ferry, producing some 700,000 tons of SofTite Galvanized Steel each year. The steel mill was bought out by Severstal and went bankrupt.Martins Ferry is also home of the corporate headquarters of United Bancorp, a financial institution operating two banks, The Citizens Savings Bank of Martins Ferry and the Community Bank of Lancaster. These two banks have a total of 15 locations across Eastern and Southern Ohio. The city is also home of Carolina Furniture Company and The Times Leader, one of East Central Ohio’s largest newspapers serving more than 50,000 people.
Education
The children of Martins Ferry are educated by the Martins Ferry City School District, which currently has an enrollment of 1,488 students on one campus. In addition to the public school system, Martins Ferry is also served by two religious schools: St Mary's Catholic School and the Martins Ferry Christian School.Over the 2007 Christmas vacation, all Martins Ferry Public School students were relocated to their new K-12 campus-style school. The new school cost a reported $40.9 million dollars. It includes a new elementary school building and combination middle/high school building. 75% of the cost, or $31.9 million, was covered by the state, while the remaining 25%, or $9 million, was funded locally. Land for the campus was donated by the Ayers family.
On March 28, 2008, The Times Leader reported that Elm Middle School, as well as the former high hchool, were set to be demolished. Demolition cost a reported $458,000. The high school area is now an empty lot. The lot where Elm Middle School was has become a person's residence. Both North School and South School remain closed, awaiting bids for the space.
Community
There are 14 churches providing places of worship for Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Greek Orthodox Christians, Episcopalians and non-denominational Christians. There are also a number of clubs and organizations for veterans, ethnic groups and senior citizens.The city has multiple cemeteries, including Riverview Cemetery, St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery and Walnut Grove Pioneer Cemetery. The latter is the burial place of local heroine, Betty Zane
Betty Zane
Elizabeth "Betty" Zane McLaughlin Clark was a heroine of the Revolutionary War on the American frontier. She was the daughter of William Andrew Zane and Nancy Ann Zane, and the sister of Ebenezer Zane, Silas Zane, Jonathan Zane, Isaac Zane and Andrew Zane...
, who saved Fort Henry
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is the name of:*Fort Henry , a 1646 fort near present-day Petersburg, Virginia*Fort Henry , a 1774 fort near present–day Wheeling, West Virginia...
in Wheeling during one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War by hiding gunpowder inside her dress. Her brother, Ebenezer Zane
Ebenezer Zane
Ebenezer Zane was an American pioneer, road builder and land speculator. Born in what is now Moorefield, West Virginia , Zane established the settlement known as Fort Henry in Wheeling, Virginia on the Ohio River...
, who cut Zane's Trace
Zane's Trace
Zane's Trace is a frontier road constructed under the direction of Col. Ebenezer Zane through the Northwest Territory of the United States, in what is now the state of Ohio. Many portions were based on traditional Native American trails...
from Wheeling to Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
, opening the west for settlement, is also buried in Walnut Grove Pioneer Cemetery, along with Absalom and Ebenezer Martin and other important early settlers.
Events
The volunteer fire department celebrates Betty Zane Frontier Days annually, in honor of Revolutionary War hero Elizabeth "Betty" ZaneBetty Zane
Elizabeth "Betty" Zane McLaughlin Clark was a heroine of the Revolutionary War on the American frontier. She was the daughter of William Andrew Zane and Nancy Ann Zane, and the sister of Ebenezer Zane, Silas Zane, Jonathan Zane, Isaac Zane and Andrew Zane...
.
In early Spring, the city hold a Soap Box Derby going down Hanover Street and the pit boxs are where the original High School Was. The 2010 winner of the race was Jacob Wilkerson
Schools
In 2008, the new High School opened for the area. The previous public High School, known officially as Charles R. Shreve High School, but never called anything but Martins Ferry High School, was closed midway through the 2007-2008 school year.Notable residents
- Joe DeNardoJoe DeNardoJoseph William DeNardo is a Pittsburgh meteorologist. He is known for his 1994 Campaign "Joe Said It Would" the first "Said It Would" slogan in the nation...
- famous Pittsburgh meteorologist - Alex GrozaAlex GrozaAlex John Groza was an American professional basketball player from Martins Ferry, Ohio who was banned from the NBA for life in 1951 for point shaving...
- Gold Medalist in the 1948 Olympics and star basketball player - Lou GrozaLou GrozaLouis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
(AKA "The Toe") - Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
inductee - William Dean HowellsWilliam Dean HowellsWilliam Dean Howells was an American realist author and literary critic. Nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters", he was particularly known for his tenure as editor of the Atlantic Monthly as well as his own writings, including the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day" and the novel The Rise of...
- American realist author - James WrightJames Wright (poet)James Arlington Wright was an American poet.Wright first emerged on the literary scene in 1956 with The Green Wall, a collection of formalist verse that was awarded the prestigious Yale Younger Poets Prize. But by the early 1960s, Wright, increasingly influenced by the Spanish language...
- Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning poet and author who immortalized the blue collar city in his poem, "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio". - John HavlicekJohn HavlicekJohn J. "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons....
- Hall of Fame former NBA Player - Jeffrey J. Niehaus - poet and theologian