Gallipolis,_Ohio

Gallipolis, Ohio

Gallipolis is a chartered village in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Gallia County. The municipality is located in Southeast Ohio on the Ohio River. The population was 4,180 at the 2000 census, an 18% drop from the 1990 census level of 5,085. When the population dropped below 5,000, Gallipolis became a village, but continues to operate under its existing city charter. The accent goes on the last syllable when pronouncing the name: gal-li-pə-'lEs (rhyming with "police") or gal-li-pə-'lis (as opposed to the original French "ga-'lip-ə-lE", which has the accent on the second syllable).

History

Gallipolis was settled in 1790 by French aristocrats known as the "French Five Hundred". Escaping the guillotine in post-Bastille Day, pre-revolutionary France, the promise of a new life in the boundless American frontier was tempting. However, the French were swindled. The Scioto Company encouraged investors in France to purchase lands in Ohio by describing a virtual Garden of Eden. However, the deeds that they had purchased proved worthless upon their arrival via riverboat. The Scioto Company did not actually own the land, which was not the land of milk and honey that they anticipated. So the disillusioned settlers petitioned Congress and President George Washington for aid, and as a result, the Ohio Company sent a group of woodsmen from Marietta to build a log cabin settlement on what is now the city park. In 1803 Gallia County (in honor of the Gauls), was established by the Ohio state legislature. The first U.S. census was conducted in 1820, and those accounted for at that time are known locally as the "first families." The early 19th Century also brought a large influx of Welsh people, who settled in Gallipolis and nearby Rio Grande. In the late 1960s, Gallipolis gained notoriety for the collapse of the Silver Bridge, which spanned the Ohio River from Gallipolis to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Also occurring around the same time, during the UFO paranoia of the time, was the Mothman hysteria.

Geography

Gallipolis is located at (38.815222, -82.197550), along the Ohio River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.9 km²) 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (5.73%) is water. Gallipolis is located in the unglaciated hills of southeastern Ohio.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,180 people, 1,847 households, and 1,004 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,156.2 people per square mile (445.8/km²). There were 2,056 housing units at an average density of 568.7/sq mi (219.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.57% White, 6.44% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population. There were 1,847 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.6% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the village the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $25,846, and the median income for a family was $36,477. Males had a median income of $30,032 versus $22,473 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,728. About 13.6% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Gallipolis is the hometown of Bob Evans, founder of Bob Evans Restaurants, the original one of which was located on Upper River Road in Gallipolis. The Bob Evans Farm is located in nearby Rio Grande. The farm still is fully functioning, and a restaurant is located on the property. The farm has become a tourist attraction, featuring a picturesque windmill in a vast field, a canoe livery, tours and the annual Bob Evans Farm Festival. This event, held on an October weekend, is a tourist attraction that draws several thousand visitors. Bob Evans Restaurants' corporate headquarters is located in Columbus.

Other major employers in Gallipolis/Gallia County include: American Electric Power (General James M. Gavin Plant), Ohio Valley Electric Company (Kyger Creek Power Plant), Holzer Medical Center and Holzer Clinic, University of Rio Grande and Gallipolis City Schools.

Education

The are four schools within the village. The public schools in the village limits are Gallia Academy High School and Washington Elementary, both of which belong to the Gallipolis City Schools. There also are two private schools: Ohio Valley Christian High School and Ohio Valley Christian School Elementary. The public school district also controls Green Elementary and Rio Grande Elementary, both of which are outside of the village limits.

On November 8, 2005, a bond issue was passed, allowing for both the construction of a new high school and the renovation of the three public elementary schools. The new Gallia Academy High School, scheduled to be completed by late 2008, will be located at 2855 Centenary Road, which is a few miles outside of the village limits.

Recreation

Gallipolis is home to many seasonal activities, including an annual Civil War reenactment in the spring, the River Recreation Festival in July and the Gallia County Junior Fair in August.

In the past decade, Gallia Academy High School's football team has emerged as one of the more consistent programs in Southeast Ohio. Since the OHSAA has changed the playoff format by adding more teams to the post-season, the Blue Devils have advanced to the Ohio Division III or IV playoffs seven of the past nine seasons, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association. During that time, several Blue Devils players have gone on to play college football at such schools as Marshall University, Ohio University, Tiffin University, Ohio Wesleyan and John Carroll University.