Duncan Falls, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duncan Falls, Ohio
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Location of Duncan Falls in Ohio
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Muskingum |
| Elevation | 745 ft (227 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 898 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP |
43734
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| GNIS feature ID | 2628885 |
Duncan Falls is a small community in Ohio, United States. It is located in Muskingum County, south of the city of Zanesville. You can find it along State Route 60.
This area is called a census-designated place. This means it is a community that the government counts for population, but it is not a formally organized city or town. Duncan Falls has its own post office with the ZIP Code 43734. It also has a public library, which is part of the Muskingum County Library System. In 2020, about 898 people lived there.
Contents
History
How Duncan Falls Got Its Name
Duncan Falls is named after an early hunter and trapper. His name was Major Duncan. He moved from Virginia in the 1790s. He settled near a waterfall on the Muskingum River. This spot was about nine miles south of where Zanesville is today.
Major Duncan reportedly had conflicts with the local Shawnee people over his animal traps. According to an old story, the Shawnee killed him while he was trying to cross the river at the falls. Because of this story, his name became linked to these waterfalls.
Early Beginnings of the Town
The community of Duncan Falls began to grow in 1825. That year, a man named James Taylor opened a store. Around 1828, Alanson Holderidge and Justice Depew each set up blacksmith shops. A blacksmith makes and repairs things made of iron.
In 1830, Jacob Hall opened a tavern, which was like an inn or public house. Also in 1830, James Taylor started a ferry service. This ferry helped people cross the Muskingum River at the falls.
Developing the River and Mills
In 1832, James Taylor built a dam at the falls. He hoped this would attract people who wanted to build mills. Mills use water power to grind grain into flour. In 1835, the state government improved the dam.
By 1838, a large four-story flour mill was built by Lewis Dugan and William Bowen. As the area grew, James Taylor officially planned out the town in 1841. He had already planned another town, Philo, on the other side of the river in 1833.
By the 1840s, a system of dams and locks was in place. This allowed steamboats to travel on the river. However, raising the water level also hid the original waterfalls.
Changes Over Time
By 1882, about 200 people lived in Duncan Falls. There was also a doctor named Dr. Mason. Around 1890, the U.S. Postal Service changed the town's name. It went from "Duncan's Falls" to "Duncan Falls."
The original flour mill burned down in 1896. It was rebuilt in 1898. Then it burned down again in 1902 and was rebuilt once more. In 1922, the Ohio Power Company bought the mill. They wanted its water rights on the river. Ohio Power then tore the mill down.
Floods and New Industries
In 1913, a big flood on the Muskingum River caused a lot of damage to the town. By the 1920s, steamboat travel on the river was becoming less common.
However, new industries brought life back to Duncan Falls. The Philo Power Plant was completed across the river in Philo in 1924. This provided many jobs. Then, the Ohio Ferro Alloys Corporation factory opened in Philo in 1927.
In 1933, the road through Duncan Falls was fully paved. This brought a lot of car traffic between Zanesville and Marietta through the town. Before this, traffic used a different route further east.
