Lewistown, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewistown, Ohio
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Post office in Lewistown
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Location of Lewistown, Ohio
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Logan |
| Township | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.77 sq mi (1.99 km2) |
| • Land | 0.77 sq mi (1.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,004 ft (306 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 202 |
| • Density | 263.02/sq mi (101.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
43333
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| FIPS code | 39-42966 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2628925 |
Lewistown (also called Lewis Town or Lewiston) is a small community in Ohio, United States. It's not officially a city or town, but a special area called a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means the government counts its population. In 2020, about 202 people lived there.
Before 1829, Lewistown was a reservation for the Shawnee Native American tribe. It was named after Captain John Lewis, a Shawnee leader. A nearby lake, Indian Lake, was once known as the Lewistown Reservoir because of this settlement. Lewistown has its own post office with the ZIP code 43333.
Contents
History of Lewistown
Native American History
The land around Lewistown was home to several Native American tribes. They were resettled here after the Treaty of Fort Meigs was signed on September 29, 1817. This treaty also helped create the University of Michigan.
In the 1820s, Lewistown was mainly a village where Seneca and Shawnee people lived. It was the eastern edge of a large reservation for these groups. This reservation stretched west to the start of Loramie Creek.
In 1829, the Treaty of Lewistown led to about 300 Native Americans moving. They went to lands west of the Mississippi River. These lands were already set aside for other Shawnee, Seneca, and Cherokee tribes.
Early European-American Settlers
When Native Americans lived in Washington Township, only a few white settlers were in the area around 1820. They likely didn't stay long. After the Native Americans left in the summer of 1832, more white families began to settle there.
One of the first permanent settlers was Henry Hanford from Connecticut. By 1835, Hanford bought 825 acres (3.34 km2) of land in and near Lewistown.
Daniel Conley, Hanford's brother-in-law, built the first wooden house in the village. He was also the first shoemaker. Later, Henry Hanford opened a general store. He also became Lewistown's first postmaster. Mail was delivered once a week.
Over time, more businesses started. A mill was built in 1835, followed by a steam sawmill. In 1840, a "tavern" (which was more like an inn) opened. By 1880, a tannery was also operating in the township.
Geography of Lewistown
Lewistown is in the northwest part of Logan County. It's located where County Roads 54 and 91 meet. It's a short distance south of State Route 274 and east of State Route 235.
The community is about 4 miles (6 km) south of Russells Point on Indian Lake. It's also about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Bellefontaine, which is the main town of Logan County.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Lewistown covers an area of about 0.77 square miles (2.0 km2). All of this area is land. Rennick Creek flows through the southern part of the community. It then flows west for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the Great Miami River.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 202 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Lewistown was 202 people.
In 2000, there were 693 people living in the area served by Lewistown's post office. Most people (98.7%) were White. About 25.8% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age was 36.2 years.
Education in Lewistown
A school was started in Lewistown in 1833. This was one of the first schools built in the lands north of the Greenville Treaty Line. The first school was in a log cabin. In 1840, it moved to a wooden building.
The Lewistown special school district began in 1874. Today, this district is known as the Indian Lake Local Schools.
A famous person, Walter Alston, once taught and coached basketball in the Lewistown school building. He later became a very successful manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. He managed them for 23 seasons and is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. When the school board asked him to choose between teaching and baseball, he chose baseball. Alston's former high school players often visited him at Dodgers games. He would introduce them as "my first team." The gym at the current Indian Lake High School is named the Walter Alston Gymnasium in his honor.
The Indian Lake Local Schools run three schools in the northwest part of Logan County. These schools are Indian Lake Elementary School, Indian Lake Middle School, and Indian Lake High School. They are close enough to Lewistown to use its post office (ZIP code: 43333).
See also
In Spanish: Lewistown (Ohio) para niños
