Middletown, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middletown, Ohio
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Downtown Middletown
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| Motto(s):
"Bright past, even brighter future"
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Location of Middletown in Butler County and the state of Ohio
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 Middletown, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Middletown, Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Ohio | ||||
| Counties | Butler, Warren | ||||
| Incorporated | February 11, 1833 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 26.46 sq mi (68.54 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 26.14 sq mi (67.70 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.84 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 742 ft (226 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 50,987 | ||||
| • Density | 1,950.61/sq mi (753.13/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP Codes |
45042-45044
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| Area code(s) | 513 | ||||
| FIPS code | 39-49840 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 1085814 | ||||
Middletown is a city in the state of Ohio, in the United States. It is located in both Butler and Warren counties. In 2020, about 50,987 people lived there.
Middletown is part of the larger Cincinnati metropolitan area. It is about 29 miles (47 km) northeast of Cincinnati and 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Dayton.
The city was officially recognized in 1833 and became a city in 1886. It was formed from parts of three townships. Middletown was once home to a big steel company, AK Steel, which started in 1900. Its steel factory still works today. The city also has an airport for small planes and a campus of Miami University. In 1957, Middletown was honored as an All-America City.
Contents
History of Middletown
Middletown's land was part of a large area bought in 1788 by Judge John Cleves Symmes. He bought this land from the U.S. government.
Stephen Vail Jr. bought land from Symmes in 1802. He planned out 52 lots for a new village on the Great Miami River. After some legal issues, the land deals were approved.
Canals and Railroads
In 1825, the Miami and Erie Canal was built. This canal connected Middletown to Toledo, Ohio on Lake Erie and Cincinnati, Ohio on the Ohio River. A smaller branch canal also ran to Lebanon, Ohio from 1830 to 1852.
Most of the Miami and Erie Canal in the area was destroyed by a big flood in 1913. Later, the canal path was paved over to become Verity Parkway. In 1982, Middletown opened the Canal Museum. This museum helps people remember the history of the canals.
Middletown was also served by several important railroads. These included the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
From Farms to Steel
At first, Middletown was known for farming and paper mills. But it became famous as a steel town. This happened when George Verity started the American Rolling Mill Company (ARMCO) in 1900. His plant made sheet steel.
Why the Name Middletown?
People believe the city's founder, Stephen Vail, chose the name. But no one is completely sure why. One idea is that Vail came from a place called Middletown, New Jersey.
Another idea is that Middletown was named because it was halfway along the Great Miami River. This river was once used for boats. A third theory suggests it was named Middletown because it is roughly halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati.
Geography and Location
Middletown covers about 26.43 square miles (68.45 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The city is located next to the Great Miami River. It also shares borders with other cities like Franklin, Monroe, and Trenton.
People of Middletown
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 314 | — | |
| 1840 | 809 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,087 | 34.4% | |
| 1860 | 2,070 | 90.4% | |
| 1870 | 3,046 | 47.1% | |
| 1880 | 4,538 | 49.0% | |
| 1890 | 7,681 | 69.3% | |
| 1900 | 9,215 | 20.0% | |
| 1910 | 13,152 | 42.7% | |
| 1920 | 23,584 | 79.3% | |
| 1930 | 29,992 | 27.2% | |
| 1940 | 31,220 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 33,695 | 7.9% | |
| 1960 | 42,115 | 25.0% | |
| 1970 | 48,767 | 15.8% | |
| 1980 | 43,719 | −10.4% | |
| 1990 | 46,758 | 7.0% | |
| 2000 | 51,605 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 48,694 | −5.6% | |
| 2020 | 50,987 | 4.7% | |
| Sources: | |||
Middletown's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 50,987 people living in Middletown. These people lived in 20,057 homes. On average, about 2.39 people lived in each home.
Most residents, about 81.3%, were White. About 11.2% were African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 4.1% of the population.
About 22.5% of residents were under 18 years old. About 17.2% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (52.3%) than males (47.7%).
The average income for a household was $42,290 per year. About 22.5% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Arts and Culture
Some places in Middletown are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Two examples are the South Main Street District and the John B. Tytus House.
Education in Middletown
Most of Middletown is served by the Middletown City School District. This district runs Middletown High School. Parts of Middletown in Warren County are served by other school districts.
Miami University has a campus in Middletown. It opened in 1966 and was the first branch campus in Ohio. About 1,500 students attend Miami University Middletown each year.
Transportation
Several state routes pass through Middletown. These include Ohio State Route 4, Ohio State Route 73, and Ohio State Route 122. Route 122 connects to Interstate 75, which is east of the city.
Middletown used to have train stations for passenger trains. The last passenger trains stopped running in 1971.
Today, the Butler County Regional Transit Authority provides bus service in the city. You can take buses to nearby cities like Hamilton and Oxford. You can also connect to buses that go to the greater Cincinnati area.
Famous People from Middletown
- Todd Bell, a football safety
- Gay Brewer, a professional golfer
- Cris Carter, a Hall of Fame football player
- Brooklyn Decker, a fashion model
- Shaun Foist, drummer for the band Breaking Benjamin
- Kayla Harrison, an Olympic judo champion
- Jerry Lucas, a famous basketball player
- McGuire Sisters, a singing group
- Debra Monk, an award-winning actress
- Clarence Page, a newspaper columnist
- Susan Perkins, Miss America 1978
- Kyle Schwarber, a baseball player
- JD Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio
See also
In Spanish: Middletown (Ohio) para niños
