kids encyclopedia robot

Middletown, Ohio facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the city. For the unincorporated community in Champaign County, see Middletown, Champaign County, Ohio. For the community in Crawford County, see Middletown, Crawford County, Ohio.
Quick facts for kids
Middletown, OH
City
City of Middletown
Downtown Middletown
Downtown Middletown
Motto(s): 
"Bright past, brighter future"
Location of Middletown in Butler County and the state of Ohio
Location of Middletown in Butler County and the state of Ohio
Country United States
State Ohio
Counties Butler, Warren
Area
 • Total 26.43 sq mi (68.44 km2)
 • Land 26.14 sq mi (67.71 km2)
 • Water 0.28 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation
656 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 50,987
 • Density 1,929.1/sq mi (744.99/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
45042-45044
Area code(s) 513
FIPS code 39-49840
GNIS feature ID 1061519
Website https://www.cityofmiddletown.org/

Middletown is a city located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, about 35 miles (47 km) north of Cincinnati. Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886.

The population of Middletown as of the 2020 census was 50,987. It is a town within the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH–KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The city was the home of AK Steel Holding Corporation (formerly Armco), a major steel works founded in 1900. Although offices were moved to nearby West Chester Township in 2007, the AK Steel factory is still in Middletown. Middletown is also home to Hook Field Municipal Airport (airport code MWO), which was formerly served by commercial airlines but is currently only for general aviation. A regional campus of Miami University is located in Middletown. In 1957, Middletown was designated as an All-America City.

Name

The city's name is believed to have been given by its founder, Stephen Vail, but questions remain unanswered as to why. One local historian stated that the city received its name because Mr. Vail had come from Middletown, New Jersey. Another writer believed that the city was named Middletown because it was the midway point of navigation on the Great Miami River, which was then considered a navigable stream. Another theory is credited to the city being roughly halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati. Vail centered the city in Fractional Section 28 of Town 2, Range 4 North. One of the first settlers in Middletown was Daniel Doty who migrated there from New Jersey in the late 18th century.

Geography

Middletown is located at 39°30′N 84°23′W (39.5060, -84.3759).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.43 square miles (68.45 km2), of which 26.19 square miles (67.83 km2) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.

Middletown adjoins the Great Miami River. Middletown also borders the cities of Franklin, Monroe, Trenton, and Liberty and Madison Townships.

Demographics

Historical population
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:

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 48,694 people, 20,238 households, and 12,505 families living in the city. The population density was 1,859.3 inhabitants per square mile (717.9/km2). There were 23,296 housing units at an average density of 889.5 per square mile (343.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.3% White, 11.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 20,238 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

Pop culture

J. D. Vance describes his life in Middletown in Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.

Middletown is referenced in the novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It is used as the location of the birthplace of the gaming mogul James D. Halliday, and a recreation of the town circa 1986 serves as the design for the planet Middletown in Halliday's virtual universe.

Bristol Palin writes about her experience in Middletown in her autobiography Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far.

  • Bert S. Barlow, W.H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, and Frederick Schneider, eds. Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio. Hamilton, Ohio: B.F. Bowen, 1905.
  • Jim Blount. The 1900s: 100 Years In the History of Butler County, Ohio. Hamilton, Ohio: Past Present Press, 2000.
  • Butler County Engineer's Office. Butler County Official Transportation Map, 2003. Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio: The Office, 2003.
  • Ohio. Secretary of State. The Ohio municipal and township roster, 2002-2003. Columbus, Ohio: The Secretary, 2003.



Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Middletown (Ohio) para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Middletown, Ohio Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.