Rootstown Township, Portage County, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rootstown Township
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Rootstown High School
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Portage |
| Area | |
| • Total | 27.2 sq mi (70 km2) |
| • Land | 26.5 sq mi (69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,066 ft (325 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,602 |
| • Density | 324.6/sq mi (125.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
44272
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| Area code(s) | 330, 234 |
| FIPS code | 39-68392 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1086838 |
| Website | www.rootstowntwp.com |
Rootstown Township is a community located in Portage County, Ohio, in the United States. It is one of eighteen townships in the county. In 2020, about 8,602 people lived here.
Contents
Geography of Rootstown Township
Rootstown Township is in the southwest part of Portage County. It shares borders with several other townships:
- To the north: Ravenna Township
- To the northeast: Charlestown Township
- To the east: Edinburg Township
- To the southeast: Atwater Township
- To the south: Randolph Township
- To the southwest: Suffield Township
- To the west: Brimfield Township
- To the northwest: Franklin Township
No large cities or towns are located within Rootstown Township itself. The township covers an area of about 26.4 square miles (68.4 square kilometers). It was originally formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve, which was a piece of land once claimed by Connecticut.
Origin of the Name Rootstown
Rootstown Township is the only place in Ohio with this name. It was named after Ephraim Root. He was a lawyer and an investor from Coventry, Connecticut. Ephraim Root owned land in the Connecticut Western Reserve, including this township.
History of Rootstown Township
Early Settlement and Growth
Ephraim Root first visited the area in 1800. His brother, David Root, was the first person to settle there in 1802. Rootstown was officially organized as a civil township in 1810. Before that, it was part of Franklin Township.
The Rootstown Post Office opened in 1821. It still serves the township today with the ZIP Code 44272. In 1832, many German immigrants came to Rootstown. They worked as farmers, stonemasons, and carpenters.
A sad event happened in 1845 when a sickness affected 49 people. This included Dr. Andrew Basset, who was the town's only doctor. In 1850, sixteen whaling sea captains from Nantucket bought land here. They built large homes and became farmers. Nelson Converse opened the first general store in the town center in 1853. The Central and Pacific Railroad was built through the township in 1866.
Modern Developments
Electricity arrived in Rootstown in 1921, bringing modern comforts. Street lights were added to Rootstown and New Milford in 1949.
A volunteer fire company was started in 1938 by 27 men. Their equipment was kept in the town hall basement. Volunteers and community fundraisers helped build a new fire station in 1955–1956. A new, larger fire station was built in 2002. It is located at the corner of Tallmadge Road and State Route 44.
Religious Communities
The first church in Rootstown was the Rootstown Congregational Church, started in 1810. The Methodist Church followed in 1815. St. Peter of the Fields Catholic Church was established in 1868. Grace Church of Rootstown (formerly New Milford Baptist) began in 1948. In 1961, a Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved to Rootstown. This church serves the southern part of Portage County.
Public Services in Rootstown Township
Transportation
Several major roads run through Rootstown Township. These include State Route 5, State Route 44, and Interstate 76. Public transportation is available through the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA). PARTA offers bus routes to nearby towns like Kent and Ravenna.
Education
Rootstown Township is served by the Rootstown Local School District. This district has three schools on a central campus:
- An elementary school for grades K–5
- A middle school for grades 6–8
- A high school for grades 9–12
All three schools are located on State Route 44. Across the street is the campus of Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). NEOMED is also home to the Bio-Med Science Academy High School. This academy focuses on STEM+M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) and serves students in grades 7-12.
Cemeteries
Rootstown Township has three cemeteries: the Old Cemetery, St. Peter of the Fields Cemetery, and Homeland Cemetery.
Old Cemetery
The first recorded death in Rootstown Township was on August 31, 1808. This cemetery was used until 1897. The last known burial here was in 1999.
St. Peter of the Fields Cemetery
This cemetery was established in 1867. It is considered holy ground for the Catholic church of St. Peter of the Fields. A shrine and altar were built here in 1941 and rebuilt in 2001.
Homeland Cemetery
Land for Homeland Cemetery was bought and cleared around 1890. More burial plots were added in 2001-2002. The cemetery records were also put on computer discs.
