Russia, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Russia, Ohio
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Village
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St. Remy Catholic Church, a community landmark
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Location of Russia, Ohio
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Location of Russia in Shelby County
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Ohio | ||
| County | Shelby | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.88 sq mi (2.27 km2) | ||
| • Land | 0.87 sq mi (2.24 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 971 ft (296 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 712 | ||
| • Density | 821.22/sq mi (317.17/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
45363
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| Area code(s) | 937, 326 | ||
| FIPS code | 39-69344 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2399149 | ||
| Website | http://www.russiaoh.com/ | ||
Russia (pronounced ROO-shee) is a small village located in Shelby County, Ohio, in the United States. In 2020, 712 people lived there.
Contents
History of Russia, Ohio
Russia was started by Lewis Phillips. He bought the land and planned out the village. His house, built in 1853, was the first home in Russia. Other settlers moved in during the late 1850s.
Phillips also opened the first business, a grocery store, in 1853. Later, other settlers opened a dry goods store, which sold fabric and other items. They also built several sawmills. For a long time, Russia's economy relied heavily on these sawmills, which cut wood into lumber.
French Heritage in Russia
Some of the first people to settle in Russia were French-speaking Swiss. They had fought under Napoléon Bonaparte during the French invasion of Russia in 1812. It is believed that the village was named Russia to remember a battle these soldiers fought in Russia.
The area where Russia was founded already had many French people living there. In the early 1800s, many people from Alsace and Lorraine in France moved to this part of Ohio. They also founded nearby towns like Frenchtown and Versailles.
Religious Beginnings
By the mid-1850s, the number of Roman Catholic residents had grown a lot. This led to the creation of several church areas called parishes. A church made of logs was built and named after Saint Remigius, who is the patron saint of France. The first church service, called Mass, was held there on June 15, 1854.
The church quickly became too small for everyone. So, a new church made of brick was built. When that one also became too small, an even larger brick church was built and finished in 1892. Russia is one of many small towns in a Catholic area of western Ohio known as the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches".
Geography of Russia
According to the United States Census Bureau, Russia village covers a total area of about 0.79 square miles (2.05 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.78 square miles (2.02 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 91 | — | |
| 1970 | 420 | — | |
| 1980 | 438 | 4.3% | |
| 1990 | 442 | 0.9% | |
| 2000 | 551 | 24.7% | |
| 2010 | 640 | 16.2% | |
| 2020 | 712 | 11.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 640 people living in Russia, Ohio. These people lived in 224 households, and 173 of those were families. The average income for a household in the village was $56,035.
2010 Census Details
The population density in 2010 was about 820.5 people per square mile (316.8 people per square kilometer). Most of the people (99.2%) were White. A small number (0.8%) were from two or more races. About 0.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (44.2%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (65.6%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.86 people, and the average family had 3.34 people.
The average age of people in the village was 31.6 years old. About 35% of residents were under 18. About 13.1% were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (48.4%) and females (51.6%).
Education in Russia
Russia has a public library that is part of the Shelby County Libraries system. The village is also home to Russia Local School. This school teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. The school's sports teams are known as the Raiders.
Village Flag
The village's website explains that the flag of Russia, Ohio, shows what the community values. It represents "Christian principles, hard work, and a close-knit, community-minded population." The flag's symbols and colors were chosen to highlight the town's French and Catholic background. They also show how farming and industry helped the community grow over time.
