History
Scioto County derives its name from a Native American word for "deer." The Scioto and Ohio rivers meet in Scioto County, and the area's hilly terrain often is described as the "Little Smokies."
Col. Thomas Parker, a Revolutionary War veteran, founded Scioto County's village of Alexandria at the mouth of the Scioto River. Alexandria was the county's first town and, until Portsmouth was laid out, its principal settlement. Emanuel Traxler became Portsmouth's first permanent settler in 1796. Scioto County was formed May 1, 1803. That year surveyor Henry Massie laid out Portsmouth and named the town for Portsmouth, Va., Massie's former home.
Because of its higher elevation and freedom from floods, Portsmouth's population surpassed that of Alexandria, and it became the county seat. On Dec. 29, 1814, Portsmouth was incorporated as a town. A frame courthouse was erected in 1817 on land donated by Henry Massie.
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Business Opportunities
Major Employers
Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC)
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company (G&J)
Mitchellace Shoelace Factory
Automated Payroll Services
M&J Industries
Portsmouth City Board of Education
River Valley Staffing
Scioto County JVSD
Shawnee State University
State of Ohio
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Business Demand
Portsmouth is an Ohio River community with a historic district that has an art gallery and several small shops, including stores for fishing supplies and antiques.
Natural Resources
Scioto County is located adjacent to the Ohio River. The river can be utilized in multiple ways for many types of businesses.
Business Organizations
Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce & Southern Ohio Growth Partnership
324 Chillicothe Street, P.O. Box 509
Portsmouth OH 45662
(740) 353-7647
Scioto County Economic Development
617 Court Street
Portsmouth OH 45662
(740) 355-1265
Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI)
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon OH 45661
(740) 289-3654
High-speed Internet Service
Portsmouth has cable Internet services through Verizon. High-speed satellite services are currently limited to locations in downtown Portsmouth.
Educational Opportunities
Shawnee State University - Offering Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees in many academic areas. Evening and weekend classes and selected graduate programs are available.
The Southeastern Business College - Offers Associate Degrees.
Daymar College - Offering training in a variety of careers.
Tourism and Lifestyle Recreation Opportunities/ Festivals
- Shawnee State Forest and Resort- Largest state forest in Ohio with 60,000 acres. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, camping available.
- Vern Riffe Center for the Arts - Features a variety of shows and performances such as Barber of Seville, Boys Choir of Harlem, Moscow Festival Ballet in Giselle, Lord of the Dance, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
- Floodwall Murals- 2000 ft. of beautiful artwork by artist Robert Dafford in the form of 52 murals depicting the history of Scioto County.
- Scioto County is part of the Ohio Scenic Byways, Bike Trails, and Bird-watching Trails.
- Tour of Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) - annual event held every Mother's Day Weekend. Over 5,000 bicyclists from around the world attend.
- River Days Festival- Family atmosphere, great food and free entertainment. Held Labor Day weekend.
Information about Scioto County
- Scioto County is a picturesque community located at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio rivers in south central Ohio. Irregular in shape and encompassing a total area of 611 square miles or 391,040 acres, its greatest east-west distance is 33 miles and its greatest north-south distance 28 miles.
- The elevation ranges from 464 feet above mean sea level at low-water mark along the Ohio River at the Adams County line to slightly more than 1,300 feet southeast of Mount Joy, giving a range in relief of more than 800 feet.
- Scioto County is essentially hilly in character; about 38% of its area is wooded. The county was originally heavily forested but no virgin timber remains. The largest expanse of forested land is included in Shawnee and Brush Creek State Forests and the Roosevelt Game Preserve.
- The first county seat was established at Alexandria on a site first occupied by an Indian Village known as Lower Shawnee Town, but because of the annual flooding and two severe floods in 1808, the people and the county seat were moved to present-day Portsmouth, which was platted by Henry Massie on the East Bank of the Scioto River at its confluence with the Ohio.
- Since its first settlement in 1803, the county has grown to include approximately 84,684 persons representing a density of 139 persons for each of its 611 square miles.
- Shawnee State Park, located in the Appalachian foothills near the banks of the Ohio, is nestled in the 60,000 acre Shawnee State Forest. Once the hunting grounds of the Shawnee Indians, the region is one of the most picturesque in the state, featuring erosion-carved valleys and wooded hills.
- The county is rich in history, full of river lore and Native American influences, which is matched only by its natural beauty. The hills with their myriad of seasonal colors, combined with the beauty of its rivers and lakes, make Scioto County a truly beautiful place to live or visit.
Visitor Information
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Portsmouth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
324 Chillicothe Street
Portsmouth OH 45662
(740) 353-1116
Airports
Portsmouth Regional Airport
Route 335, Minford, Ohio
(740) 820-2400
5000 foot landing strip. Jet A fuel, 100 and 80 octanes.
Restaurant, car rental, tie-down service, Civil Air Patrol and flight instructors.
Health Services
Southern Ohio Medical Center
1805 27th St.
Portsmouth, OH 45662
(740) 356-5000
SOMC Urgent Care
Wheelersburg, OH 45694 |