Nelsonville, Ohio
Downtown Nelsonville's public square in 2006
Location of Nelsonville, Ohio
Coordinates: 39°27′19″N 82°13′32″W / 39.45528, -82.22556
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Athens
Area
- Total	5.0 sq mi (12.9 km²)
- Land	5.0 sq mi (12.9 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation [1]	679 ft (207 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,230
- Density	1,051.9/sq mi (406.2/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	45764
Area code(s)	740
FIPS code	39-53886[2]
GNIS feature ID	1076504[1]

Nelsonville is a city in northwestern Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,230 at the 2000 census. Hocking College is located in Nelsonville.

Geography

Nelsonville is located at 39°27′19″N, 82°13′32″W (39.455167, -82.225650)^[3], along the Hocking River; Monday Creek flows through the eastern part of the city.^[4] One of the main streets, Canal Street, is located on top of where the old Hocking Canal once ran.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), all of it land.

Nelsonville is located on U.S. Route 33. Currently, a bypass is being planned for the city.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 5,230 people, 2,036 households, and 1,060 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,051.9 people per square mile (406.3/km²). There were 2,273 housing units at an average density of 457.2/sq mi (176.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.22% White, 2.39% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.

There were 2,036 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.9% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 28.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 112.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,634, and the median income for a family was $27,122. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $16,509 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,552. About 22.9% of families and 33.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.5% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Public services

The residents of Nelsonville are served by the Nelsonville-York City School District and Nelsonville-York High School. They are also served by the Athens County Public Library with branches in Albany, Athens, Chauncey, Coolville, Glouster, Nelsonville, and The Plains.

Culture

This section called "Culture" needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2007)

Nelsonville owes its existence to the coal mining industry. In more recent years, its main industrial base was the Rocky Shoes factory, which has since moved out of the country, but continues to maintain the new Rocky Gear Store, set in the recently renovated, original factory and the Rocky Brands corporate offices. Another important employer is Hocking College. Other major employers in Nelsonville include: Tri-County Vocational School, EDMAP (an online book delivery company), Doctors Hospital Nelsonville, Nelsonville-York City Schools, Hocking Correctional Facility, Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, Hocking Valley Residential Center, and SEPTA Center.

Nelsonville is organized around a public square, where, every month, a "Final Friday" celebration is held, with vendors, art show openings, and often shows at the recently-renovated Stuart's Opera House, an old theater from the 1800s. The Public Square is a vibrant, historic downtown and is filled with dozens of art galleries, and unique eating establishments.

The main commercial district is centered on the Canal Street strip that runs from the eastern to western corporation limits. Much development has occurred on Canal Street over the past decade.

The Paul Bunyan Show, a large tourist draw, was held annually on the Hocking College campus through 2005, most often in the first weekend of October. The Festival included lumberjacks, chain-saw carving, pole climbing, log birling, crafts, and logs skidded by horses—anything that has to do with wood or the wood products industry. As of 2006, the Ohio Forestry Service has decided to relocate the Paul Bunyan Show. Hocking College held its first annual Timber and Outdoor Show October 2006, in place of the vacant Paul Bunyan Show. In 2007, the event was renamed the 'Great Outdoor Aventure', with a greater focus on outdoor themes unrelated to the wood products industry.

The Parade of the Hills Festival is held annually in the Month of August and boasts the region's best community cultural event. It includes 3 stages of entertainment, an Art Walk, Carnival, children's park (The First National Family Fun Park, Library Junction, and the Ohio State Fiddling Contest. Saturday culminates the event with one of the largest parades in Ohio.

Nelsonville has two connections to Hollywood. It is the birthplace of actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who is best known for her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw on HBO's Sex and the City. Nelsonville is also the site of the 1985 film "Mischief" starring Kelly Preston.

Nelsonville is also the burial place of former Major League Baseball player Estel Crabtree.

Famous Natives

• Sarah Jessica Parker - Award winning actress

References

External links

• Athens County Public Library-Nelsonville
• The Parade of the Hills Festival
• Final Fridays, Celebrating the Arts in Nelsonville
• Nelsonville.net - History
• Nelsonville Area Chamber of Commerce

• Nelsonville, Ohio is at coordinates 39°27′19″N 82°13′32″W / 39.455167, -82.22565 (Nelsonville, Ohio)Coordinates: 39°27′19″N 82°13′32″W / 39.455167, -82.22565 (Nelsonville, Ohio)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Athens County, Ohio County seat: Athens Cities Athens | Nelsonville Villages Albany | Amesville | Buchtel | Chauncey | Coolville | Glouster | Jacksonville | Trimble Townships Alexander | Ames | Athens | Bern | Canaan | Carthage | Dover | Lee | Lodi | Rome | Trimble | Troy | Waterloo | York CDP The Plains Unincorporated communities Carbondale | Guysville | Hockingport | Millfield | New Marshfield | Shade | Sharpsburg | Stewart