Editing Portsmouth, Ohio (section)

===21st century ===
[[File:US Grant Bridge aerial 2017.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of downtown Portsmouth]]
As of 2010, Portsmouth has a population of approximately 20,000. It has shared in the loss of jobs due to unskilled labor outsourcing and population migration to more populous urban areas.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} Despite its relatively small size, Portsmouth has been a regular stop for recent presidential campaigns. In September 2004, [[George W. Bush]] visited the city as part of his reelection campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5963411|title=USA TODAY: Latest World and US News - USATODAY.com|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=2017-07-03}}</ref> Vice-presidential candidate [[John Edwards]] also visited Portsmouth that month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2004/09/17/Edwards-pledges-to-keep-jobs-of-workers-at-uranium-plant.html|title=Edwards pledges to keep jobs of workers at uranium plant|date=2004-09-17|work=The Blade|access-date=2017-07-03|language=en-US}}</ref> During the 2008 campaign, numerous candidates and surrogates visited Portsmouth, and some spoke at [[Shawnee State University]]: [[Bill Clinton]] on behalf of [[Hillary Clinton]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/bill-clinton-visits-tri-state-area/article_73cb3ab2-f18a-5084-bfa9-c86c8673af5d.html|title=Bill Clinton visits Tri-State area|last=Herald-Dispatch|first=DAVID E. MALLOYThe|work=The Herald-Dispatch|access-date=2017-07-03|language=en}}</ref> Republican nominee [[John McCain]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/photos_news/gallery-mccain-visits-portsmouth/article_855bbd2a-9d6f-5219-9c00-3cb0e286e7aa.html|title=Gallery: McCain visits Portsmouth|last=Herald-Dispatch.com|work=The Herald-Dispatch|access-date=2017-07-03|language=en}}</ref> and U.S. Senator [[Barack Obama]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/photos_news/gallery-obama-in-portsmouth/article_19afe450-2a69-55d4-9c27-ed0606f413e9.html|title=Gallery: Obama in Portsmouth|last=Herald-DispatchHerald-Dispatch.com|first=2008/The|work=The Herald-Dispatch|access-date=2017-07-03|language=en}}</ref> who won the election. In 2012, candidate [[Mitt Romney]] spoke at Shawnee State University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Romney-Campaigns-in-Portsmouth-Oh-174065171.html|title=Romney Campaigns in Portsmouth, Oh.|last=Jarosz|first=Brooks|date=October 14, 2012|website=WSAZ}}</ref> In March 2016, Bill Clinton visited Portsmouth again to campaign for Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/President-Bill-Clinton-makes-a-stop-in-Portsmouth-371901212.html|title=President Bill Clinton makes a stop in Portsmouth|last=WSAZ|access-date=2017-07-03|language=en}}</ref> In August 2017, U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate [[Bernie Sanders]] spoke at a rally at Shawnee State University.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Puit|first=Glenn|date=August 22, 2017|title=Sanders addresses healthcare, public education in Portsmouth rally|work=The Daily Independent|url=https://www.dailyindependent.com/news/local_news/sanders-addresses-healthcare-public-education-in-portsmouth-rally/article_1fc1345a-8757-11e7-ba4b-63be08c2afa4.html|access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref>

Portsmouth and other parts of Scioto County have worked to redevelop blighted properties and create a new economy. Along with adapting disused residential properties, Portsmouth has begun the process of transforming abandoned industrial and commercial properties to other uses.

The city has initiated new developments in its downtown. The Ohio Legislature passed House Bill 233 on April 20, 2016, to authorize cities to create Downtown Redevelopment Districts. They operate similarly to a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District. Portsmouth formed a Downtown Redevelopment District (DRD) in 2017 in the Boneyfiddle neighborhood to increase investment and development there.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.communitycommon.com/news/2091/portsmouth-to-form-downtown-redevelopment-district|title=Portsmouth to form Downtown Redevelopment District|access-date=2017-07-03|others=Community Common|language=en-US}}</ref>

Through the early 21st century, there has been a noticeable increase in investment in Portsmouth's local economy. New investments and developments in the local economy led to Portsmouth's inclusion in ''Site Selection Magazine''{{'}}s "Top 10 Micropolitan areas". Celina, Defiance and Portsmouth were among a group of cities tied for 10th. Portsmouth attracted nine significant economic development projects in 2016, nearly as many as it had from 2004 to 2013 combined.<ref name="Data points to economic growth">{{Cite news|url=http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/6219/data-points-to-economic-growth|title=Data points to economic growth|access-date=2017-07-03|others=Portsmouth Daily Times|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170301/ohio-2nd-in-economic-development-report-columbus-finishes-8th|title=Ohio 2nd in economic-development report; Columbus finishes 8th|last=Williams|first=Mark|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2017-07-03|language=en}}</ref>

In 2014, Portsmouth was one of 350 cities to enter a submission in the America's Best Communities competition, hoping to win the $3 million first place prize.<ref name=ABCSemis>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160113005710/en/Fifteen-Communities-Advance-America%E2%80%99s-Communities-10M-Prize |title=Fifteen Communities Advance in America's Best Communities $10M Prize Competition |first=John |last=Puskar |work=[[Frontier Communications]] |publisher=[[Business Wire]] |date=2016-06-13 |access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> In April 2015, Portsmouth was chosen as one of the 50 quarter-finalists, winning $50,000 to help prepare a Community Revitalization Plan.<ref name=ABCSemis/> In January 2016, Portsmouth's plan, which emphasized using its most valuable asset, the Ohio River, as a key to revitalizing the city, earned it one of 15 spots in the competition's semifinals.<ref name=ABCResult>{{Cite news |url=https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/7352/portsmouth-does-not-advance-in-competition |title=$25,000 given to continue work |first=Wayne |last=Allen |work=[[Portsmouth Daily Times]] |date=2016-04-27 |access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> In April 2016, Portsmouth was one of seven cities eliminated at the semifinal round, but received an additional $25,000 for use in continuing to develop its plans to improve commercial and community access to the riverfront by making the port a premier regional destination for industrial development, small business development, and riverfront recreation.<ref name=ABCResult/>

In 2019, Portsmouth was named Hallmarks' Hometown Christmas Town. The Friends of Portsmouth group held the annual Winterfest celebration event that brought Christmas lights, vendors, ice skating, carriage rides, tree lighting, and more to Market Square.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ball|first=Lane|date=December 1, 2019|title=Winterfest attracts attention from the Hallmark Channel|work=WOWK 13News|url=https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/winterfest-attracts-attention-from-the-hallmark-channel/|access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Jenkins|first=Kimberly|date=November 18, 2019|title=Portsmouth named Hallmark Hometown Christmas Town|work=Portsmouth Daily Times|url=https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/43173/portsmouth-named-hallmark-hometown-christmas-town|access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref>