Editing Amelia, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Amelia Census Designated Place
| settlement_type    = [[Unincorporated area]]<ref name="Enquirer Vilvens">{{cite news|title=Residents call for the dissolution of Clermont County Village of Amelia|first=Sheila|last=Vilvens|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|publisher=Gannett Company|date=June 29, 2018|access-date=November 7, 2019|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/06/29/residents-call-dissolution-clermont-cty-village-amelia/746024002/}}</ref>
| nickname           = 
| motto              = Where Vision Becomes Reality

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = AmeliaOH1 (cropped).JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = The Amelia welcome sign, removed in 2019.<ref name="NYT Mervosh">{{cite news|title=They Wanted to Save Their 119-Year-Old Village. So They Got Rid of It.|first=Sarah|last=Mervosh|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 26, 2019|access-date=November 26, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/us/amelia-ohio-dissolve.html}}</ref>
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = OHMap-doton-Amelia.png
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Amelia, Ohio
| image_map1         = Map of Clermont County Ohio Highlighting Amelia Village.png
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = Location of Amelia in Clermont County

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ohio]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Clermont County, Ohio|Clermont]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]-elect
| leader_name        = Renee Gerber<ref name="WCPO dissolve">{{cite news|title=Amelia residents vote to dissolve village|work=WCPO-TV|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company|date=2019-11-06|access-date=2019-11-07|url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/clermont-county/amelia/amelia-residents-vote-to-dissolve-village}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = December 20, 1900
| extinct_title      = Dissolved
| extinct_date       = November 25, 2019
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 14.38
| area_land_km2      = 14.33
| area_water_km2     = 0.05
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.55
| area_land_sq_mi    = 5.54
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.02

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 12575
| population_density_km2 = 877.26
| population_density_sq_mi = 2271.91
| population_demonym = Amelian<ref>{{cite news|title=Ever been to Newtonsville, Ohio? Now's your chance. It's one of two local villages that could disappear|first=Scott|last=Wartman|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|publisher=Gannett Company|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/10/29/2019-election-fate-these-ohio-towns-voters-hands/4076209002/}}</ref>

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 889
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|01|37|N|84|13|19|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 45102
| area_code          = [[Area code 513|513]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 39-01742<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2805373<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2805373}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.ameliavillage.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
| name               = Amelia, Ohio
}}

'''Amelia''' is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and former [[village (United States)#Ohio|village]] in [[Pierce Township, Clermont County, Ohio|Pierce]] and [[Batavia Township, Ohio|Batavia]] townships in [[Clermont County, Ohio|Clermont County]], [[Ohio]], [[United States]]. The population was 12,575 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Amelia incorporated in 1900. In November 2019, residents voted to dissolve the village over the imposition of a local [[Income tax in the United States|income tax]].<ref name="WCPO dissolve" /> Amelia was by far the most populous village in state history to be dissolved and the first to be partitioned between two townships.<ref name="Enquirer Wartman" /><ref name="Sun Alley" />

==History==
[[File:AmeliaOH3.JPG|thumb|left|Amelia Bowdoin House]]

Amelia was not officially [[plat]]ted.<ref>{{cite book|last=Everts|first=Louis H.|title=History of Clermont County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers|url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002054234126;view=1up;seq=551|year=1880|publisher=J.B. Lippincott & Co.|location=Philadelphia|page=435}}</ref> The area was originally called Milltown, later shortened to Milton. However, when a post office was established in 1836, there was already a [[West Milton, Ohio|Milton]] Post Office in the state. Various accounts state that the post office was named Amelia after Amelia Bowdoin, a well known and popular tollkeeper on the Ohio Turnpike (present-day [[Ohio State Route 125|State Route 125]]). Her home is now known as the Amelia Bowdoin House and stands at 94 West Main Street, across the street from its original location.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.clermontcountyohio.gov/history/history_villages_amelia.htm |title=Clermont County, Ohio: History of Amelia |access-date=2008-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127113603/http://www.clermontcountyohio.gov/history/history_villages_amelia.htm |archive-date=2008-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=OH&county=Clermont | title=Clermont County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Sun Hunt">{{cite news|title=The Forgotten Women of Clermont County: How did the village of Amelia get its name exactly?|first=Sarah|last=Hunt|work=[[The Clermont Sun]]|publisher=Champion Media|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2019|url=https://www.clermontsun.com/2018/06/25/the-forgotten-women-of-clermont-county-how-did-the-village-of-amelia-get-its-name-exactly/}}</ref> However, there is no census record of an Amelia Bowdoin; Amelia may have been a corruption of the name of Armilla Bodin, the wife of a tollkeeper.<ref name="Sun Hunt" /><ref>{{cite web|title=And They Lived in Amelia: Amelia Bodin|first=Pam|last=Troxell|publisher=Clermont County Ohio Historical Society|date=2012|access-date=November 10, 2019|url=http://clermont-county-history.org/historical-articles/amelia-bodin.html}}</ref> Amelia was incorporated as a village on December 20, 1900.<ref name="WLWT London">{{cite news|title=Amelia voted itself out of existence: Now what?|first=John|last=London|work=[[WLWT-TV]]|publisher=Hearst Television|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 8, 2019|url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/amelia-voted-itself-out-of-existence-now-what/29730377}}</ref>

Amelia's population rose from 4,801 in the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] to an estimated 5,009 in 2018. Under state law, the village would have been required to become a city after it posted a population over 5,000 in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. In preparation for becoming a city, it adopted a charter in November 2017,<ref name="Enquirer Vilvens" /><ref name="Sun Milam">{{cite news|title=Anger boils over in Amelia|first=Brett|last=Milam|work=The Clermont Sun|location=Batavia, Ohio|publisher=Champion Media|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=November 7, 2019|url=https://www.clermontsun.com/2018/07/17/anger-boils-over-in-amelia/}}</ref> though the change in status was not reflected in the [[Ohio Secretary of State]]'s roster of municipalities.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Villages, Statutory|chapter-url=https://ohioroster.ohiosos.gov/download_documents/Village_Officials_Statutory2018-2019.xlsx|chapter-format=Microsoft Excel|title=The Ohio Municipal, Township and School Board Roster|publisher=Ohio Secretary of State|date=2018|access-date=November 19, 2019|url=https://ohioroster.ohiosos.gov/muni_townships.aspx}}</ref> Among other changes, becoming a city would have protected Amelia from dissolution.<ref name="Enquirer Wartman wrong" />

===Dissolution===
[[File:AmeliaOH2.JPG|thumb|left|Eastbound [[Ohio State Route 125|State Route 125]] (Main Street) in Amelia]]

In 2008, Amelia Village Council proposed a one-percent [[Income tax in the United States|income tax]] to cover maintenance of [[Ohio State Route 125]] within the village. In response to the proposal, Amelia Residents for Fiscal Responsibility gathered a [[petition]] to [[Dissolution (law)|dissolve]] the village into [[Pierce Township, Clermont County, Ohio|Pierce]] and [[Batavia Township, Ohio|Batavia]] townships. The Clermont County Board of Elections initially rejected the petition after invalidating many of the signatures, but the group succeeded in adding the [[Popular initiative|initiative]] to a May 5, 2009, special election.<ref name="Sun Milam" /> Amelia survived the election by a margin of 865 to 401.<ref name="Enquirer Brunsman">{{cite news|title=Abolish Amelia, petitioners demand|first=Barrett J.|last=Brunsman|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|publisher=Gannett Company|date=2009-01-29|access-date=2009-01-29|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090129/NEWS01/301290099/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201052406/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090129/NEWS01/301290099/|archive-date=2009-02-01|quote=Residents who want to dissolve this Clermont County village have submitted petitions asking that voters be allowed to decide the matter in May. ... Village Council must adopt a resolution before Feb. 19 to get the issue on the May 5 ballot.}}</ref><ref name="WCPO vote results">{{cite news|title=Amelia Voters Decide Against Dissolution|first=Lynn|last=Giroud|work=[[WCPO-TV]]|location=[[Cincinnati, Ohio]]|publisher=[[E. W. Scripps Company]]|date=2009-05-06|access-date=2009-05-08|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Amelia-Voters-Decide-Against-Dissolution/bHLwBDSvqkm1nskUe4eMHA.cspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507084219/http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Amelia-Voters-Decide-Against-Dissolution/bHLwBDSvqkm1nskUe4eMHA.cspx|archive-date=7 May 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On February 5, 2018, the council unanimously adopted the proposed one-percent income tax in an emergency ordinance, without the usual three readings, to meet a deadline imposed by the Regional Income Tax Authority.<ref name="Enquirer Vilvens" /><ref name="Sun Milam" /> The tax went into effect on July 1, 2018, making Amelia the last village in Clermont County to impose an income tax after cuts to the state's local government fund and one of more than 600 cities and villages in Ohio that tax income.<ref name="NYT Mervosh" /> Former councilmember Renee Gerber subsequently led a petition drive for dissolution. A June 29 council meeting became heated over the tax and dissolution campaign.<ref name="Sun Milam" />

On November 5, 2019, residents voted to dissolve the village by a margin of 843 to 479. Amelia was split between Pierce and Batavia townships along State Route 125. [[Newtonsville, Ohio|Newtonsville]] residents voted for dissolution the same day.<ref name="Enquirer Wartman">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/11/06/election-2019-amelia-and-newtonsville-voted-not-exist/4175623002/|title=Two villages voted themselves out of existence on Tuesday|last=Wartman|first=Scott|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|publisher=Gannett Company|language=en|date=2009-11-06|access-date=2019-11-06}}</ref> Dissolution took effect at 10:00&nbsp;AM on November 25, 2019, when the election results were certified.<ref name="WLWT London" /> Gerber was elected to serve as the village's final mayor during a yearlong transition period under the oversight of the [[Ohio State Auditor]],<ref name="WCPO dissolve" /><ref name="Sun Alley">{{cite news|title=Pierce Twp. holds special meeting to answer 'what-ifs' {{sic|surro|nding|nolink=y}} possible Amelia dissolve|first=Megan|last=Alley|work=The Clermont Sun|location=Batavia, Ohio|publisher=Champion Media|date=October 17, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019|url=https://www.clermontsun.com/2019/10/17/pierce-twp-holds-special-meeting-to-answer-what-ifs-surronding-possible-amelia-dissolve/}}</ref> but upon the auditor's advice, Hart was retained to carry out the village's remaining administrative responsibilities. Amelia residents will continue to pay the one-percent income tax until at least ${{format price|3000000}} in debt is paid off.<ref name="Enquirer Wartman wrong">{{cite news|title=What could go wrong? After an Ohio village voted to dissolve, just about everything|first=Scott|last=Wartman|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=April 1, 2020|access-date=November 4, 2020|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/04/01/amelia-clermont-county-ohio-village-dissolved/5101777002/}}</ref> Amelia was by far the most populous village in state history to be dissolved and the first to be partitioned between two townships.<ref name="Enquirer Wartman" /><ref name="Sun Alley" />

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village had a total area of {{convert|1.79|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2013-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 185
|1910= 417
|1920= 658
|1930= 427
|1940= 550
|1950= 601
|1960= 913
|1970= 820
|1980= 1108
|1990= 1837
|2000= 2752
|2010= 4801
|2020= 12575
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ameliacdpohio,US/PST045221|title=Amelia CDP, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=June 28, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,801 people, 1,830 households, and 1,238 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2682.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,974 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1102.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 95.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 1,830 households, of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.15.

The median age in the village was 30.5 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 36.6% were from 25 to 44; 19.7% were from 45 to 64; and 5.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,752 people, 1,063 households, and 738 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|2,007.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,112 housing units at an average density of {{convert|811.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 96.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.07% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.29% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.73% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 1,063 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 39.3% from 25 to 44, 13.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $44,900, and the median income for a family was $51,699. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $26,295 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $17,772. About 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The former municipality is in the [[West Clermont Local School District]]<!--UNI 04635-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st39_oh/c39025_clermont/DC10SD_C39025_001.pdf|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Clermont County, OH|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st39_oh/c39025_clermont/DC10SD_C39025_SD2MS.txt Text] - Indicates Amelia's boundary, while the [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st39_oh/schooldistrict_maps/c39025_clermont/DC20SD_C39025.pdf 2020 map] does not. See [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st39_oh/c39025_clermont/DC10SD_C39025_SD2MS.txt text list]</ref> [[West Clermont High School]] is the public comprehensive high school.

Amelia has a public library, a branch of the [[Clermont County Public Library]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.clermontlibrary.org/locations/ | title=Locations | publisher=Clermont County Public Library | access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st39_oh/place/p3901742_amelia/DC10BLK_P3901742_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Amelia village, OH|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st39_Ohio/Place/3901742_Amelia/CBP3901742_001.pdf|title=CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: AMELIA Village|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}}
* [[1990 U.S. Census]] [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st39_Ohio/39025_Clermont/90B39025_000.pdf Index map of Clermont County] with Amelia on pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st39_Ohio/39025_Clermont/90B39025_007.pdf 7] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st39_Ohio/39025_Clermont/90B39025_008.pdf 8]

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Amelia (Ohio)}}
* {{Official website|http://www.ameliavillage.com/}}

{{Clermont County, Ohio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Former villages in Clermont County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Former municipalities in Ohio]]
[[Category:1900 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1900]]
[[Category:2019 disestablishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2019]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Clermont County, Ohio]]