Editing Cheshire, Ohio

{{For|the unincorporated community in Delaware County|Cheshire, Delaware County, Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Cheshire, Ohio
|settlement_type          = [[Village (Ohio)|Village]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Cheshire OH 2004.JPG
|image_caption            = Cheshire, 2004
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = OHMap-doton-Cheshire.png
|map_caption              = Location of Cheshire, Ohio
|image_map1               = Map of Gallia County Ohio Highlighting Cheshire Village.png
|map_caption1             = Location of Cheshire in Gallia 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        = [[Gallia County, Ohio|Gallia]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of Ohio townships|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Cheshire Township, Ohio|Cheshire]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|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           = 2.03
|area_land_km2            = 2.00
|area_water_km2           = 0.03
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.78
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.77
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 124
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="2023 est">{{cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-POP-39.xlsx |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=10 June 2024}}</ref>
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 123
|population_density_km2   = 61.65
|population_density_sq_mi = 159.74

<!-- 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             = 561
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|57|01|N|82|06|47|W|region:US-OH|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 45620
|area_code                = [[Area code 740|740]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 39-13932<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397615<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397615}}</ref>
|website                  = 
}}

'''Cheshire''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|tʃ|ɛ|ʃ|ər}}<ref>{{cite web|title=A Pronunciation Guide to Places in Ohio|publisher=E.W.Scripps School of Journalism|url=http://scrippsjschool.org/pronunciation/|access-date=December 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725084101/http://scrippsjschool.org/pronunciation/|archive-date=July 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a [[village (United States)#Ohio|village]] in [[Gallia County, Ohio|Gallia County]], [[Ohio]], United States, along the [[Ohio River]]. The population was 123 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. It is part of the rural [[Point Pleasant micropolitan area]].

==History==
Cheshire, Ohio, was named for the county of [[Cheshire]] in England.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n78 79]}}</ref>

===Town buyout by American Electric Power===
By 2000, the village was plagued by toxic [[sulfur]]ous gas clouds and [[acid rain]] from the nearby [[coal]]-fired [[Gavin Power Plant]]. Residents hired lawyers requesting a buyout.  The plant's owner, [[American Electric Power]] (AEP), investigated the claims and found that no long-term injuries/illnesses resulted from the cloud but decided it could use the land to expand plant property for future technologies. In 2002, AEP reached a settlement with residents that was effectively a $20 million buyout.<ref>{{cite news |title=AEP Agrees To Buy Out Entire Town |last= Hawthorn |first= Michael |work=[[Columbus Dispatch]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=11 |date=April 17, 2002 |access-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref> Most of the 221 residents agreed to leave the town and absolve the company from future property or health claims, while some remain through either deals with the company or refusal to sell their property. The company announced plans to demolish the existing structures and construct a dock facility for coal [[barge]]s, but has not yet begun work on constructing them.

In 2004, the remaining villagers of Cheshire and residents of the surrounding area took steps to expand the village limits by annexing properties within about a mile north and west of the previous village limits.<ref>{{cite news |title=AEP Fighting Annexation Petition |last= Price |first= Rita |work=[[Columbus Dispatch]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_widesearch=yes&p_multi=CLDB%7cTWNB%7c&p_product=COLNP&p_theme=colnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=%22village+of+cheshire%22+aep%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22village+of+cheshire%22+aep)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |date=August 20, 2004 |access-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nearly Deserted Cheshire Still Attempting To Add Residents|last= Price |first= Rita |work=[[Columbus Dispatch]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_widesearch=yes&p_multi=CLDB%7cTWNB%7c&p_product=COLNP&p_theme=colnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=%22village+of+cheshire%22+aep%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22village+of+cheshire%22+aep)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |date=February 11, 2005 |access-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|0.78|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.77|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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=January 6, 2013 |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=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 276
|1960= 369
|1970= 315
|1980= 297
|1990= 250
|2000= 221
|2010= 132
|2020= 123
|estyear=2023
|estimate=124
|estref=<ref name="2023 est"/>
|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>
}}

===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=January 6, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 132 people, 67 households, and 36 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|171.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 76 housing units at an average density of {{convert|98.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 96.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 67 households, of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.3% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.67.

The median age in the village was 52 years. 15.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.6% were from 25 to 44; 37.1% were from 45 to 64; and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 53.0% male and 47.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 221 people, 93 households, and 59 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|1,201.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 110 housing units at an average density of {{convert|597.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 98.19% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]] and 0.45% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]].

There were 93 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $30,179, and the median income for a family was $31,786. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $21,667 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $13,926. About 11.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.8% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.

==Education==
Public education in the village of Cheshire is provided by the [[Gallia County Local School District]].

==Notable people==
*[[Frank Cremeans]], U.S. Representative from Ohio
*[[Grandma Gatewood|Emma Rowena (Caldwell) Gatewood]], known as "Grandma Gatewood", first woman to solo [[Thru-hiking|thru-hike]] the [[Appalachian Trail]]
*[[Harvey V. Higley]], businessman
*[[Wendell Holmes (actor)]], American actor

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.forgottenoh.com/Cheshire/cheshire.html Cheshire, Ohio at Forgotten Ohio]
* [http://www.cheshiretransaction.com The Cheshire Transaction: One Small Ohio Town. One Power Plant. One Unusual Buyout Proposal. A documentary film]

{{Gallia County, Ohio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Gallia County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Ohio populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:American Electric Power]]
[[Category:Villages in Ohio]]