Editing Wellsville, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Wellsville, Ohio
|settlement_type          = [[Village (United States)|Village]]
|image_skyline            = Wellsville-ohio-aerial.jpg
|imagesize                = 225px
|image_caption            = Wellsville from the air, looking south. The [[Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort]] is visible towards the top.
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_map                = Columbiana County Ohio incorporated and unincorporated areas Wellsville highlighted.png
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location of Wellsville in Columbiana County, Ohio.
|pushpin_map              = Ohio#USA
|pushpin_relief           = yes
|pushpin_label            = Wellsville

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates             = {{coord|40|36|15|N|80|39|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name        = United States
|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2       = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
|subdivision_name1       = [[Ohio]]
|subdivision_name2       = [[Columbiana County, Ohio|Columbiana]]

<!-- Government -->
|established_title       = 
|established_date        =

<!-- Area -->
|government_footnotes    = 
|government_type         = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
|leader_title            = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name             = Robert Boley ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])<ref name="New Mayor">{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2021/11/bob-boley-overwhelmingly-elected-wellsville-mayor/|title=Bob Boley overwhelmingly elected Wellsville mayor|access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref>
|leader_title1           = Village Administrator
|leader_name1            = 
|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          = 4.95
|area_total_sq_mi        = 1.91
|area_land_km2           = 4.67
|area_land_sq_mi         = 1.80
|area_water_km2          = 0.28
|area_water_sq_mi        = 0.11

<!-- Population -->
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft            = 715
|population_total        = 3113
|population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes    = 
|population_density_km2  = 667.02
|population_density_sq_mi = 1727.52

<!-- General information -->
|population_est          = 
|pop_est_as_of           = 
|postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code             = 43968
|area_code               = [[Area codes 234 and 330|330, 234]]
|website                 = <!-- http://www.wellsvilleohio.us/ (404 on 16 Aug 2020) -->
|footnotes               = 
|timezone                = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset              = -5
|timezone_DST            = EDT
|utc_offset_DST          = -4
|blank_name              = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info              = 39-82740
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info             = 1085906<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1085906}}</ref>
|blank2_name             = [[School district]]
|blank2_info             = [[Wellsville Local School District]]
}}

'''Wellsville''' is a [[village (United States)#Ohio|village]] in [[Columbiana County, Ohio]], United States. The population was 3,113 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US3982740 |title=Wellsville village, Ohio | publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=March 24, 2022 }}</ref> In its heyday, notable industries in Wellsville included shipping via the [[Ohio River]] and [[Pennsylvania Railroad]], as well as [[pottery]] and [[ceramics]] manufacturing.

==History==
[[File:Wellsville Ohio Bottle Kiln 06 2013.jpg|thumb|left|upright|This [[Bottle oven|bottle kiln]] was once part of the "stilt works" which was purchased in the 1920s by Acme Craft Pottery and moved for the construction of [[Ohio State Route 7]]]]

===Early history and establishment===
In 1770, [[George Washington]] with his friend and personal surveyor, [[William Crawford (soldier)|William Crawford]], embarked on a journey down the Ohio River from [[Pittsburgh]] for the purpose of viewing lands to be apportioned among soldiers who had served in the [[French and Indian War]]. They are reported to have surveyed the Wellsville area, just north of Yellow Creek in 1770,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danielboonetrail.com/historicalsites.php?id=86|title=DanielBooneTrail.com|website=DanielBooneTrail.com|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> and it was noted in his journal that it was good bottom land.

The [[Yellow Creek Massacre]] occurred near Wellsville in 1774. A group of Virginian settlers killed the relatives of a prominent Iroquois leader, [[Logan (American Indian leader)|Logan]], who was camped on Yellow Creek. Logan took revenge, resulting in [[Dunmore's War|Lord Dunmore's War]].

James Clark and William Wells first settled in the area in 1795. Although they had to leave for a while due to Native American attacks in the area, they returned between 1797 and 1800. Wellsville was founded in 1797 by William Wells, a Pennsylvanian, and former justice of the [[Territory Northwest of the River Ohio]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mangus|first1=Michael|last2=Herman|first2=Jennifer L.|title=Ohio Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bndxn4Qlt4EC&pg=PA572|year=2008|publisher=North American Book Dist LLC|isbn=978-1-878592-68-2|page=572}}</ref> Wellsville's first school and church were also established before 1800. A barn built in 1807 by the Aten family was moved to [[Hale Farm and Village]] in Bath, Ohio.<ref>From Hale Farm's website: Though Wheatfield Village never really existed, the historic buildings are original 19th century structures built within Ohio's Western Reserve.  These buildings were acquired by Hale Farm and moved to the site as part of a "historic preservation through relocation" program. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20021218211328/http://wneo.org/halefarm/village/wheatfield2.htm 404 - File or directory not found.]}}</ref>

===19th century to present===
In 1814, a turnpike road was built to [[Lisbon, Ohio|Lisbon]], and in 1816, a post office was established with John J. Feehan serving as postmaster.  In the 1820s, the first [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] was organized by Rev. John Callahan in the house of William Wells. This is supposed to be the first Methodist Episcopal Church organized in Ohio. Shortly thereafter, Joseph Wells founded the [[Methodist Protestant Church]].

Wellsville finally took shape around 1823, when William Wells recorded that lots had been laid out for planned settlement. The initial site was bounded by the current Third and Fifth Streets, between Riverside Avenue and Commerce Street (although at the time they had different names.)<ref name="davidson">Davidson, Edgar. ''Before the Memory Fades''.  The Wellsville Historical Society (n.d.).</ref>{{rp|4–6}} In 1836, a foundry was opened to make [[steamboat]] machinery. It later became known as the Stevenson Company, and produced brick-making machinery. It still exists today as a fabrication and machine shop.

Wellsville was incorporated as a village in 1848.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ONQyAQAAMAAJ | title=History of Columbiana County, Ohio and Representative Citizens | publisher=Biographical Publishing Company | author=McCord, William B. | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ONQyAQAAMAAJ/page/n329 342]}}</ref> In 1852, the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad (later acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad) built a track from [[Hanover, Ohio]], to Wellsville, and in 1856, it built a track from Wellsville to [[Rochester, Pennsylvania]].

[[File:Bryan Wellsville.png|thumb|[[William Jennings Bryan]] on his [[William Jennings Bryan 1896 presidential campaign|whistle-stop presidential campaign]] in Wellsville, 1896]]

On February 14, 1861, [[Abraham Lincoln]], on his way to his first inauguration, spoke to a large gathering in front of the Whitacre House, a hotel, in Wellsville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln4/1:326?rgn=div1;submit=Go;subview=detail;type=simple;view=fulltext;q1=wellsville|title=Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 4.|website=quod.lib.UMich.edu|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> On July 26, 1863,  [[Confederate States Army]] General [[John Hunt Morgan]] and several hundred of his soldiers surrendered to pursuing Union forces after [[Morgan's Raid]] ended in nearby [[West Point, Columbiana County, Ohio|West Point]], and were held in Wellsville before being shipped to the [[Ohio Penitentiary]] in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]]. Morgan's Raid was the northernmost advance of Confederate troops during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. At this time, [[Ohio State Route 45]] was known as the Warren-Ashtabula Turnpike, which ran from Wellsville to [[Lake Erie]]. It was an important part of the [[Underground Railroad]].

During the 1896 presidential campaign, Democratic candidate [[William Jennings Bryan]] addressed a crowd in Wellsville from the back of a train.  Bryan was the first candidate to successfully embrace "[[whistle stop]]" campaigning, harnessing the power of a young rail network to reach masses of voters.

The 1936 flooding of the Ohio River resulted in the construction of a flood wall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://touringohio.com/northeast/columbiana/wellsville.html |title=Wellsville - Touring Ohio |accessdate=July 24, 2022 }}</ref> In 1951, his only year of varsity basketball at Wellsville, [[Bevo Francis]] scored 776 points in 25 games for an average of nearly 32 points per game.<ref name="FLS">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19530110&id=N_ITAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q4oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5711,845895|title=Bevo Francis, Collegiate Cager, Scores 116 Points for New Mark|date=January 10, 1953|last=Diles|first=Dave|agency=AP|newspaper=The Free-Lance Star}}</ref> In the process, he led his team to a stunning 19–1 regular-season record and a berth in the state playoffs.  He was a unanimous all-state performer.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}} In 1986, the 1870 [[Episcopal Church of the Ascension and Manse]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

==Geography==
It is located on the [[Allegheny Plateau]]. Its southern border is the [[Ohio River]]. On its eastern border is the Little Yellow Creek and on its western border is the Yellow Cheek. Its northern border is rising hills.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|1.91|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.80|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.11|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}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 169
|1840= 759
|1850= 1546
|1860= 1587
|1870= 2313
|1880= 3377
|1890= 5247
|1900= 6146
|1910= 7769
|1920= 8849
|1930= 7956
|1940= 7672
|1950= 7854
|1960= 7117
|1970= 5891
|1980= 5095
|1990= 4532
|2000= 4133
|2010= 3541
|2020= 3113
|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>
}}
[[File:Ohio - Wellsville.jpg|thumb|Historic houses overlooking the Ohio River in Wellsville]]

===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 3,541 people, 1,475 households, and 957 families residing in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1967.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,774 housing units at an average density of {{convert|985.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 89.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 1,475 households, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the village was 37.6 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<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> of 2000, there were 4,133 people, 1,696 households, and 1,107 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|2,348.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,869 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,062.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 90.59% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.97% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.05% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.13% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.39% of the population.

There were 1,696 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $26,198, and the median income for a family was $33,245. Males had a median income of $26,724 versus $19,904 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $14,335. About 16.5% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Wellsville operates under a [[council–manager government]], where there are six council members elected as a legislature in addition to the mayor, who serves as an executive.<ref name="2020 General Election">{{cite web|url=https://www.columbiana.boe.ohio.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Columbiana-County-Elected-Officials-2.11.21.pdf|title=2020 General Election Results for Columbiana County|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> All are elected for 4-year terms. The council employs a village manager and fiscal officer for administration. As of 2025, the mayor is Robert Boley ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]), the village administrator is Jarrod Grimm, and the fiscal officer is Hoi Wah.<ref name="New Mayor"/>

==Education==
Children in Wellsville are served by the public [[Wellsville Local School District]], which includes two elementary schools and [[Wellsville Junior/Senior High School (Ohio)|Wellsville Junior/Senior High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wellsville.k12.oh.us/|title=Wellsville Local Schools|first=Wellsville Local|last=Schools|website=www.Wellsville.k12.oh.us|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st39_oh/schooldistrict_maps/c39029_columbiana/DC20SD_C39029.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbiana County, OH|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 18, 2023}}</ref>

Wellsville is also served by the Wellsville Carnegie Public Library. It was established on February 15, 1912. In 2005, the library loaned more than 55,000 items to its 8,000 cardholders. Total holdings as of 2005 are over 36,000 volumes with over 62 periodical subscriptions.<ref name="OHLibStats2">{{cite web |url=http://winslo.state.oh.us/publib/2005_stats_by_county.xls |title=2005 Ohio Public Library Statistics:Statistics by County and Town |access-date=November 10, 2006|publisher=State Library of Ohio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924225241/http://winslo.state.oh.us/publib/2005_stats_by_county.xls|url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2006}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Mary Bowermaster]], American record holder in [[World Masters Athletics Championships]]
* [[Tom Casey (Canadian football)|Tom Casey]], [[Canadian Football League]] player, led league in rushing yards from 1950 to 1956
* [[Edward Knight Collins]], shipping magnate who had a summer home in Wellsville
* [[Bevo Francis]], [[NCAA]] basketball player who was one of the most prolific scorers in [[college basketball]] history during his career at [[University of Rio Grande|Rio Grande College]]
* [[Wallace Samuel Gourley]], judge of the [[United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania]]
* [[William Peters Hepburn]], U.S. Representative from [[Iowa's 8th congressional district|Iowa's 8th District]]
* [[John Thomas MacKall]], U.S. Army paratrooper during World War II
* [[Burr McIntosh]], lecturer, photographer, film studio owner, [[silent film]] actor, author, publisher of ''[[Burr McIntosh Monthly]]''
* [[Melvin E. Newlin]], [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marine]] and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[Clete Patterson]], [[NFL]] player
* [[Killjoy (musician)|Frank "Killjoy" Pucci]], vocalist of the [[death metal]] band [[Necrophagia]]
* [[William Chapman Ralston]], San Francisco businessman and financier, founder of the [[Bank of California]]
* [[James William Reilly]], Ohio state representative, general in [[Union Army]] during [[American Civil War]]
* [[P. Craig Russell]], comic book illustrator

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* History of Wellsville, OH by Frank L. Wells From: ''History of Columbiana County, Ohio'' by Harold B. Barth The Historical Publishing Company Topeka-Indianapolis, 1926
* Before The Memory Fades 1795 - 1950 by Edgar Stanton Davidson Hardcover, 72 pages Publisher: The Wellsville Historical Society:1003 Riverside Avenue, Wellsville, OH(330) 532-1018

==External links==
* [https://www.facebook.com/p/Village-Of-Wellsville-Admin-Page-100072124641015/ Wellsville Village Admin]
* [https://www.wellsvillecommunityfoundation.org/ Wellsville Community Foundation Website]

{{Columbiana County, Ohio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Columbiana County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Ohio populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1797]]
[[Category:1797 establishments in the Northwest Territory]]
[[Category:Villages in Ohio]]