This weeks #GOPCThread is also our first #OHCommunitySpotlight of 2021, as we travel south to Portsmouth, Ohio, a city as old as the state of Ohio and one of the state’s smallest #LegacyCities.
Not on Twitter, the thread is available online , as well as below.
Greater Ohio Policy Center Read on Twitter
Today’s #GOPCThread will feature #PortsmouthOhio as the fifth city in our #OHCommunitySpotlight series
Founded in 1803 and located on the confluence of the Ohio and Scioto Rivers in Southern Ohio, Portsmouth is one of Ohio’s smallest #LegacyCities #GOPCThread
The city grew quickly thanks to its location on 2 busy rivers, becoming one of the most important industrial cities on the Ohio River between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati #GOPCThread
Portsmouth was a national manufacturing hub, with steel, shoe, + brick industries booming. This grew the Boneyfiddle district, which continues to be a cultural center to this day #GOPCThread
Mitchellace, Shelby Shoe Co, and other companies ushered in a period of economic prosperity between 1900-10. Landmarks, like the library, were constructed at this time #GOPCThread
And the historic Columbia Theater. Originally built in 1910, the theater was damaged by fire in 2007, and was later demolished and rebuilt in 2012 #GOPCThread
Columbia Music Arena (click image for link)
Portsmouth even had its own NFL team, the Portsmouth Spartans. The team eventually relocated to Detroit in 1934 and becoming the Lions. Spartan Municipal Stadium is still standing today #GOPCThread
Spartan Municipal Stadium & NFL Football in Portsmouth (click image for link)
Population peaked in 1930 at 42K residents. Portsmouth then entered a period of decline, starting with the 1937 flood, where 2/3 of the city was under 12ft of water #GOPCThread
After this big flood, @USACEHQ constructed a floodwall along the river. In ’92 the city hired artist Robert Dafford to paint murals of city history on the floodwall #GOPCThread
Portsmouth has struggled as it lost many large employers, dealt with opiate addiction, and lost population. Today, the city is down to 20K residents, w/ 35% in poverty #GOPCThread
If you just look at statistics for the city, you would miss the impressive steps the city and leaders like @SciotoFnd are taking to revitalize this riverside community #GOPCThread
Organizations like Main Street Portsmouth continue to reap successes through their hard work on volunteer beautification projects #GOPCThread
Main Street Portsmouth continues revitalizing | Portsmouth Daily Times (click image for link)
The city is utilizing different #placemaking interventions, including this example of small-scale but transformational work in the Boneyfiddle District #GOPCThread
Citizen groups, like Friends of Portsmouth, are building community through many popup and regular events, like Final Fridays in Boneyfiddle or the annual Winterfest #GOPCThread
Community Development | Friends of Portsmouth (click image for link)
The nonprofit has managed to organize city residents to break an impressive THREE world records in as many years #GOPCThread
Portsmouth, Ohio - 3 World Records! | Portsmouth Daily Times (click image for link)
Portsmouth is home to vital anchor institutions, like @ShawneeState and the Kricker Innovation Hub @ssuinnovation supporting the next gen of Southern OH entrepreneurs #GOPCThread
Kricker Innovation Hub (click image for link)
Leaders are working to support the city’s civic infrastructure too. In 2019 @SciotoFdn held the Rethinking Downtown Portsmouth Summit to create a blueprint for change #GOPCThread
Rethinking Downtown Portsmouth Summit Creates a Blueprint for Change | Greater Ohio Policy Center (click image for link)
And last year, the city embarked on a collaborative master planning process involving months of interviews, meetings, and community engagement. View the new plan here #GOPCThread
Community Development | City of Portsmouth (click image for link)
Revitalizing the city has been a community-wide effort, and work is paying off. In 2016 @SiteSelection named Portsmouth one of the US’ Top 10 Best Micropolitan Communities #GOPCThread
Portsmouth in National Top 10 Ranking | OhioSE Economic Development (click image for link)
And in 2020, Portsmouth was a winner of the @NationalCivic All America City Award #GOPCThread
2020 All-America City - Portsmouth, Ohio | National Civic League (click image for link)
There is still work to be done in Portsmouth, but leaders in philanthropy, public and private sectors, and city residents are collaborating to create positive change #GOPCThread
Be sure to check the #GOPCThread regularly for the next installment of our #OHCommunitySpotlight series
