Scioto County History

Scioto County is located in the southern portion of the Great State of Ohio. The name Scioto is said to have come from the Wyandot Indian language and is thought to mean Deer, which is not at all surprising considering that the deer population in the area is very large. Scioto County has three rivers, the Scioto, the Little Scioto and the Ohio River. The area also has many other smaller streams and at one time the Old Erie Canal which was an important source of transportation passed through Scioto County as it made its way to the Ohio River. Many parts of the Canal can still be seen to this day. Scioto County was formed March 24, 1803. This was accomplished by taking a portion of Adams County and using it to form Scioto County. The County seat is Portsmouth which is located in the southern end of the county, in close proximity to the Ohio River. Since the southern portion of Scioto County lies along the Ohio River many river ports sprang up along its borders and Scioto County became a major transtortation center for river travel soon after being formed. Scioto County also became a central location for the railroad as well as many other industries including Iron and Steel. The first Iron Blast Furnace in Scioto County was built and put into operation in 1827 and was called Franklin Furnace. Scioto County was also very well known for the manufacture of shoes and at one point in its history its largest city Portsmouth even became known as the Shoe Capital of the world. The first major settlement in Scioto County was Alexandria which was also the first temporary county seat when Scioto County was first formed. Alexandria was a small town built around 1790 and was located west of Portsmouth, very close to where the Portsmouth Raceway Park is located today. Alexandria’s location however led to its downfall, since it was built in the lowlands or as most area residents refer to them as “The River Bottoms”, it suffered many floods. The people of Alexandria started to move out and to the higher ground in Portsmouth. Within a few years Alexandria was completely deserted and eventually the flood waters had wiped out what was left of the town. The only thing that remains of the town of Alexandria today is The Philip Moore Jr. Stone House which was built around 1797. The house according to the original deed is said to be built on an outlot of Alexandria.
Scioto County’s population as of the 2000 census was 79,195 and its largest city is Portsmouth, which has a population of 20,909. The county itself is made up of sixteen townships which are as follows.

Bloom
Brush Creek
Clay
Green
Harrison
Jefferson

Madison
Morgan
Nile
Porter
Rarden

Rush
Union
Valley
Vernon
Washington