Lewistown, Ohio

Lewistown is an unincorporated community located in the American state of Ohio, within Washington Township, Logan County. The community is the site of a former Shawnee settlement known by the same name, named after Shawnee leader Captain John Lewis. Nearby Indian Lake was once known as the Lewistown Reservoir, after this settlement.

Geography

Lewistown is located at 40°25'39.6" North, 83°55'15.2" West (40.42768, -83.920893).

Demographics

Note: The following information applies to ZIP code Tabulation Area 43333, of which Lewistown is the central part.

As of the census of 2000, there were 693 people, 255 households, and 193 families residing in the community. The population density for this area is not available at present. There are 273 housing units in this area. The racial makeup of the area was 98.7% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 255 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.12.

The population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $36,534, and the median income for a family was $61,458. Males had a median income of $37,396 versus $20,363 for females. The per capita income for the community was $20,187. About 12.0% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

The area around Lewistown was populated by several Native American tribes resettled as a result of the Treaty of Fort Meigs. This treaty, signed on September 29, 1817 also provided for the University of Michigan, as well as other grants.

Lewistown was the site of several treaties made between the United States and a combined party of Seneca and Shawnee. On July 20, 1831, James B. Gardiner, acting on behalf of U.S. President Andrew Jackson, signed a treaty with these Seneca and Shawnee which stipulated, in part:

The Seneca and Shawnee Indians, residing at and around Lewistown in the State of Ohio, in consideration of the stipulations herein made on the part of the United States, do for ever cede, release and quit claim to the United States, the lands granted to them by patent in fee simple by the sixth article of the treaty made at the foot of the rapids of the Miami river of Lake Erie, on the twenty-ninth day of September, in the year 1817 (September 29, 1817), containing forty-eight square miles, and described in said treaty as follows:—“Beginning at the intersection of the line run by Charles Roberts in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve, from the source of the Little Miami river, to the source of the Scioto river, in pursuance of instructions from the commissioners appointed on the part of the United States, to establish the western boundary of the Virginia military reservation, with the Indian boundary line established by the treaty of Greenville in one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five from the crossings above Fort Lawrence to Loramie's store, and to run from such intersection, northerly, with the first mentioned line, so as to include the quantity as nearly in a square form as practicable, after excluding the section of land granted to Nancy Stewart.” And the said Senecas and Shawnees also cede to the United States, in manner aforesaid, one other tract of land, reserved for them by the second article of the treaty made at St. Mary's, in Ohio, on the seventeenth of September, in the year 1818 (September 17, 1818), which tract is described in said treaty as follows:—“Eight thousand nine hundred and sixty acres, to be laid off adjoining the west line of the reserve of forty-eight square miles at Lewistown.” Treaty of Lewistown

The treaty also caused the resettlement of about 300 people in this group to "the western side of the Mississippi river", contiguous to lands reserved in previous treaties to Shawnee, Seneca, and Cherokee.

In 1832, Henry Hanford purchased the settlement, along with 600 acres (2.4 km²). He relocated to Lewistown from New York. A mill was erected in 1835, followed in 1873 by a steam sawmill. In 1840, a "tavern" (actually more of an inn) began operation in the community. A distillery began operation in 1862, but was confiscated by the government when it failed to make tax returns.

Education

A school was founded in the community in 1833. This school was initially housed in a log cabin, but was moved to a frame building in 1840. The Lewistown special school district was founded in 1874; this district is now known as the Indian Lake Local Schools.

The Indian Lake Local Schools operate four schools in the northwestern part of Logan County. Of these, Indian Lake Middle School and Indian Lake High School are located close enough to Lewistown to be served by the post office there. (ZIP code: 43333)

References

External links

US Census Bureau Fact Sheet for ZIP code Tabulation Area 43333