Editing Chillicothe, Ohio

{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Chillicothe
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Ohio's First Capital
| website            = https://www.chillicotheoh.gov/
| image_skyline      = South Paint in downtown Chillicothe.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Central business district
| image_flag         = Flag of Chillicothe, Ohio.svg
| image_seal         = Seal of Chillicothe.png
| seal_size          = 115px
| image_map          = {{maplink
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 |frame-align              = center
 |frame-width              = 250
 |frame-height             = 250
 |frame-coord              = {{coord|qid=Q988739}}
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 |marker                   = city
 |stroke-width             = 2
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 |stroke-opacity2          = 0
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 |fill-opacity2            = 0
}}
| pushpin_map        = Ohio#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| map_caption        = Interactive map highlighting Chillicothe
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ohio]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Ross County, Ohio|Ross]]
| government_type    =
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Luke Feeney ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])<ref name="chillicotheoh.gov">{{cite web|title=Mayor's Welcome|url=https://www.chillicotheoh.gov/government/mayor/mayors_welcome.php|publisher=City of Chillicothe|accessdate=March 14, 2024}}</ref>
| established_date   = A.D. 1796
| 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_total_km2     = 27.62
| area_land_km2      = 27.19
| area_water_km2     = 0.43
| population_footnotes =
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 21895
| 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=June 11, 2024}}</ref>
| population_total   = 22059
| population_metro   =
| population_density_sq_mi = 2100.86
| population_density_km2 = 811.17
| timezone           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|20|22|N|82|59|42|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| area_total_sq_mi   = 10.67
| area_land_sq_mi    = 10.50
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.17
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 637
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 45601
| area_code          = [[Area code 740|740]], [[Area code 220|220]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 39-14184<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        = 2393514<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393514}}</ref>
| footnotes          =
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Chillicothe''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|tʃ|ɪ|l|ɪ|ˈ|k|ɒ|θ|i}} {{respell|CHIL|ih|KOTH|ee}})<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 city in [[Ross County, Ohio]], United States, and its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 9, 2015 }}</ref> The population was 22,059 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=Chillicothe city, Ohio |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/Chillicothe_city,_Ohio?g=1600000US3914184 |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Located along the [[Scioto River]] 45 miles (72&nbsp;km) south of [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], Chillicothe was the first and third capital of [[Ohio]]. It is the only city in Ross County and the center of the [[Micropolitan statistical area|Chillicothe micropolitan area]]. Chillicothe is a designated [[Tree City USA]] by the [[Arbor Day|National Arbor Day Foundation]].

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2024}}
[[File:Postcard21000SoldiersCreateImageofPresidentWilsonCampShermanOH1918-commons.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Image of President [[Woodrow Wilson]] created by 21,000 standing soldiers at [[Camp Sherman, Ohio|Camp Sherman]] in Chillicothe, 1918]]

The region around Chillicothe was the center of the ancient [[Hopewell tradition]], which flourished from 200 BC until 500 AD.  This Amerindian culture had trade routes extending to the [[Rocky Mountains]].  They built [[earthen]] [[mound]]s for ceremonial and burial purposes throughout the Scioto and [[Ohio River]] valleys.

Later [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] who inhabited the area through the time of European contact included [[Shawnees]]. Present-day Chillicothe is the most recent of seven locations in Ohio that bore the name, because it was applied to the main town wherever the [[Chalahgawtha|Chalakatha]] settled. Other population centers named Chillicothe in Ohio at one time<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Chillicothe,_Ohio|title=Ohio History Central, "Chillicothe, Ohio"|access-date=April 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429023706/http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Chillicothe,_Ohio|archive-date=April 29, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> include: one located at present-day [[Piqua, Ohio|Piqua]], in [[Miami County, Ohio|Miami County]]; one located south of present-day [[Circleville, Ohio|Circleville]], [[Pickaway County, Ohio|Pickaway County]], on the [[Scioto River]]; a third about {{Convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} north of [[Xenia, Ohio|Xenia]] in [[Greene County, Ohio]]; a fourth at present-day [[Frankfort, Ohio|Frankfort]], Ross County, on [[Paint Creek (Scioto River)|Paint Creek]]; and a fifth also located in Ross County, at [[Hopetown, Ohio|Hopetown]], three miles north of modern Chillicothe.

In 1758 a settlement was established at this site by Shawnee Indians who had abandoned their village of [[Lower Shawneetown]] in November of that year.<ref name = "Hanna">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SCYMAAAAYAAJ |title=Charles Augustus Hanna, ''The Wilderness Trail: Or, The Ventures and Adventures of the Pennsylvania Traders on the Allegheny Path, Volume 1'', Putnam's sons, 1911 |isbn=9780598504005 |access-date=October 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705044034/http://books.google.com/books?id=SCYMAAAAYAAJ&vq |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |url-status=live |last1=Hanna |first1=Charles Augustus |year=1911 |publisher=G. P. Putnam's sons }}</ref> A group of Shawnees from [[Logstown]] also joined them.<ref name = "Seaver">[https://archive.org/details/anarrativelifem00seavgoog James Everett Seaver, Charles Delamater Vail ''A Narrative of the Life of Mary Jemison: The White Woman of the Genesee,'' American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, 1918.]</ref>

After the [[Treaty of Greenville]] in 1795 forced the Native Americans from most of Ohio, European settlers came to the area.  Migrants from [[Virginia]] and [[Kentucky]] moved west along the Ohio River in search of land. The community Chillicothe was founded in 1796 by a party led by General [[Nathaniel Massie]] on his land grant. The town's name comes from the [[Shawnee language|Shawnee]] ''[[Chalahgawtha|Chala·ka·tha]]'' (Chillicothe in English), meaning "principal town", because it was the chief settlement of that division (one of five major divisions) of the [[Shawnee people]].

In 1798, [[Ross County, Ohio|Ross County]] became incorporated with Chillicothe as the county seat.  Chillicothe was named the capital of the remnant [[Northwest Territory]] in 1800, when [[Indiana Territory]] was split off, and the Northwest Territory was reduced to Ohio, eastern [[Michigan]] and a sliver of southeastern [[Indiana]]. In 1802 as Ohio moved toward statehood, the city hosted the Ohio Constitutional Convention.  It served as the capital of Ohio from statehood in 1803 until 1810 then again from 1812 to 1816.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopedia2.tfd.com/Zanesville|title=Zanesville definition of Zanesville in the Free Online Encyclopedia|access-date=November 24, 2007|author=tfd}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopedia2.tfd.com/Chillicothe|title=Chillicothe definition of Chillicothe in the Free Online Encyclopedia|access-date=November 24, 2007|author=tfd}}</ref>

Ohio was a [[Slave states and free states|free state]], and early migrants to Chillicothe included [[Free people of color|free blacks]], who came to a place with fewer restrictions than in the [[slave]] states.  They created a vibrant community{{who|date=July 2018}} and aided runaway slaves coming north.  As tensions increased prior to the breakout of the [[American Civil War]], the free black community at Chillicothe maintained stations and aid to support refugees on the [[Underground Railroad]].  The Ohio River was a border with the slave states of [[Southern United States|the South]], with slaves crossing the river to freedom, and then up the Scioto River to get more distance from their former homes and slave hunters.  White [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]]s aided the [[Underground Railroad]] as well.

On May 12, 1948, a C. & O. engine suffered a boiler explosion due to a low water level near Chillicothe, Ohio. The train's engineer, fireman and front brakeman were killed. <ref>(https://www.newspapers.com/article/chillicothe-gazette-chillicothe-train-bl/141095304/)</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Scioto ChillicotheOH.jpg|thumb|The [[Scioto River]] at Chillicothe in 2003]]

Chillicothe lies within the [[ecoregion]] of the [[Western Allegheny Plateau (ecoregion)|Western Allegheny Plateau]].<ref name=hort.purdue.edu>{{cite web|title=Level III Ecoregions of Ohio|url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/ohio/maps/OHeco3.html|work=National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory|publisher=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency|access-date=September 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712165151/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/ohio/maps/OHeco3.html|archive-date=July 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> It lies between the [[Scioto River]] and [[Paint Creek (Scioto River)|Paint Creek]] near their confluence.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|10.60|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.43|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.17|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>

The city is surrounded by farming communities, and Chillicothe residents describe the area as the foothills of the [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachians]].{{citation needed|date= June 2024}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2426
|1830= 2846
|1840= 3977
|1850= 7100
|1860= 7626
|1870= 8920
|1880= 10938
|1890= 11288
|1900= 12976
|1910= 14508
|1920= 15831
|1930= 18340
|1940= 20129
|1950= 20133
|1960= 24957
|1970= 24842
|1980= 23420
|1990= 21923
|2000= 21796
|2010= 21901
|2020= 22059
|estyear= 2023
|estimate= 21895
|estref=<ref name="2023 est"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name=Census1910>{{cite web|title=Population: Ohio|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/36894832v3ch3.pdf|work=1910 U.S. Census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224062454/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/36894832v3ch3.pdf|archive-date=February 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Census1930>{{cite web|title=Population: Ohio|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch08.pdf|work=1930 US Census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609134342/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch08.pdf|archive-date=June 9, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109091241/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|archive-date=January 9, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CensusPopEst">{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chillicothecityohio/PST045219 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[United States census|census]]<ref name=":0" /> of 2020, there were 22,059 people, 9,576 occupied housing units, and 5,589 families residing in the city. Of the 9,576 households, 2,856 were occupied by a married couple family, 191 had a male householder with no spouse present, and 545 had a female householder with no spouse present. Of the 5,589 families, 37.7% were [[Marriage|married couple]] families living together, 36.9% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 17.1% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average family size was 2.95.

Of the 22,059 people, 18,892 were [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1,348 were [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]], 88 were [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 155 were [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 351 were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]], 6 were [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander]]s, 1,419 were two or more races, and 151 were [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]].

The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 7.0% of resident were under the age of 5; 21.1% were under the age of 18; 78.9% were 18 years and over; and 20.6% were 65 years of age or older.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,251, and the median income for a family was $66,224. About 18.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], with 25.5% of them being under 18 years old, 18.4% being 18 to 64 years old, and 9.5% being 65 years and over.

===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 21,901 people, 9,420 households, and 5,559 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2099.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 10,600 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1016.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 9,420 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no spouse present, 5.0% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 41.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 41.5 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

==Economy==
{{Expand section|date=June 2023}}
As the only city in its area, Chillicothe is a hub for economic activity. Hospitals (Adena Regional and Chillicothe VA Medical Centers), prisons ([[Ross Correctional Institution|Ross]] and [[Chillicothe Correctional Institution]]s) and a college campus ([[Ohio University – Chillicothe|Ohio University Chillicothe]]) are among the largest employers. In April 2025, the Pixelle paper mill, formerly named for past owners [[Glatfelter]] and [[MeadWestvaco|Mead Paper]], and employing about 800 people, announced its closure.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 16, 2025 |url=https://local12.com/news/nation-world/pixelle-specialty-solutions-llc-ohio-paper-mill-makes-extremely-difficult-decision-to-close-closure-cincinnati-economy-ceo-president-ross-bushnell-job-placement-assistance-workforce-resources-specialty-market-high-standards-solutions-quality-chillicothe |title=Ohio city suffers blow as paper mill makes 'extremely difficult' decision to close |website=[[WKRC-TV]] |access-date=April 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Torres |first=Destiny |date=April 15, 2025 |url=https://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/local/2025/04/15/pixelle-specialty-solution-announces-closure-of-chillicothe-paper-mill/83096513007/ |title=Pixelle Specialty Solutions announces closure of Chillicothe Paper Mill |newspaper=[[Chillicothe Gazette]] |access-date=April 17, 2025}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}
[[File:Chillicothe ohio main street 2006.jpg|thumb|The south side of West Main Street. The square building left of center is a replica of Ohio's first capitol building and serves as the office of the ''[[Chillicothe Gazette]]''.]]

===Majestic Theatre===
Chillicothe is home to the 158-year-old continuously operating Majestic Theatre.  Its stage has been graced by such greats as [[Laurel and Hardy]], [[Milton Berle]], [[George Arliss]], [[Sophie Tucker]], [[Bob Hope]] and many others.  In 1853 the Masonic Hall was built, as the first incarnation of what is now the Majestic Theatre.
The two-story brick building was a combination lodge room, dance hall, and theater.  Stock companies stayed for as long as a month, performing a repertory of plays.  In 1876 the Masons appointed a building committee to enlarge their building. The original building was {{Convert|40 x 100|ft|m|abbr=on}} and was later extended to {{Convert|50 x 120|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Upon completion in December 1876 it was announced that the Masonic Opera House was one of the finest theaters in the state. After the remodeling and with the completion of the Clough Opera House across the city, theater offerings were tremendous, and varied drama, comedy, farce, minstrel shows, and operas were presented.

In 1904 A. R. Wolf bought the Masonic Opera House. Mr. Wolf remodeled the theater and enlarged the stage.  He replaced all the windows in the front of the building with stained glass. The Masonic Opera House continued under Wolf's managerial abilities until he sold it to the Myers Brothers in 1914. They again made some improvements and repairs and installed a movie screen and equipment. The Myers Brothers changed the name to the Majestic Theatre.  They occasionally had live theater productions on the stage but finally switched exclusively to motion pictures.
In July 1971, Harley and Evelyn Bennett became the new owners of the Majestic Theatre. They did careful restoration with reference to the original wall painting.
Three Chillicothe businessmen (Robert Evans, Robert Althoff and David Uhrig) bought the theater as a non-profit organization in 1990. All new wiring throughout the theater, fire safety, and security systems were installed.

===Fairs and festivals===
[[File:Story Mound in Chillicothe.jpg|thumb|Chillicothe's Story Mound State Memorial]]
Chillicothe, rich in [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] history, hosts the annual Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival. Started in 1984, the May festival draws crowds of approximately 85,000. Yoctangee Park, in the historic downtown, is the setting for this family-oriented, three-day event featuring Native American music, dancing, traders and exhibits, a mountain men encampment, rendezvous with working craftsmen and demonstrations, and an extensive arts and crafts show with more than 80 crafters and commercial exhibits.  The main stage has a schedule of family-friendly entertainment, such as local school bands and performers.  The streets are lined with food booths and games/contests.  Events are free to the public.

==Parks and recreation==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}
Chillicothe has several public parks, including [[Yoctangee Park]], Patrick Park, Poland Park, Strawser Park, Manor Park, Goldie Gunlock Park, Pine Street Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and Western View Park.

The biggest park, Yoctangee Park, consists of numerous baseball /softball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and playground equipment. There is also a skatepark within Yoctangee park called Henry Good skatepark, which was constructed with help from a generous donation of $65,000 from Henry Good, a local Chillicothe citizen.

Chillicothe's floodwall, protecting the city from floods of the [[Scioto River]], has a 5.0-mile-long paved bike path.  This path connects to the Tri-County Triangle Trail which currently is 30.3 miles long, measured from Bridge St. ([[Ohio State Route 159|SR 159]]) in Chillicothe, passing through [[Frankfort, Ohio|Frankfort]] and then to Christman Park near [[Washington Court House, Ohio|Washington Court House]] in [[Fayette County, Ohio]].  The Tri-County Triangle Trail's goal is to connect Chillicothe and [[Greenfield, Ohio|Greenfield]].  This same former railroad continues to [[Jamestown, Ohio|Jamestown]] and [[Xenia, Ohio|Xenia]], but those connections are a long range plan.

[[Hopewell Culture National Historical Park]] is found on the north end of the city.  The park is administered by the [[National Park Service]] and has a large concentration of Native American [[Earthworks (archaeology)|earthworks]].

==Sports==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}
The [[Chillicothe Paints]] are a baseball team that was established in February 1993. The team was previously a member of the [[Frontier League]], playing there from its founding until 2008.  They were one of the original teams in the league.  The Paints are now a member of the summer collegiate [[Prospect League]], The Paints play their home games at [[V.A. Memorial Stadium]], which opened in 1954.

V.A. Memorial Stadium has hosted a number of other events, including the [[Mid-American Conference baseball tournament]] from 2008 to 2011, along with high soccer and baseball playoff games for the [[Ohio High School Athletic Association]] (OHSAA).

==Government==
[[File:Chillicothe Business District 10.jpg|thumb|Ross County Courthouse]]

Chillicothe is governed by a mayor–council structure in which the mayor is elected separately from the members of the city council. Chillicothe's mayor is Luke Feeney ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.electionsonthe.net/oh/ross/elecres/20151103.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113092302/http://www.electionsonthe.net/oh/ross/elecres/20151103.htm |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The members of the city council are (as of August 2024):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ward !! City Council Member
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| First Ward
| Lisa Bennett ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| Second Ward
| Kathy Payne ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#FEFEFE" |
| Third Ward
| Deidra Nickerson ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| Fourth Ward
| Steve Barnes ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| Fifth Ward
| Greg Mckeever ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| Sixth Ward
| Dan Demint ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| At Large
| Jeff Creed ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#FEFEFE" |
| At Large
| Dustin Proehl ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
| At Large
| Julie Preston ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" |
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!!! Officer
|-
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#FEFEFE" |
|Mayor
| Luke Feeney ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#FEFEFE" |
|Council President
| Kevin Shoemaker ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" | |-
|Treasurer
| Jeremy Siberell ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|- style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left" bgcolor="#FEFEFE" |
|Auditor
| Kristal Spetnagel ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|-
|Council Clerk
|Kennedy Moss ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|}

==Education==
[[File:Bennett Hall.jpg|thumb|Bennett Hall at Ohio University – Chillicothe]]

The public Chillicothe City School District operates five primary and secondary schools for children in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3904374 |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |title=Chillicothe City |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref> Bishop Flaget School is a private [[Catholic school]] for students in grades prekindergarten through 8th.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Zip=45601&Miles=20&ID=01060138 |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |title=Bishop Flaget School |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref> Ross County Christian Academy was formed in 2007 and now offers K through 12th grade at two sites.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rccacademy.org/about/about-rcca.html|title = Ross County Christian Academy &#124; Chillicothe, Ohio}}</ref> Chillicothe is home to [[Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center]], a [[vocational-technical school]] founded in 1974.

[[Ohio University – Chillicothe]] is a [[regional campus]] of Ohio University founded in 1946. It was the first regional campus in Ohio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ohio.edu/news/2021/09/ohio-chillicothe-celebrates-75-years |title=OHIO Chillicothe celebrates 75 Years |publisher=Ohio University |date=September 10, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref> The campus has an annual enrollment of approximately 2,000 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ohio.edu/iea/student-data/enrollment/regionalenrollment |title=Ohio University Regional Campus Enrollment Final Fall 2023 Student Headcount and FTE |publisher=Ohio University |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref> Chillicothe is also home to the [[Recording Workshop]], an audio engineering school.

Chillicothe is served by the main branch and Northside branch of Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crcpl.org/locations |publisher=Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library |title=All Library Locations |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!-- Please make any new additions in alphabetical order by last name -->
{{div col}}
* [[Chet Allen]] (1939–1984) – actor
* [[William Allen (governor)|William Allen]] (1803–1879) – [[List of governors of Ohio|Governor]], [[United States Senate|Senator]], and [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for Ohio
* [[Thomas M. Anderson]] (1836–1917) – [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] major general
* [[William Marshall Anderson|William M. Anderson]] (1807–1881) – lawyer and explorer who helped plan the [[New Virginia Colony]] in [[Mexico]]
* [[James H. Baker (politician)|James H. Baker]] (1829–1913) – Ohio and [[Minnesota]] state politician
* [[Drew Basil]] (b. 1991) – [[Gridiron football|gridiron football]] player
* [[Scott Bailes]] (b. 1961) – [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) player
* [[Henry Holcomb Bennett|Henry H. Bennett]] (1863–1924) – writer, journalist, and poet
* [[John Bennett (author)|John Bennett]] (1865–1956) – writer and illustrator
* [[William K. Bond]] (1792–1864) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Charles Elwood Brown|Charles E. Brown]] (1834–1904) – U.S. Army colonel and Ohio state politician
* [[William B. Brown]] (1912–1985) – [[Supreme Court of Ohio|Ohio Supreme Court]] justice
* [[Henry Brush]] (1777–1855) – Ohio Supreme Court justice and Ohio state politician
* [[John Carey (Ohio state legislator)|John Carey]] (b. 1959) – Ohio state politician
* [[Harold K. Claypool]] (1886–1958) – businessman and U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Horatio C. Claypool]] (1859–1921) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Carrie Williams Clifford]] (1862–1934) – author and [[women's rights]] and [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] activist
* [[Edward Cook (athlete)|Edward Cook]] (1888–1972) – pole vaulter at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Ed Cook | publisher = Sports Reference | url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/ed-cook-1.html | access-date = May 8, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180509012541/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/ed-cook-1.html | archive-date = May 9, 2018 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Greg Cook]] (1946–2012) – [[National Football League]] (NFL) player
* [[Joseph Carter Corbin|Joseph C. Corbin]] (1833–1911) – journalist, educator, and conductor for the [[Underground Railroad]]
* [[Jessup Nash Couch|Jessup N. Couch]] (1778–1821) – Ohio Supreme Court justice
* [[William Creighton Jr.]] (1778–1851) – Ohio state politician and judge for the [[List of former United States district courts#Ohio|United States District Court of Ohio]]
* [[William H. Davis (educator)|William H. Davis]] (1848–1938) – educator and the first African-American candidate for [[List of governors of West Virginia|governor]] of [[West Virginia]]
* [[Lewis Deschler]] (1905–1976) – First [[Parliamentarian of the United States House of Representatives]]
* [[Lawrence Dixon (musician)|Lawrence Dixon]] (1894–1970) – [[jazz]] musician
* [[Albert Douglas]] (1852–1935) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Edwin Dun]] (1848–1931) – [[Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan|foreign agricultural advisor]] to [[Meiji era|Meiji Japan]]
* [[Sarah Jane Woodson Early|Sarah J. W. Early]] (1825–1907) – educator, author, [[Black nationalism|black nationalist]], and [[Temperance movement|temperance]] activist
* [[Richard Enderlin]] (1843–1930) – musician, U.S. Army soldier, and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[John Clay Entrekin|John C. Entrekin]] (1844–1905) – Ohio state politician
* [[Martha Finley]] (1828–1909) – educator and author
* [[Joseph Scott Fullerton|Joseph S. Fullerton]] (1835–1897) – lawyer, officer in the U.S. Army, and leader at the [[Freedmen's Bureau]]
* [[Bobby Fulton]] (b. 1960) – professional wrestler
* [[Samuel Galloway]] (1811–1872) – U.S. Representative for Ohio and [[Ohio Secretary of State]]
* [[Thomas Gibson (American politician)|Thomas Gibson]] (1750–1814) – First [[Ohio State Auditor]]
* [[John Ulrich Giesy|John U. Giesy]] (1877–1947) – physician and writer
* [[Frederick Grimke]] (1791–1863) – Ohio Supreme Court justice
* [[James Grubb]] (1771–1806) – Delegate to the [[Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)|Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1802]]
* [[Joseph Hanks (Medal of Honor)|Joseph Hanks]] (1843–1922) – U.S. Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
* [[Ben Hartsock]] (b. 1980) – NFL player and [[Color commentator|color analyst]]
* [[Lucy Webb Hayes|Lucy W. Hayes]] (1831–1889) – wife of president [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] and 23rd [[First Lady of the United States]]
* [[Eston Hemings]] (1808–1856) – suspected illegitimate mixed-race child of [[Thomas Jefferson]]
* [[James Leo Herlihy|James L. Herlihy]] (1927–1993) – novelist, playwright, and actor
* [[Michael Hess (rower)|Michael Hess]] (b. 1955) – [[Rowing (sport)|rower]] at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Tokey Hill]] (b. 1957) – [[karate]]ka
* [[Benjamin Hough]] (1773–1819) – Ohio State Auditor and state politician
* [[Albert E. Herrnstein]] (1882–1958) – [[college football]] player and coach
* [[John Herrnstein]] (1938–2017) – [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) player
* [[Frederick K. Humphreys]] (1816–1900) – physician, [[Homeopathy|homeopath]], and businessman
* [[Ed Hunsinger]] (1901–1960) – NFL player and coach
* [[Dard Hunter]] (1883–1966) – papermaker, printmaker, and paper artist
* [[Newt Hunter]] (1880–1963) – MLB player, couch, and [[Scout (sport)|scout]]
* [[Donald F. Hyde]] (1909–1966) – president of the [[Grolier Club]] and [[Bibliographical Society of America]]
* [[Billy Ireland]] (1880–1935) – cartoonist
* [[John Wayles Jefferson|John W. Jefferson]] (1835–1892) – suspected mixed-race grandson of Thomas Jefferson
* [[Neil Johnston]] (1929–1978) – NBA player and [[List of NBA All-Stars|NBA All-Star]]
* [[Dave Juenger]] (b. 1951) – NFL player
* [[Edward King (Ohio politician)|Edward King]] (1795–1836) – Ohio state politician
* [[Rufus King (lawyer)|Rufus King]] (1817–1891) – president of the [[University of Cincinnati]]
* [[James Mason (neo-Nazi)|James Mason]] (b. 1952) – [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]], author of [[Siege (Mason book)|''Siege'']], ideologue of the [[Atomwaffen Division]], and advocate of [[White supremacy|white supremacist]] terrorism
* [[Nathaniel Massie]] (1763–1813) – Land surveyor, founder of Chillicothe, first speaker of the [[List of presidents of the Ohio Senate|Ohio Senate]], and member of the [[Chillicothe Junto]]
* [[Duncan McArthur]] (1772–1839) – U.S. Army brigadier general and Ohio governor
* [[Meade McClanahan]] (1893–1959) – [[Los Angeles City Council]] member
* [[Charles McDougall (United States Army)|Charles McDougall]] (1804–1885) – U.S. Army officer
* [[Florence McLandburgh]] (1850–1934) – writer and poet
* [[Jeremiah McLene]] (1767–1837) – Ohio Secretary of State and U.S. Representative
* [[Joseph Miller (Ohio politician)|Joseph Miller]] (1819–1862) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Thaddeus A. Minshall]] (1834–1908) – Ohio Supreme Court justice
* [[Dorothea Rhodes Lummis Moore|Dorothea R. L. Moore]] (1857–1942) – physician, writer, newspaper [[Editing|editor]], and [[humane society]] activist
* [[Chip Mosher]] (1947–2021) – educator, poet, and newspaper columnist
* [[Gardner Murphy]] (1895–1979) – [[psychologist]] and president of the [[American Psychological Association]] and the [[Society for Psychical Research]]
* [[Robert C. Murphy (colonel)|Robert C. Murphy]] (1827–1888) – U.S. Army colonel
* [[William Sumter Murphy|William S. Murphy]] (1796–1844) – lawyer and [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Texas|chargé d'affaires]] to the [[Republic of Texas]]
* [[Lawrence T. Neal]] (1844–1905) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Elbie Nickel]] (1922–2007) – NFL player
* [[David Leroy Nickens|David L. Nickens]] (1794–1838) – freed slave and the first African-American licensed [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]] in Ohio
* [[Nellie O'Donnell]] (1867–1931) – educator, [[Woman's club movement in the United States|clubwoman]], and politician
* [[Henry Orth (American football)|Henry Orth]] (1897–1980) – [[National Football League#Founding and history|American Professional Football Association]] (APFA) player
* [[John Parsons (criminal)|John Parsons]] (b. 1971) – former [[FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives|FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive]]
* [[Craig Payne]] (1961–2017) – professional boxer
* [[Oscar G. Peters]] (1842–1894) – businessman
* [[Lerton Pinto]] (1899–1983) – MLB player
* [[John Poff]] (b. 1952) – MLB player
* [[Donald Ray Pollock]] (b. 1954) - author
* [[Ray Pryor]] (1954–2023) – [[Ohio House of Representatives|Ohio state representative]]
* [[Frederick Madison Roberts|Frederick M. Roberts]] (1879–1952) – businessman and first African-American elected to the [[California State Assembly]]
* [[John Rook]] (1937–2016) – radio [[Broadcast programming|programmer]] and businessman
* [[Ev Rowan]] (1902–1956) – NFL player
* [[John Henry Ryan|John H. Ryan]] (1865–1943) – [[Washington House of Representatives|Washington state representative]]
* [[William Edwin Safford|William E. Safford]] (1859–1926) – educator, [[Botany|botanist]], and [[Ethnology|ethnologist]]
* [[DJ Sayre]] (b. 1986) – professional [[darts]] player
* [[Thomas Scott (Ohio judge)|Thomas Scott]] (1772–1856) – Ohio Supreme Court justice and Ohio state politician
* [[Don W. Sears]] (1921–2007) – dean at the [[University of Colorado Law School]]
* [[Henry C. Segal]] (1900–1985) – journalist
* [[John Shoemaker]] (b. 1956) – [[Minor League Baseball]] player and manager
* [[Noel Sickles]] (1910–1982) – [[commercial art]]ist and cartoonist
* [[Joshua W. Sill]] (1831–1862) – U.S. Army officer
* [[Joseph S. Skerrett]] (1833–1897) – [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] officer
* [[Orland Smith]] (1825–1903) – railroad executive and U.S. Army colonel
* [[Juliana Spahr]] (b. 1966) – poet, [[Literary criticism|literary critic]], and editor
* [[Robert Williamson Steele|Robert W. Steele]] (1820–1901) – Extralegal governor of [[Jefferson Territory]]
* [[Wayne Stevens (basketball)|Wayne Stevens]] (1936–2021) – [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) player
* [[Burton Egbert Stevenson|Burton E. Stevenson]] (1872–1962) – author, [[Anthropology|anthropologist]], and librarian
* [[Job E. Stevenson]] (1832–1922) – Ohio state politician
* [[John Stockton (Michigan soldier)|John Stockton]] (1798–1878) – Michigan state politician and U.S. Army officer
* [[Jimmy Strausbaugh]] (1918–1991) – NFL player
* [[Joe Sulzer]] – Mayor of Chillicothe and Ohio state representative
* [[John L. Taylor]] (1805–1870) – Ohio state representative
* [[Tecumseh]] (1768–1813) – [[Shawnee]] chief and warrior likely born in the area
* [[Helen B. Thompson]] (1875–1969) – [[Home economics|home economist]]
* [[Allen G. Thurman]] (1813–1895) – running mate of [[Grover Cleveland]] for the [[1888 United States presidential election|1888 presidential election]], [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate|president pro tempore]], Ohio Senator, and Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
* [[Allen W. Thurman]] (1847–1922) – [[American Association (1882–1891)|American Association]] president and gubernatorial candidate for Ohio governor
* [[Edward Tiffin]] (1776–1829) – Ohio Governor, Senator, commissioner of the [[United States General Land Office]], [[Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory]], and member of the Chillicothe Junto
* [[Carey A. Trimble]] (1813–1887) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[John I. Vanmeter]] (1798–1875) – U.S. Representative for Ohio
* [[Garin Veris]] (b. 1963) – NFL player
* [[Carrie Williams]] (1866–1930) – educator and civil rights activist
* [[Nathaniel Willis (1755–1831)|Nathaniel Willis]] – (1755–1831) – newspaper publisher and editor
* [[Nancy Wilson (jazz singer)|Nancy Wilson]] (1937–2018) – jazz singer and actress
* [[Jane Frances Winn|Jane F. Winn]] (1855–1927) – journalist
* [[Nancy Mann Waddel Woodrow|Nancy M. W. Woodrow]] (1867–1935) – writer
* [[Lewis Woodson]] (1806–1878) – educator, minister, writer, and [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]]
* [[Thomas Worthington (governor)|Thomas Worthington]] (1773–1827) – Ohio Governor, Senator, and member of the Chillicothe Junto
* [[J. Craig Wright]] (1929–2010) – Ohio Supreme Court justice
* [[John Yang (journalist)|John Yang]] (b. 1958) – news correspondent and journalist
* [[Earl Yingling]] (1888–1962) – MLB player
* [[Nancy Zahniser]] (1948–2016) – [[Pharmacology|pharmacologist]]{{div col end}}

==Sister city==
* Chillicothe is the [[sister city]] of [[Córdoba, Veracruz|Córdoba]], [[Veracruz]], [[Mexico]]. This relationship is honored through the [[Student exchange program|Foreign Exchange Student Program]] with students at Chillicothe High School.
* Chillicothe had an agreement with the sister city of [[Tulua]], [[Valle del Cauca]], [[Colombia]]. For this reason, the main lake in the city is called Lago Chilicote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historia |url=https://tulua.gov.co/publicaciones/347/historia-alcaldia-de-tulua/}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Great Hopewell Road]]
* {{USS|Chillicothe}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Chillicothe (Ohio)|Chillicothe, Ohio}}
* [http://www.chillicotheoh.gov City website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041028045122/http://ci.chillicothe.oh.us/city_history.htm Pat Medert, "Chillicothe History"]
* [https://www.chillicothegazette.com/ ''Chillicothe Gazette'']
* [https://downtownchillicothe.com/ Downtown information]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120707023120/http://www.chillicotheohio.com/firsts.htm Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.chillicothe.lib.oh.us/ Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121043454/http://www.chillicothe.lib.oh.us/ |date=November 21, 2010 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19991001133202/http://www.visithistory.com/ Ross County Visitor's Bureau]

{{Ross County, Ohio}}
{{Ohio county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Chillicothe, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Ross County, Ohio]]
[[Category:County seats in Ohio]]
[[Category:Former state capitals in the United States|Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1803]]
[[Category:1803 establishments in Ohio]]