Portsmouth, Ohio, originated in the 1790s, when the town of Alexandria was founded at the junction of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers. A decade later, due to the frequent disastrous floods from both rivers, Alexandria was abandoned and the entire town moved eastward. In 1814, after being platted by Henry Massie, the city of Portsmouth was incorporated. In the years that followed, Portsmouth became an industrial and transportation center, a regional leader in retail and wholesale businesses, and a recreational center that once featured, among many other things, an amusement park and a National Football League team franchise. The nickname "Peerless City" was a perfect fit.
When Scioto County was established in March 1803, no one could have imagined the wide-ranging series of events that would encompass its history for the next 200-plus years. Situated in south-central Ohio along the Ohio River, the region experienced incredible prosperity with the Ohio and Erie Canal and later the railroads during the 1800s. In the early 1900s, shoe factories, steel mills, and brick plants produced jobs and merchandise that benefitted millions. Unfortunately, economic hardship followed in the latter half of the 20th century when these factories and many others closed. While some say the best days have come and gone, many would strongly disagree. Every day, men and women work hard to make Scioto County as proud and prosperous as ever before.
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