Rayland, Ohio

History

Rayland was originally called Portland. A post office called Portland Station was established in 1871, and the name was changed to Rayland in 1905. Rayland was once one of the biggest port towns on the Ohio River. It has served as a safe haven for civil war soldiers during the civil war and was a place to be doctored back to health. Rayland was the scene of several bloody battles fought in the civil war.

The Hopewell Nation of indigenous people people to the Ohio Territory were among many of the natives who were here. The Hopewell cemetery in Rayland along with the Hopewell Church are named in honor of the tribe which disappeared from the area roughly 450 B.C.

The "Old Stone House" built by and owned by John Bayless, an abolitionist from Maryland. He hired an Italian Artist to come in and paint a water fall coming down the wall in the home along the spiraling staircase. This dwelling was built in the early 1800s prior to the industrial revolution. This home was an unusual one, as the front of the house faced the creek running in the back instead of facing the road. The second unusual thing about this house is that the main entrance was on the second floor of the home. The reason for the home facing the creek was because John's wife wanted a view of the creek and the mountain side. Sadly this home was destroyed in the 1980s from fire when juvenile arsonists set the historical home into a blaze. This home also had a slave tunnel running from the home to the Ohio River just less than a half mile from the home to help hide slaves. The home rested in the field next to present day Dairy Queen in Rayland, Ohio.

Rayland had a drive in movie theater, gas stations, a race track, stores, and the old grade school in town.

Chief Red Cloud lived in Rayland until his final days. Red Cloud was 120 years old and fathered 20 children. He was the oldest social security recipient in history. He was a medicine man and spinner of tales. Red Cloud traveled with Buffalo Bills Wild West Show, the Ringling Brothers, and Barnum and Bailey. He lived out his final days in Connorville, Rayland, Ohio in a home that he build using sandstone rocks from the nearby creek, (Short Creek). It was said that people who had cancer or some other medical ailment that they would go to Red Clouds home and be cured after spending many days at his house. Red Cloud used to drive a Model T Ford draped with a dead 5 foot black snake with a deer skull and antlers on the front of the hood. Chief Red Cloud most often wore hemp jeans, flannel shirt, and a long black trench coat.

Geography

Rayland is located at 40°11′0″N 80°41′27″W (40.183277, -80.690971).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.50 square miles (1.29 km²), of which 0.47 square miles (1.22 km²) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²) is water.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 417 people, 173 households, and 120 families residing in the village. The population density was 887.2 inhabitants per square mile (342.5/km²). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 400.0 per square mile (154.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.8% White, 1.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races.

There were 173 households of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.6% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the village was 43.7 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 30% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 434 people, 175 households, and 134 families residing in the village. The population density was 998.9 people per square mile (389.7/km²). There were 198 housing units at an average density of 455.7 per square mile (177.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.39% White, 0.69% African American, 0.23% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.

There were 175 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the village, the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $27,386, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $38,500 versus $19,531 for females. The per capita income for the village was $13,382. About 17.1% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education in the village of Rayland is provided by the Buckeye Local School District.

Notable people