West Milton

• Official Name — West Milton, Ohio • Type — Village • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Ohio • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Miami • Subdivision Type3 — Township • Subdivision Name3 — Union • Leader Title — Mayor • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Sq Mi — 3.49 • Area Land Sq Mi — 3.39 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.10 • Area Total Km2 — 9.04 • Area Land Km2 — 8.78 • Area Water Km2 — 0.26 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 4697 • Population Density Sq Mi — 1385.14 • Population Density Km2 — 534.86 • Time Zone — Eastern (EST) • Utc Offset — -5 • Time Zone Dst — EDT • Utc Offset Dst — -4 • Elevation Ft — 899 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 45383 • Area Codes — 937/326 • Custom Label Sec1 — FIPS code • Custom Data Sec1 — 39-83902 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — GNIS feature ID • Custom Data1 Sec1 — 2400140 • Website — http: www.westmiltonohio.gov/

The first settlement at West Milton was made in 1807. West Milton was named for John Milton, an English poet. A post office called Milton was established in 1824, and the name was changed to West Milton in 1829. The village was incorporated around 1834.

West Milton uses the council-manager government system. In this system, the mayor is the ceremonial head, elected by the public every four years. The council chooses a City Manager, who holds administrative authority over the city government. Council members are selected on a nonpartisan, at-large ballot. The mayor is Jeremy Sodders.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.34 sqmi, of which 3.24 sqmi is land and 0.10 sqmi is water.

As of the 2020 census, West Milton had a population of 4,697. The median age was 40.5 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.5 males age 18 and over. 98.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.6% lived in rural areas. There were 2,026 households in West Milton, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 2,147 housing units, of which 5.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. Racial composition as of the 2020 census • Race — Number — Percent • White — 4,399 — 93.7% • Black or African American — 24 — 0.5% • American Indian and Alaska Native — 12 — 0.3% • Asian — 14 — 0.3% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — 0 — 0.0% • Some other race — 13 — 0.3% • Two or more races — 235 — 5.0% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) — 48 — 1.0%

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,630 people, 1,973 households, and 1,298 families living in the village. The population density was 1429.0 PD/sqmi. There were 2,102 housing units at an average density of 648.8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the village was 97.4% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population. There were 1,973 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the village was 39.3 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,645 people, 1,875 households, and 1,314 families living in the village. The population density was 1,923.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,982 housing units at an average density of 820.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the village was 98.58% White, 0.28% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population. There were 1,875 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% 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 2.97. In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median income for a household in the village was $41,905, and the median income for a family was $45,847. Males had a median income of $33,774 versus $25,199 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,402. About 4.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

The school district is Milton-Union Exempted Village School District. Schools include: • Milton-Union High School • Milton-Union Middle School • Milton-Union Elementary School

• Carl Brumbaugh, quarterback and halfback in the National Football League • Howard E. Coffin, automobile engineer; co-founder of the Hudson Motor Car Company • Charles Furnas, the first airplane passenger with the Wright Brothers • Mike Kelly, college football coach • Wes Martin, professional football player • Bob Schul, the only American to have won an Olympic gold medal in the 5000 metre • Greg Seevers, racing driver • Ted Studebaker, pacifist and conscientious objector; served as an agricultural worker in Vietnam during the war

West Milton operates WMPA-TV, an all-volunteer, non-profit public-access television cable TV station. Founded in the late 1970s, this access station has served the villages of West Milton, Laura, Ludlow Falls, Potsdam and Union Township. It has offered a variety of programming over the years including several sporting events, school functions, church services, and the broadcasting of the West Milton Council Meetings.