Gypsum, Ohio
Unincorporated community
Location of Gypsum, Ohio
Location of Gypsum, Ohio
Coordinates: 41°29′36″N 82°52′33″W / 41.49333°N 82.87583°W / 41.49333; -82.87583
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyOttawa
TownshipPortage
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
43433

Gypsum is an unincorporated community in eastern Portage Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. It has a post office with the ZIP code 43433.[1]

The community is named for deposits of the gypsum rock near the original town site.[2] Gypsum mining in the area by U.S. Gypsum Corporation began in 1902 and stopped in the 1970s, however the company continues to operate a manufacturing plant in the community.[3]

Children from Gypsum families generally attend the Port Clinton City School District.

United States Gypsum Corporation

United States Gypsum Corporation began mining gypsum in the community in 1902.[4] In 1918, the company built a wallboard-paper mill there.[5] In the 1970s, after switched to processing synthetic gypsum, the company abandoned the mine, which eventually flooded.[3]

Despite abandoning its gypsum mine, USG continues to operate an adjacent manufacturing plant, trucking in the synthetic gypsum used to manufacture drywall. In 1999, the company expanded the plant, adding a Fiberock line.[5] As of 2013, USG manufactures sheetrock drywall and ready-mixed joint compound at the plant, employing 230 people, down from 380 in 2004.[4][6]

In 2013, the mine, which remained abandoned for over 40 years began collapsing as water dissolved some of the underground gypsum rock, primarily calcium sulfate, resulting in depressions and sinkholes in the area. From 2013 to 2015, the Ohio Department of Transportation paid The Beaver Excavating Company USD $20,668,621.89 to fill the mine with grout, while diverting traffic from Ohio State Route 2 in the process. USG did not contribute funds.[3] As of 2019, USG, which is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, operates as a subsidiary of Knauf.

References

  1. ^ USPS – Cities by ZIP Code
  2. ^ Overman, William Daniel (1958). Ohio Town Names. Akron, OH: Atlantic Press. p. 56.
  3. ^ a b c Patch, David (May 13, 2016). "ODOT to Fill Old Mine With Grout". The Blade. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "USG Plant in Gypsum, Ohio Celebrates OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Star Achievement". Business Wire. November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2020. USG's Gypsum plant started us as one of the company's original plants in 1902
  5. ^ a b Koliopoulos, Christina (2002). "Special Centennial Issue - Looking Ahead: The Second Decade 1912 - 1921: The Birth of a Brand, Sales Based on Integrity" (PDF). United States Gypsum Corporation. pp. 8, 35. Retrieved November 8, 2020..
  6. ^ "United States Gypsum Company Announces Start-Up of New Joint Treatment Line in Gypsum, Ohio". Business Wire. September 28, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2020.


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