Lisbon was platted on February 16, 1803, by Baptist minister Lewis Kinney, originally named New Lisbon after Lisbon, Portugal.[7] The village was incorporated under a special act of legislature on February 7, 1825.[8]
Initially known for its iron and whiskey production, New Lisbon became an economic hub of many sorts into the first industrial revolution, and one of the largest towns on the Sandy and Beaver Canal.[9] During this time, the village claimed the county's first bank, the Columbiana Bank of New Lisbon; its first insurance company, and the first Ohio newspaper, The Ohio Patriot, founded by an Alsatian immigrant, William D. Lepper.[10]
After the failure of the canal, the town had to wait until the late 1860s to receive railroad access once the Niles and New Lisbon Railroad opened. It and the later Pittsburgh, Marion & Chicago Railway helped bring industry to the area, including the porcelain manufacturing R. Thomas and Sons Company.[9] The village was renamed to Lisbon in 1895.[12]
In 1899, Jacob L. Beilhart founded the Spirit Fruit Society, an intentional community to practice his newly developed beliefs, in Lisbon.[15] Its goal was to "teach mankind how to apply the truths taught by Jesus Christ," which included a rejection of jealousy and materialism.[16][15] The commune only attracted about a dozen residents, mostly from outside the area.[15] However, views against marriage and promoting free love were not accepted well in Lisbon, and the group left for Chicago in late 1904.[15][17][16]
As of the census[22] of 2010, there were 2,821 people, 1,138 households, and 693 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,669.2 inhabitants per square mile (644.5/km2). There were 1,287 housing units at an average density of 761.5 per square mile (294.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.4% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 1,138 households, of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% 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 3.00.
The median age in the village was 39.6 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,788 people, 1,133 households, and 696 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,521.1 inhabitants per square mile (973.4/km2). There were 1,253 housing units at an average density of 1,133.0 per square mile (437.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.74% White, 0.90% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 1,133 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,841, and the median income for a family was $36,707. Males had a median income of $29,271 versus $19,826 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,097. About 10.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 years or over.
Arts and culture
Lisbon is host to the annual Columbiana County Fair in the summer and the Lisbon Johnny Appleseed Festival in the fall; the pioneer is said to had planted an apple tree nursery in the area in the 1800s.[23] The Dulci-More Festival, a music festival dedicated to the Appalachian dulcimer and other traditional musical instruments, formerly took place over Memorial Day weekend at Camp McKinley, a Boy Scout camp near Lisbon from 1995 to 2019.[24]
The village is home to the public Lepper Library, founded in 1897. The building site on Lincoln Way and a $10,000 grant were donated by Virginia Lepper in memory of her late husband.[25]
In 2020, Lisbon became an official North Country National Scenic Trail Town.
Government
Lisbon operates under a mayor–council government, where there are six council members elected as a legislature in addition to an independently elected mayor who serves as an executive.[1] The current mayor is Peter Wilson (I).[1] Additionally, Lisbon has a Board of Trustees of Public Affairs, a three-member board elected separately from the village council.
Education
McKinley School, c. 1930-1945
Children in Lisbon are served by the public Lisbon Exempted Village School District. The current schools in the district are McKinley Elementary School (grades K–5) and David Anderson Junior/Senior High School (grades 6–12). The school's athletic teams are known as the Blue Devils. In 1995, the Lisbon Blue Devils boys football team won the OHSAA Division V State Championship against Mariemont High School, the only such championship in football to be held by a Columbiana County school.[26][27]
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