Chauncey ( )

is a village in Dover Township, Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 959 at the 2020 census.

Geography

Chauncey is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.56 square miles (1.45 km<sup>2</sup>), all land.

Situated near the confluence of Sunday Creek and the Hocking River, Chauncey has long been vulnerable to flooding. In response, parts of the low-lying land have been converted into green spaces and parkland, including recent conservation efforts along the creek.

History

Chauncey was laid out in 1839, and named after Elihu Chauncey, a partner in a firm that owned several local salt springs. A post office called Chauncey has been in operation since 1838.

The village became an early hub for salt production, but by the late 19th century, its economy shifted toward deep coal mining along Sunday Creek. Chauncey’s population grew alongside the coal industry, drawing workers from across Appalachia.

In 1932, striking miners opposed wage cuts imposed by the New York Coal Company and sabotaged a section of track near Mine #25. The National Guard was deployed. One miner was killed, and several were injured — an incident that became known locally as the “Chauncey War.”

In 2022, a state historical marker was placed in honor of the "Chauncey Boys" — three local men who served in the Union Army during the Civil War, two of whom are buried in Nye Cemetery.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,049 people, 423 households, and 262 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 477 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 96.6% White, 0.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 423 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% 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 3.00.

The median age in the village was 37.4 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census

The community owns the Chauncey-Dover Community Park, formerly strip mine lands acquired by the United States Forest Service and ceded to the village.

Parks and recreation

In recent years, Chauncey has developed several outdoor recreation areas on former coal mining and floodplain land. The Chauncey–Dover Community Park, covering 127 acres, includes trails, forest, open fields, and hillside access just outside the village center.

Chauncey is also the start of the Hocking River Paddle Route toward Grosvenor, offering kayak and canoe access during the warmer months.

Transportation

State Route 682 ends in Chauncey at a junction with SR 13. When US 33 was re-routed in the 1960s, SR 682 was extended to maintain direct access to Athens. The village remains a commuter community for nearby cities like Athens and Nelsonville.

Historic sites

Just outside the village lies the Athens County Infirmary, a 19th-century complex listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site includes brick institutional buildings, barns, and a cemetery that served the county's poor and mentally ill.

References

  • Official website