Glouster, Ohio

Glouster is a village in Trimble Township, Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,659 at the 2020 census. It is close to Burr Oak State Park.

History

Glouster was originally known as Sedalia, but the name was changed in 1886 to Glouster, a variant spelling of Gloucester, England. A post office has been in operation under the name Glouster since 1887.

The area grew rapidly in the late 19th century due to its location along the Sunday Creek coal seam, part of the broader Hocking Valley coal region. Mining, brickmaking, and railroads supported the village’s economy through the early 20th century. Glouster was once home to the Wassall Brick Company, which operated from approximately 1895 to 1932 and provided structural materials for projects throughout southeast Ohio.

Like many Appalachian coal towns, Glouster experienced economic decline as coal production diminished in the mid-20th century. The legacy of mining still shapes the community’s geography and infrastructure.

Landmarks and infrastructure

One mile north of Glouster stands the historic Palos Covered Bridge, built in 1879 over the East Fork of Sunday Creek. It is a multiple kingpost truss bridge and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Glouster is also served by GoBus, a federally-funded rural transit service launched in 2010 that provides daily intercity bus connections between Athens, Columbus, and other towns.

Geography

thumb|left|upright=1.2|Map of Glouster

Glouster is located at the confluence of the West Branch Sunday Creek and Sunday Creek. The village is located entirely within the Sunday Creek watershed, mostly on riparian plains or old stream terraces.

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

The surrounding area consists of gently rolling hills and large wooded areas, all within the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. Nearby public and semi-public areas include the Trimble State Wildlife Area, the Sunday Creek State Wildlife Area, the Trimble Community Forest, the Wayne National Forest, and Burr Oak State Park.

Glouster Community Park is located along the west side of Ohio State Route 13, between the highway and Sunday Creek, on the south end of the village.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Glouster was 1,659 in 2020. Estimates from 2023 indicate a slight decline to approximately 1,629 residents. The median age is 42.1 years, and the median household income is approximately $37,639. About 27.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,791 people, 720 households, and 471 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 864 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 96.1% White, 1.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 720 households, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the village was 35.8 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census