Hype for the Future 78A: City of Middletown, Ohio

Introduction

Located approximately midway between the larger cities of Cincinnati and Dayton, the City of Middletown is a very integral portion of Butler and Warren Counties in the State of Ohio. Most of the city is located within Butler County, while portions located in Warren County may indirectly identify more with the communities of Franklin or Carlisle.

Features

Unfortunately, as the City of Middletown has, unlike Hamilton or even Oxford, bulldozed a larger number of historic buildings, not much exists in terms of tourist attractions in the modern day. However, the Highlands Historic District is located on the southeastern side of the city, while the Canal Museum is more centrally located (and only open on Sundays) and the Butler County Warbirds are located further northeast in the Smith Park area.

Hype for the Future 78/284: City of Hamilton, Ohio

Introduction

Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Butler County, Ohio, located in the central portion of the county along United States Route 127 and State Routes 4, 128, 129, and 177. State Route 130, also known as Old Oxford Road, is located fairly nearby, but further northwest, serving as essentially a westward connector to the area now south of Oxford along Route 27.

Attractions

Traditionally, the City of Hamilton was identified strictly as east of the Great Miami River. However, the community of Rossville to the west, now known as the Rossville Historic District, is also of cultural and historical significance. On the southern side of the city is a Hollow Earth Theory Monument attraction, while on the eastern side is the Dayton Lane Historic District. A number of other historic districts, including the German Village, also play large roles in the historic city.

Within the German Village Historic District, the Butler County Historical Society uses the Benninghofen House for services, and the Lane-Hooven House further southeast serves as strictly a historical landmark. For the central city, the most notable attractions include the Rentschler Building, the Liberty Bell Replica, the Butler County Soldiers Monument, and the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.

Hype for the Future 76E: Hueston Woods

Overview

Located partly in Butler County, Ohio, and otherwise in Preble County to the north, the Oxford-area Hueston Woods State Park is highly identified with the natural beauty and scenery surrounding Acton Lake to the south. The Hueston Woods Nature Center is located within the park, and the Doty Homestead is located well to the south, albeit still to the north of the City of Oxford. With the Village of College Corner, Ohio, and the Town of West College Corner, Indiana, located nearly directly to the west, the Hueston Woods area is simply more of an extension of the aforementioned regional communities.

Hype for the Future 76D: City of Oxford, Ohio

Introduction

Founded early in the history of the State of Ohio specifically to serve as the site of Miami University, the City of Oxford continues to be predominantly identified as a college town as such. Though the Miami RedHawks were preceded in establishment by the Ohio University Bobcats in Athens, Ohio, the community in Oxford was specifically intended to serve as a university site above all else.

Butler County

The City of Oxford is located in the northwestern portion of Butler County, Ohio, northwest of the City of Hamilton and along United States Route 27 south of Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana. Though the region straddles the Indiana state line, the community around Miami University is strictly an identity associated with the State of Ohio, with infrastructural connections to the State of Indiana by way of Contreras Road (Contreras Pike on the Indiana side) as well as the combined College Corner area.

College Township

Unlike most other parts of the State of Ohio, the area around modern Oxford, Ohio, was initially identified as the College Township, first with Hamilton County, Ohio, then with Butler County shortly after. Now known as Oxford Township, the community largely represents the fringe areas of the Oxford community, whether to the east off campus, to the west beyond the general population, approaching Indiana, or otherwise.

Notable Features

The “Clubhouse” amenity, though physically located in an off-campus area, is highly integrated with the university community and region, in particular thanks to the presence of associated clubs from the perspective of Miami University. The Oxford Community Arts Center located more centrally within the historic corridor largely acknowledges the diverse perspectives that exist even into the general population of the City of Oxford which, by the way, is part of the Talawanda City School District for K-12 education.

Miami University

Whether or not the following attractions and amenities are physically on campus, numerous features of the eastern section of the City of Oxford are inherently related to the university by nature. These attractions include the Dewitt Log Home of the Oxford Museum Association, the Marcum Hotel and Conference Center, the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, and the inner Miami attractions of the Langstroth Cottage, the McGuffey House and Museum, the Hefner Museum of Natural History, and the Limper Geology Museum, just to name a few.

Even over the summer, the City of Oxford continues to maintain a personality by adapting for the season with a localized summer concert series on select days.

Hype for the Future 69/284: Voice of America (VOA)

Overview

A historic site associated with Voice of America (VOA) is located in West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio, and in recent years has become home to a notable country music festival, officially labeled the “Voices of America” in plural. The festival is often abbreviated “VOACMF” and is largely determined by the importance of the event in the Greater Cincinnati area as well as in youthful culture, particularly involving the cultural significance of country music from slightly further south, into such places as Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and the greater Appalachian region.