View source for Xenia, Ohio

{{for-multi|the surrounding township|Xenia Township, Greene County, Ohio|other uses|Xenia (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Xenia, Ohio
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nicknames           = "City of Hospitality", "Bicycle Capital of the Midwest"
| motto              = "Vivid History, Vibrant Future"{{force singular}}

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = Xenia Ohio 2024.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Downtown Xenia
| image_flag         = Flag of Xenia, Ohio.png
| image_seal         = Seal of Xenia, Ohio.png
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Xenia, Ohio.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo

<!-- Maps -->| image_map          = Greene County Ohio Xenia highlighted.png
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Xenia, Ohio
| pushpin_map        = Ohio#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = Xenia

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ohio]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Greene County, Ohio|Greene]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = William Urschel
| leader_title1      = City Manager
| leader_name1       = Brent Merriman
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = {{Start date and age|1803}}

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 13.07
| area_land_sq_mi    = 13.06
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| area_total_km2     = 33.87
| area_land_km2      = 33.83
| area_water_km2     = 0.03

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 25441
| population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]]
| population_blank1  = Xenian
| population_density_sq_mi = 1947.71
| population_density_km2 = 751.99

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 932
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|40|58|N|83|56|29|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 45385
| area_codes          = [[Area codes 937 and 326|937, 326]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 39-86772<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1086175<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1086175}}</ref>
| website            = https://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Xenia''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|iː|n|i|ə}} {{respell|ZEE|nee|ə}}) is a city in [[Greene County, Ohio]], United States, and its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Located in southwestern Ohio, it is {{convert|15|mi}} east of [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]] and is part of the [[Greater Dayton|Dayton metropolitan area]] as well as the [[Miami Valley]] region. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a population of 25,441.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 1, 2020|title=Xenia city, Ohio|url=http://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/uploads/Planning%20Department/2000-2010%20census%20031011.pdf|access-date=October 9, 2021|website=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts|archive-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401041024/http://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/uploads/Planning%20Department/2000-2010%20census%20031011.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The city's name comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word [[Xenia (Greek)|Xenia]] ({{lang|grc|ξενία}}), which means 'hospitality'.

==History==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2018}}
[[File:Xenia Station Ohio (3592317717).jpg|thumb|[[Xenia Station]] is a replica building based on the original Xenia Station]]
[[File:Ohio - Xenia - NARA - 68147020 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Downtown Xenia in 1930]]
Xenia was founded in 1803, the same year Ohio was admitted to the Union. In that year, Hollander-American pioneer [[John Paul (pioneer)|John Paul]] bought {{convert|2,000|acre|km2}} of land from Thomas and Elizabeth Richardson of [[Hanover County, Virginia]], for "1050 pounds current moneys of Virginia." Paul influenced county commissioners to locate the county seat on this land at the forks of the Shawnee creeks, stimulating development of the settlement here.

Joseph C. Vance was named to survey the site and lay out the town. The following year, he bought the town site of {{convert|257|acre|km2}} from John Paul for $250. The name of the new village was chosen in typically democratic fashion. Vance called a town meeting to discuss possible names. The committee had considered several suggestions without reaching any decision. Then the Rev. Robert Armstrong proposed the name ''"Xenia,"'' meaning "hospitality" in Greek, because of the fine hospitality extended to him in this friendly community. When a tie vote occurred, Laticia Davis, wife of Owen Davis, was invited to cast the deciding ballot. She voted for "Xenia."

The first session of the [[Ohio General Assembly]] created [[Greene County, Ohio|Greene County]] from the [[Northwest Territory]]. It took in the homeland of the [[Shawnee|Shawnee Indians]]. Their chief tribal village was north of Xenia at Old Chillicothe, now called Old Town. The Shawnee war chief [[Tecumseh]] was born there in 1768. The [[Catawba people|Catawba]] also lived in and around Xenia, many of their descendants, such as the Jeffries family, intermarried with the local free Black community and the White community as well.

William Beattie was Xenia's first businessman. In 1804, he opened a tavern which became a center of community affairs. In 1804, John Marshall built Xenia's first house. The first log school house was constructed in 1805, and, that same year, the Rev. James Towler became the town's first postmaster. The growing community soon attracted many pioneer industries - flour mills, sawmills, woolen mills, pork packing plants, oil mills, and tow mills.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/317/History |website=Explore Xenia |publisher=City of Xenia, Ohio |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref>

A petition for incorporation, dated March 24, 1817, was circulated among the 88 households of Xenia, and on July 21, 1817, that petition, containing 66 signatures, was filed with the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County.<ref>Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections & Archives, SC-51</ref> On October 27, 1817, the petition for incorporation was granted by the Court and Xenia became a municipal corporation.<ref>Greene County Court of Common Pleas, 1817 Common Pleas Court Record C, pp. 61-63</ref>

The arrival of the [[Little Miami Railroad]] (now the site of the [[Little Miami Scenic Trail]], which passed through [[Xenia Station]]) in 1843, stimulated the development of additional industries and connected the city to other markets. On March 2, 1850, the Ohio General Assembly rode from [[Columbus, Ohio]] to Xenia and back on the newly completed [[Columbus and Xenia Railroad]].

From the summer of 1851, tourists would come from [[Cincinnati]], as well as plantations from the South, to visit the nearby Xenia Springs and Tawawa House, a hotel and health spa about three miles away. It was established as a summer resort to draw on interest in the medicinal properties of the springs. Skin specialist Dr. Samuel Spilsbee from Cincinnati served as Superintendent of the hotel. It was three stories high, and the grounds of the complex also included separate cottages. After it went out of business, the complex was purchased for use as [[Wilberforce University]], a [[historically black college]] founded by a collaboration between the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] (AME) and the Cincinnati Conference of the [[Methodist Church]]. By 1860 most of the 200 students were mixed-race children of wealthy white fathers from the South, planters and businessmen who were prevented from getting them educated there. In the early years of the war, the college closed briefly after Southerners withdrew their children. The AME Church took it over, and continued to operate it.<ref name="Talbert">{{cite web|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/talbert/talbert.html#p263|first=Horace|last=Talbert|title=The Sons of Allen: Together with a Sketch of the Rise and Progress of Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio 1906|pages=264–268, 273|work=Documenting the South|year=2000|publisher=University of North Carolina|access-date=July 25, 2008}}</ref>

On Wednesday morning, February 13, 1861, President-Elect [[Abraham Lincoln]] made a brief appearance in the city as his inaugural train traveled from [[Cincinnati]] northeast to Columbus. He gave a short speech; the traveling reporter from the ''New York Times'' did not record it as Lincoln expressed sentiments that he had repeated in previous stops. According to the ''Times'' writer, "a very large crowd assembled, and amid the firing of a cannon and enthusiasm, Mr. Lincoln addressed them from the rear car, reiterating what he had said before.".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=New York Times|date= February 14, 1861|page= 1|title=The Incoming Administration; Progress Of President-Elect Towards Washington}}</ref>

The town progressed rapidly during the mid-19th century. Artificial gas was provided in the 1840s and continued in use until [[natural gas|methane gas]] was made available in 1905. The first fire engine house was built in 1831; the telephone came to Xenia in 1879; electricity in 1881 and a water works system in 1886. Xenia opened its first free [[public library]] in 1899. By 1900, the city was operating its own [[sewage system]].

Following the Civil War, the [[Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home]] was built in Xenia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Soldiers & Sailors Orphans Home |url=https://greenelibraryresource.info/osso.php |website=Greene County Public Library |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lentz |first1=Edward R. |title=A Home of Their Own: The Story of Ohio's Greatest Orphanage |date=2010 |publisher=Orange Frazer Press |location=Wilmington, OH |isbn=978-1933197-722 |page=xiii |url=https://archive.org/details/homeoftheirownst0000lent/page/n3/mode/2up |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> Some of its building remains in use by a Christian ministry organization.

Xenia elected Cornelius Clark as its first mayor in 1834. On January 1, 1918, the current city commission-manager plan succeeded the old form of municipal government.

===Tornadoes===
{{see also|1974 Xenia tornado|2000 Xenia tornado}}

Xenia has a history of severe storm activity. According to local legend, the Shawnee referred to the area as "the place of the devil wind" or "the land of the crazy winds" (depending upon the translation).<ref>Smith, Joanne Huist; "Devil Winds: City's Curse or Tall Tale?", ''Dayton Daily News'', Sept. 16, 2001, page 1B.</ref>

[[File:A tornado funnel is shown moving through Xenia.jpg|thumb|The 1974 Xenia F5 tornado tearing through the southeast Pinecrest Garden district.]]
On April 3, 1974, a verified F5 rated [[tornado]] on the [[Fujita scale]] cut a path directly through the middle of Xenia during the [[1974 Super Outbreak]], the second largest series of tornadoes in recorded history. The disaster killed 34 people (including two [[Air National Guard|Ohio National Guardsmen]] who died days later in a related fire), injured an additional 1,150, destroyed almost half of the city's buildings, and left 10,000 people homeless. Five schools, including Xenia High School, Central Junior High School, McKinley Elementary, Simon Kenton Elementary, and Saint Brigid Catholic School, were destroyed, as were nine churches and 180 businesses. Ted Fujita himself rated the tornado an F6 in an essay he wrote, but the rating was never confirmed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/ohx/PDF/fujita_april31974.pdf|title=Jumbo Tornado Breakout of 3 April 1974|website=Weather.gov|access-date=December 2, 2021}}</ref>

The city's plight was featured in the national news, including a 1974 [[NBC]] television documentary, ''Tornado!'', hosted by [[Floyd Kalber]]. President [[Richard Nixon]] visited stricken areas of Xenia following the devastation. Comedian [[Bob Hope]] organized a benefit to raise funds for Xenia and, in appreciation, the new Xenia High School Auditorium was named the "Bob Hope Auditorium." In recognition of their coverage of this tornado, the staff of the ''[[Xenia Daily Gazette]]'' won the [[Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting|Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Reporting]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|title=1975 Winners|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1975|work=Pulitzer.org|access-date=June 12, 2012}}</ref>

Xenia was struck by an F2 tornado on April 25, 1989, and again by an F4 tornado on September 20, 2000. The 1989 tornado caused over $2 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=2000000|start_year=1989}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in damage, but no one was killed. The twister of 2000 killed one person, and injured 100 people. This tornado followed a path roughly parallel to that of the 1974 tornado.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornadoes in Greene County, Ohio|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Ohio/Greene/map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121044846/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Ohio/Greene/map|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 21, 2013|publisher=Tornado History Project|access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tornadoes in Greene County, Ohio in April 1989|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Ohio/Greene/1989/April/map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226033728/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Ohio/Greene/1989/April/map|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 26, 2014|publisher=Tornado History Project|access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref>

Xenia currently has a system of [[Civil defense siren|tornado sirens]]. After the [[1974 Super Outbreak|1974 tornado outbreak]], the city purchased a system of five [[Federal Signal Corporation|Federal Signal]] [[Thunderbolt (siren)|Thunderbolt]] sirens for warning. During the 2000 tornado strike, the lack of [[Emergency power system|backup power]] silenced the Thunderbolts during emergency, so the city purchased five [[Federal Signal Corporation|Federal Signal]] 2001-SRNB series sirens with battery backup to reinforce/replace the Thunderbolts.

===Railroads===
[[File:Little Miami Scenic Trail, Xenia, Ohio.jpg|thumb|right|A portion of the [[Little Miami Scenic Trail]] in Xenia]]
Several railroad lines owned by the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|Baltimore & Ohio]] (B&O) and [[Pennsylvania Railroad|Pennsylvania]] (PRR) railroads once served Xenia, for both freight and passenger service. Since restructuring of the railroad industry in the mid-twentieth century, all lines have since been abandoned, the last being dismantled by 1989.

The lines that previously served Xenia were:
* B&O [[Wellston, Ohio|Wellston]] subdivision, between [[Washington Court House, Ohio|Washington Court House]] and [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]].
* PRR [[Little Miami Railroad|Little Miami branch]], between [[Cincinnati]] and [[Springfield, Ohio|Springfield]]; a portion of the line ran down [[U.S. Route 68|Detroit Street]] and was the first section to be dismantled.
* PRR [[Main Line (Pittsburgh to St. Louis)|Pittsburgh-St. Louis mainline]]; [[Amtrak]] operated the ''[[National Limited (Amtrak train)|National Limited]]'' passenger service over this line until 1979.

The roadbeds of five of Xenia's six rail lines were converted for [[rail trail]] use. The one exception — the B&O line west of town — was not converted because it closely paralleled the PRR mainline for most of its length.

Xenia was served by two [[interurban]] railways until the 1940s:
* Dayton & Xenia Transit Company
* Springfield & Xenia Railway
In the postwar period, automobile ownership increased, and the federal government subsidized the construction of numerous interstate highways. Both changes influenced the decline of regional transit, such as the interurban railways.

==Geography==
Today Xenia is centrally located in the "transportation triangle" formed by three major interstate highways: [[I-70]], [[I-71]], and [[I-75]]. These north-south, east–west arteries are within minutes of Xenia via U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 35|35]], [[U.S. Route 42|42]], and [[U.S. Route 68|68]], tying the community to one of the nation's largest 90-minute highway markets. Before the creation of the U.S. [[Interstate Highway system]], U.S. 68 was one of the main southward routes from the major city of [[Detroit, Michigan]]. Within Xenia, U.S. 68 is named "Detroit Street". Xenia's Main Street runs concurrently with [[U.S. Route 35|U.S. 35]] Business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US-35 BUS · Ohio 45385 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/US-35+BUS,+Ohio+45385/@39.6846881,-83.9322787,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x884099add75a01f7:0x4b7edd1c39f5e324!8m2!3d39.6846881!4d-83.9322787!16s/g/11h0hgqpj?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkxNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw== |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=US-35 BUS · Ohio 45385 |language=en}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|13.29|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|13.28|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2013-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Xenia, Ohio (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1916–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 73
 | Feb record high F  = 77
 | Mar record high F  = 84
 | Apr record high F  = 90
 | May record high F  = 95
 | Jun record high F  = 102
 | Jul record high F  = 108
 | Aug record high F  = 107
 | Sep record high F  = 103
 | Oct record high F  = 92
 | Nov record high F  = 84
 | Dec record high F  = 74
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 59.2
|Feb avg record high F = 63.2
|Mar avg record high F = 71.7
|Apr avg record high F = 80.2
|May avg record high F = 85.9
|Jun avg record high F = 90.2
|Jul avg record high F = 91.0
|Aug avg record high F = 89.7
|Sep avg record high F = 87.7
|Oct avg record high F = 82.0
|Nov avg record high F = 70.9
|Dec avg record high F = 62.3
|year avg record high F = 92.3

 | Jan high F = 37.6
 | Feb high F = 41.7
 | Mar high F = 51.9
 | Apr high F = 64.8
 | May high F = 73.4
 | Jun high F = 80.8
 | Jul high F = 83.4
 | Aug high F = 82.2
 | Sep high F = 77.1
 | Oct high F = 66.1
 | Nov high F = 53.3
 | Dec high F = 42.0
 | year high F = 62.9
 | Jan mean F = 30.2
 | Feb mean F = 33.5
 | Mar mean F = 42.7
 | Apr mean F = 54.1
 | May mean F = 63.5
 | Jun mean F = 71.4
 | Jul mean F = 74.1
 | Aug mean F = 72.5
 | Sep mean F = 66.6
 | Oct mean F = 55.9
 | Nov mean F = 44.6
 | Dec mean F = 34.9
 | year mean F = 53.7
 | Jan low F = 22.7
 | Feb low F = 25.2
 | Mar low F = 33.6
 | Apr low F = 43.5
 | May low F = 53.7
 | Jun low F = 62.0
 | Jul low F = 64.8
 | Aug low F = 62.7
 | Sep low F = 56.1
 | Oct low F = 45.7
 | Nov low F = 35.9
 | Dec low F = 27.9
 | year low F = 44.5

|Jan avg record low F = -1.6
|Feb avg record low F = 4.2
|Mar avg record low F = 13.1
|Apr avg record low F = 25.7
|May avg record low F = 37.1
|Jun avg record low F = 48.4
|Jul avg record low F = 53.3
|Aug avg record low F = 50.7
|Sep avg record low F = 40.3
|Oct avg record low F = 28.5
|Nov avg record low F = 19.1
|Dec avg record low F = 7.8
|year avg record low F = -4.5

 | Jan record low F  = -28
 | Feb record low F  = -20
 | Mar record low F  = -5
 | Apr record low F  = 13
 | May record low F  = 25
 | Jun record low F  = 37
 | Jul record low F  = 42
 | Aug record low F  = 38
 | Sep record low F  = 25
 | Oct record low F  = 16
 | Nov record low F  = -8
 | Dec record low F  = -24
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 3.39
 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.66
 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.74
 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.56
 | May precipitation inch = 4.82
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.72
 | Jul precipitation inch = 3.98
 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.25
 | Sep precipitation inch = 2.72
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.10
 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.07
 | Dec precipitation inch = 3.25
 | year precipitation inch = 43.26
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 9.8
 | Feb precipitation days  = 8.4
 | Mar precipitation days  = 9.2
 | Apr precipitation days  = 10.7
 | May precipitation days  = 11.0
 | Jun precipitation days  = 10.3
 | Jul precipitation days  = 9.1
 | Aug precipitation days  = 7.2
 | Sep precipitation days  = 6.2
 | Oct precipitation days  = 7.6
 | Nov precipitation days  = 8.3
 | Dec precipitation days  = 9.1
 | year precipitation days = 106.9
 | Jan snow inch = 7.3
 | Feb snow inch = 5.3
 | Mar snow inch = 2.6
 | Apr snow inch = 0.5
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.1
 | Nov snow inch = 0.7
 | Dec snow inch = 3.8
 | year snow inch = 20.3
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 3.8
 | Feb snow days  = 3.3
 | Mar snow days  = 1.4
 | Apr snow days  = 0.3
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.0
 | Nov snow days  = 0.6
 | Dec snow days  = 2.7
 | year snow days = 12.1
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=iln
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 15, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00339361&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 15, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1810= 429
|1820= 799
|1830= 917
|1840= 1913
|1850= 3024
|1860= 4658
|1870= 6377
|1880= 7026
|1890= 7301
|1900= 8696
|1910= 8706
|1920= 9110
|1930= 10507
|1940= 10633
|1950= 12877
|1960= 20445
|1970= 25373
|1980= 24712
|1990= 24664
|2000= 24164
|2010= 25719
|2020= 25441
|estyear=2023
|estimate=25555
|estref=
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/xeniacityohio,US/PST045221|title=Xenia city, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=July 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP05?q=Xenia,+Ohio|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 25,719 people, 10,390 households, and 6,631 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1936.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 11,424 dwelling units at an average density of {{convert|860.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 10,390 households, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 24,164 people, 9,378 households, and 6,527 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,989.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 9,924 dwelling units at an average density of {{convert|817.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13.51% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.29% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.53% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.98% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.09% of the population.

There were 9,378 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,457, and the median income for a family was $43,046. Males had a median income of $34,497 versus $24,094 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,481. About 8.9% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Xenia has, or once had, the following industries:
* [[Hooven and Allison]] rope factory (1870–2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2003/08/04/daily38.html|title=Hooven Allison closing in Xenia|website=Bizjournals.com|date=August 8, 2003 |access-date=December 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-20 |title=Xenia's Hooven Allison property bought by new company |url=https://www.whio.com/news/local/xenias-hooven-allison-property-bought-by-new-company/A2JFUZAI3BHE5KUYIXLK4HW3LU/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio |publisher=Cox Media Group |language=en}}</ref>
* Xenia Shoe Manufacturing<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83105555604324413/|title=LADY IN BLUE by Matisse Vintage 9 X 12 Art Print Reproduction &#124; Etsy &#124; Vintage oil painting, Print artist, Oil painting reproductions|website=Pinterest.com|access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>
* Xenia Ironcasting Foundry (founded 1920)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.xeniafoundry.com/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Xenia Foundry and Machine Company|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Bob Evans Farms meat packing plant <ref>{{cite web |title=FarmTransperency.org |url=https://www.farmtransparency.org/facilities/1bi0c-bob-evans-farmsinc}}</ref>
* Xenia [[Workhouse]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gS4LAAAAYAAJ&q=xenia+workhouse&pg=PA323 |title = Ohio Decisions|last1 = Tossell|first1 = William John|year = 1915}}</ref>
* [[Kroehler Manufacturing Company|Kroehler Furniture factory]] (destroyed 1974)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/42829101/|title=Xenia Daily Gazette from Xenia, Ohio on December 26, 1972 · Page 26|website=Newspapers.com|date=26 December 1972 |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/519884350716082371/|title = Kroehler's Furniture plant. &#124; Ohio history, Xenia ohio, Ohio|website=Pinterest.com}}</ref>
* [[McDonald Farm (Xenia, Ohio)|McDonald Farm]] Stone Quarry - stone used to represent Ohio in the [[Washington Monument]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=91407|title = McDonald Stone Quarry Historical Marker|website=Hmcb.org}}</ref>
* [[Dodds Monuments]] - grave and memorial sculptors (founded 1864)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lasting Visions Blog — Coming Soon|url=http://www.doddsmonuments.com/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Doddsmonuments.com}}</ref>
* [[Eavey Grocers]] (1865–1970)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xeniagazette.com/opinion/1207/1908-fire-in-the-eavey-building|title=1908 fire in the Eavey building |website=Xeniagazette.com|date=17 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.co.greene.oh.us/Blog.aspx?IID=50|title=Blog • Greene County, OH • CivicEngage|website=Co.greene.oh.us|access-date=January 13, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020230/http://www.co.greene.oh.us/Blog.aspx?IID=50|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
The annual [[Dayton Hamvention]] is held at the Greene County Fairgrounds, having been moved from the now closed [[Hara Arena]] in [[Trotwood, Ohio]] in May 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dayton Hamvention Moving to Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia |url=https://www.arrl.org/news/dayton-hamvention-moving-to-greene-county-fairgrounds-in-xenia |access-date=26 February 2023 |publisher=ARPL |date=August 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Halasz |first1=Scott |title=Hamvention Moving to Greene County |url=https://www.xeniagazette.com/2016/08/01/hamvention-moving-to-greene-county/ |access-date=26 February 2023 |publisher=Xenia Daily Gazette |date=August 1, 2016}}</ref> This event typically attracts over 20,000 [[amateur radio]] enthusiasts from around the world.

The Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival launched its first ever outdoor summer festival on July 17–19, 2025, at the Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center in Xenia, OH.<ref>{{cite web |title=Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival |url=https://industrialstrengthbluegrass.com/index.html |access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Xenia City Administration Building and Historic East Main St.jpg|thumb|alt=Xenia City Administration Building and Historic East Main St|Xenia City Administration Building and Historic East Main St]]

The Xenia City Council exercises the powers and authority of a municipal corporation as determined by the constitution of the State of Ohio and the Charter and ordinances of the City of Xenia. The City Council is composed of seven elected council members, including one mayor. Council members are each elected for one four-year term of office.

City Council Members
* Mayor William Urschel
* City Council President Wesley Smith
* Councilman James Crawford
* Councilman Dennis Propes
* Councilman Ethan Reynolds
* Councilwoman Faith Sorice
* Councilman Carlos Walker

The City Manager is Brent Merriman.

==Education==
The Xenia Community School District has 1 preschool, 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school:

* Xenia Preschool (formerly Central Middle School) (Grade PreK)
* Cox Elementary School (Grade K-5)
* McKinley Elementary School (Grade K-5)
* Arrowood Elementary (Grade K-5)
* Shawnee Elementary (Grade K-5)
* Tecumseh Elementary (Grade K-5)
* Warner Middle School (Grade 6–8)
* [[Xenia High School]] (Grade 9–12)
* Spring Hill Elementary (as of 2012 defunct)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-education/xenia-students-return-new-schools/Rpc0OSli3wLplrrChkPWLK/|title=Xenia students to return to 5 new schools|work=daytondailynews|access-date=2018-02-26}}</ref>

Private schools in Xenia:
* [[Xenia Christian School|Legacy Christian Academy]] (Grade Pre-K-12)
* [[St. Brigid]] School (Grade Pre-K-8)

Xenia has the main branch library and administrative offices of the [[Greene County Public Library]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://greenelibrary.info/locations/ | title=Locations | publisher=Greene County Public Library | access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref>

==Media==
Xenia is part of the [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]] [[media market]], the 64th-largest media market in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local Television Market Universe Estimates |url=http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/docs/solutions/measurement/television/2016-2017-nielsen-local-dma-ranks.pdf |publisher=[[Nielsen Media Research]] |date=September 24, 2016 |access-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref>

===Newspapers===
The main newspaper in Xenia is the ''[[Xenia Daily Gazette]]'', founded in 1868. The ''Gazette'' is published two days a week. A community-based online source, ''Xenia's Word on the Street'', is also available.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Our Team |url=http://xeniaword.com/site-info/meet-our-team/ |work=Xenia's Word on the Street |access-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref> The larger ''[[Dayton Daily News]]'', which covers the entire Dayton metro area, includes a community section for Xenia in both the printed and online versions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Xenia News |url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/community/xenia/ |publisher=[[Dayton Daily News]] |work=DaytonDailyNews.com |access-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref> In February 2023, it was announced that the ''Gazette'' would reduce "the number of printed editions each week while expanding local news coverage" on their website due to inflationary costs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Halasz |first1=Scott |title=Gazette Changing with the Times |url=https://www.xeniagazette.com/2023/02/20/gazette-changing-with-the-times/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |work=Xenia Daily Gazette |date=20 February 2023}}</ref>

===Radio===
Radio stations based in Xenia:
*1500 AM [[WBZI]] "Real Roots Radio" (simulcasts on F.M. translator 100.3/W262BG)
*95.3 FM [[WZLR]] "The Eagle" (Classic Rock)

==Notable people==
* [[Doug Adair]], television [[news presenter|news anchor]] and journalist
* [[Doug Adams (American football)|Doug Adams]], [[National Football League|NFL]] [[linebacker]]
* [[Steve Austria]], U.S. Congressman
* [[Elizabeth Gowdy Baker]], painter
* [[Clarence Belt]], racing driver
* [[Una Mae Carlisle]], [[jazz]] musician
* [[Dean Chenoweth]], hydroplane and auto racer in [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]]
* [[Barry Clemens|John Barry Clemens]], [[NBA]] player
* [[Trent Cole]], NFL [[defensive end]]
* [[Gary Gearhart|Lloyd Gearhart]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player and scout
* [[Charley Grapewin]], actor
* [[Caitlin Halligan]], lawyer and New York State Court of Appeals judge
* [[Chris Hero]], pro wrestler for [[WWE]] and [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]]
* [[Roger Huston]], harness [[race caller]]
* [[Roland James]], NFL [[cornerback]]
* [[Coates Kinney]], lawyer, journalist, and poet
* [[John Little (congressman)|John Little]], U.S. Congressman
* [[Roger McMurrin]], conductor
* [[Warren K. Moorehead]], archaeologist
* [[Rose Murphy]], jazz singer
* [[Larry D. Nichols]], puzzle enthusiast and inventor of [[Pocket Cube]]
* [[Obiwu]], poet and author
* [[Aftab Pureval]], [[List of mayors of Cincinnati|Mayor of Cincinnati]]
* [[Helen Hooven Santmyer]], novelist
* [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.]], historian
* [[Thomas Taggart]], [[Mayor of Indianapolis]] and U.S. Senator from Indiana
* [[Tecumseh]], Shawnee Chief during the [[War of 1812]]
* [[Ridgely Torrence]], poet
* [[Sarah A. Worden]] (1855–1918), painter, art instructor

==In popular culture==
===Film===
* Xenia is the setting for [[Harmony Korine]]'s film ''[[Gummo]]'' (1997); the movie was not filmed in Xenia, however, but in Korine's hometown of [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gummo (1997) - Filming & Production - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119237/locations|access-date=2021-11-27|website=IMDb|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Alexander Conner House]]
*[[Bank of Xenia]]
*[[East Second Street Historic District (Xenia, Ohio)]]
*[[Greene County–Lewis A. Jackson Regional Airport]]
*[[Hollencamp House]]
*[[Millen–Schmidt House]]
*[[Ohio Town]]
*[[Samuel N. Patterson House]]
*[[Xenia (automobile)]]
*[[Xenia College]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Xenia, Ohio}}
{{wikivoyage|Xenia}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Center = Xenia
|North = [[Yellow Springs, Ohio|Yellow Springs]]
|Northeast = [[Cedarville, Ohio|Cedarville]]
|East = [[Jamestown, Ohio|Jamestown]]
|Southeast = [[Bowersville, Ohio|Bowersville]]
|South = [[Spring Valley, Ohio|Spring Valley]] 
|Southwest = [[Bellbrook, Ohio|Bellbrook]]
|West = [[Beavercreek Township, Ohio|Beavercreek Township]]
|Northwest = [[Fairborn, Ohio|Fairborn]] 
}}
{{Greene County, Ohio}}
{{Ohio county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Xenia, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Greene County, Ohio]]
[[Category:County seats in Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1803]]
[[Category:1803 establishments in Ohio]]