Springfield Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 35,862 as of the 2020 census. Springfield Township is home to the largest private school in Ohio (St. Xavier High School), the largest lake in Hamilton County (at Winton Woods County Park), and the Cincinnati area's annual Greek Festival (at Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church).[4]
Springfield Township is suburban with abundant green space and parks, including most of the 2,500-acre Winton Woods County Park. The township also includes the largest lake in Hamilton County, the 188 surface-acre Winton Woods lake.[9]
Springfield Township today consists of the core of the original township boundaries, although five non-contiguous "islands" exist due to annexations. The Township Master Plan divides the township into eleven neighborhoods,[10] which closely align with the seven public school districts serving the township, but generally not the five census-designated places (CDPs).
As of the census of 2020, there were 35,862 people living in the township, for a population density of 2,186.7 people per square mile (845.8/km2). There were 14,777 housing units. The racial makeup of the township was 47.0% White, 41.8% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. 3.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[2]
There were 14,585 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 33.8% had a female householder with no spouse present. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 3.00.[2]
21.8% of the township's population were under the age of 18, 58.1% were 18 to 64, and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.3. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males.[2]
According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, for the period 2016-2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the township was $67,249, and the median income for a family was $79,112. About 11.4% of the population were living below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over. About 59.8% of the population were employed, and 32.2% had a bachelor's degree or higher.[2]
Government
The township is governed by a three-member Board of Trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1.[17] Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it, alongside an elected township Fiscal Officer,[18] who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election.. Vacancies in the Fiscal Office or on the Board of Trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.
The current Trustees are Kristie Dukes Davis, Joseph Honerlaw, and Mark Berning. Dan Berning is the Fiscal Officer.[19]
Education
Public elementary and secondary education is provided by seven school districts:[20]
^Laugle, Laura (July 11, 2011). "T. M. Berry Project: Berry and the Fight for Fair Housing in Cincinnati, Part 2". University of Cincinnati Library. Retrieved August 4, 2017. The problem for Berry and his partners was, as expected, discrimination. The chosen plot of land for the subdivision which would be named "Hollydale" was a farm in Springfield Township near Glenview Golf Course. In the article to the right, original Cedar Grove Homestead Association member Edward Jacobs explains "we were told by the farmer who owned the land that he'd rather see the land full of weeds and rabbits before he would sell it to us… Once we raised enough money, we had to get a white lady in Glendale to buy the land in her name and turn it over to the association."
^Goodman, Rebecca (January 17, 2003). "Obituary: Edward Jacobs Sr.: Opened 1940s developments for blacks". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved August 7, 2017. Edward Eugene Jacobs Sr., founder of Cedar Grove Homestead Association, a cooperative that helped African-Americans find quality housing in Cincinnati, and founder of Hollydale Homes in Springfield Township, died of cancer at Good Samaritan Hospital on Dec. 4. He was 82.
^Key, Jennie (December 27, 2016). "Hollydale neighborhood enhancement project a success". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017. Corbett Harvey founded the Cedar Grove Homestead Association to build the subdivision in 1947, but opposition to the black neighborhood and setbacks pushed construction off by 10 years.
