Portsmouth

Around Portsmouth

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Town and around · Ohio · 71k people

Portsmouth

“River City”, “P-town”

Where the river paints the town

River BlueShawnee State Navy

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Welcome to Portsmouth, where the Ohio River meets the hills. Take a stroll along the floodwall to see the murals, grab a Coney dog downtown, and get ready for some friendly high school football talk. Whether you're here for the outdoors or the history, you'll find a welcoming community.

Clubs for Portsmouth

No clubs for Portsmouth yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Portsmouth. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Portsmouth. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Floodwall Murals Large murals painted on the floodwall along the Ohio River.
  • Portsmouth Riverfront Scenic riverfront with walking paths and river views.
  • Portsmouth Earthworks Ancient Native American earthworks, part of the Hopewell culture.
  • Shawnee State Park Large park with hiking, fishing, and camping.
  • Shawnee State University Public university with a scenic campus.
  • Southern Ohio Museum Local museum with art and regional history.
  • Outdoors Hike the trails at Shawnee State Park
  • Outdoors Fish for catfish on the Ohio River
  • With kids Take a self-guided tour of the floodwall murals
  • With kids Picnic at the riverfront park
  • Evenings Catch a show at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
  • Evenings Bar hop on Chillicothe Street
  • Locals love riverfront parks
  • Locals love local diners

Through the year

  • Scioto County Fair July County fair with rides, livestock, and food.
  • Portsmouth River Days August Riverfront festival with music, food, and family activities.
  • Portsmouth Raceway Park races Spring to fall Weekly dirt track stock car races.
  • Portsmouth Halloween Parade October Costume parade through downtown.
  • Portsmouth vs. Wheelersburg football game Fall Rivalry game that draws big crowds.

Humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Best: Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to be out.

Talk like a local

“The Floodwall”
The floodwall murals area.
“The Riverfront”
The riverfront park.
“Scioto”
Scioto County, pronounced sigh-oh-toe.
“The Burg”
Wheelersburg, a nearby town.

Getaways

  • Huntington Larger city with shopping and dining.
  • Gallipolis Historic river town with antique shops.
  • Chillicothe Historic town with Adena culture sites.
  • Athens College town with vibrant arts scene.

Local flavour

Rooting for Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA Football), Cincinnati Bengals (NFL), Cleveland Browns (NFL), Cincinnati Reds (MLB), Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)

Eat and drink

  • Coney dogs Hot dog with chili, mustard, and onions
  • Barbecue ribs Local barbecue style, as at Scioto Ribber
  • Soup beans and cornbread Appalachian comfort food

Where people go

  • Riverfront Ohio River waterfront with floodwall murals
  • Floodwall murals Large-scale murals depicting local history
  • Historic downtown Brick streets and old buildings
  • Earthworks

Heritage and traditions

Portsmouth is proud of its river town heritage, its stunning floodwall murals that chronicle the Ohio River's history, and its deep roots in Native American earthworks and early NFL football.

This time of year in Portsmouth

  • High school football Fall Friday night games are a community tradition.
  • Hunting Fall and winter Deer hunting in the surrounding hills.
  • Portsmouth Halloween Parade October One of the largest Halloween parades in the region.

Say it like a local: “Down by the floodwall” — Referring to the floodwall as a landmark.

Festivals

  • Boneyfiddle Music Festival Summer Live music in the historic Boneyfiddle district.
  • Boneyfiddle Christmas Walk December Victorian-themed holiday stroll with carolers and lights.

Landmarks with a story

  • Boneyfiddle Historic District 19th-century commercial and residential architecture with antique shops and galleries.
  • Mound Park Preserved Hopewell culture mound in the heart of the city.

Food traditions

  • Fish fries during Lent Church and community fish fries on Fridays during Lent, often with breaded catfish or cod.
  • Fried bologna sandwiches A diner staple, often served with mustard and onion on white bread.

Music and arts

  • Floodwall murals A 2,000-foot-long series of murals depicting local history.
  • Appalachian folk and bluegrass Local music scene influenced by Appalachian heritage.
  • Southern Ohio Museum Art museum with regional and contemporary exhibits.

A little history

  • 200 BC – 500 AD The area was a center of the Hopewell culture, known for elaborate earthworks.
  • 1803 Settled at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio rivers.
  • Late 1800s Portsmouth became a major iron and steel producer, earning the nickname 'The Iron City'.
  • 1930–1933 The Portsmouth Spartans played in the NFL before moving to Detroit to become the Lions.
  • 1990s A series of murals painted on the floodwall to depict the region's history.

Rivalries

  • Portsmouth Trojans vs. Wheelersburg Pirates Fierce high school football rivalry.
  • Portsmouth vs. Ironton Historic football rivalry between river towns.
  • Ohio State vs. Michigan College football rivalry that divides households.
  • Bengals vs. Browns NFL rivalry between Ohio teams.
  • Game day Portsmouth Trojans high school football
  • Game day Legacy of the Portsmouth Spartans
  • Outdoors Watch the barges on the Ohio River
  • Outdoors Walk the floodwall to see the murals
  • With kids Explore the Boneyfiddle district
  • With kids Ride bikes on the riverfront

People in Portsmouth speak with a Midland accent with Appalachian influences, often saying 'pop' for soda and using phrases like 'the river' to refer to the Ohio. The pronunciation of 'Scioto' is a local marker.

Only here

  • The floodwall murals are one of the largest mural systems in the United States.
  • The Portsmouth Spartans are the only NFL team to have played in Portsmouth.
  • The Boneyfiddle district has a unique name derived from 'bone' and 'fiddle'.
  • The Portsmouth Halloween Parade is one of the oldest in the country.
New here? A few tips
  • Pronounce Scioto as 'sigh-OH-toe'.
  • Be prepared for hot, humid summers and cold winters.
  • The floodwall is a landmark; use it for directions.
  • Try a Coney dog from a local diner.
  • Get into high school football – it's a community passion.

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Part of Huntington area

Nearby

Every area
HuntingtonWest VirginiaWhere the hills meet the OhioJacksonOhioRugged hills, warm heartsWaverlyOhioWhere the hills hold storiesGallipolisOhioWhere the river bends and the hills roll.Point PleasantWest VirginiaRiver town warmth with a legendary twist.ChillicotheOhioWhere the Scioto flows through historyAthensOhioA college town cradled in the Appalachian hills.Washington Court HouseOhioWhere the cornfields meet the courthouse

Portsmouth, OH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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