Middletown’s history is an apt summation of the story of the United States. A formerly booming factory town that thrived alongside Armco Steel, paper mills and other industrial producers, Middie City faced many challenges beginning in the 1980s, when such jobs disappeared. However, Middletown has begun forging a prosperous path forward. Its leaders have invested in downtown buildings and events that will help attract a diverse population back to the city of just over 52,000. From Renaissance Pointe, a $200 million mixed-use development with a first phase due for completion in 2026, to the Middletown Rising college-scholarship program and increased investment in its parks and public spaces, Middletown has harnessed its resilience and work ethic to create a prosperous city and region.
Engagement from the Revolutionary War through World War II reflects the city’s resilience and can-do mentality.
While MCF reflects on role in the community's revitalization, they continue to meet the complex challenges that await all communities in the 21st century.
Big ideas and downtown collaboration yield a very merry Middie City.
As the city looks for a new path forward, perspectives may vary, but there is shared enthusiasm for an invigorated downtown.
Entrepreneur Heather Gibson builds success with a community-first space where creativity, conversation, and caffeine keep customers coming back.
A national expert and local leaders from Butler County and Middletown explain why citizen participation is vital to addressing public issues.
Neighborhood groups are working to shift power back to people who have historically been forgotten, marginalized, and ignored over the years.
A trio of projects reflects the Middie City’s 2.0 evolution.
Middletown health care providers discuss improvements boosting local quality of life.
A look at four institutions and locations that enrich the city’s social fabric as beloved third places.
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