MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Ohio State University at Marion has announced the next installment of its monthly Buckeye Talks on Tap community lecture series, featuring historical research on the unique social makeup of 19th-century communal societies in the state.
Dr. Greg Rose, associate professor of geography emeritus at Ohio State Marion, will present a lecture titled “The Demography of Ohio’s Four Shaker Villages in 1850” on Tuesday, June 9, at Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen. The event is free and open to the public.
Rose’s presentation will delve into the specific population characteristics of residents living within Ohio’s four historical Shaker settlements in 1850. His research examines a wide range of data points from the period, including overall population numbers, ages, sex ratios, literacy and schooling levels, occupations, birthplaces, and potential family or kinship links.
According to Rose, each village maintained distinct demographic characteristics that differed not only from one another but also from their surrounding counties and Shaker communities nationwide. The program will also cover the foundational religious beliefs of the Shakers, alongside a historical overview of how the villages grew and ultimately declined. Today, little physical evidence of these communities remains, with the exception of Whitewater Village in Hamilton County.
The inspiration for the upcoming lecture began years ago while Rose was compiling birthplace information from manuscript records of the 1850 federal census for a previous presentation. After discovering and preserving specific data regarding the Union Shaker Village, he used the material as the foundation for this comprehensive study. Rose’s broader research focuses on the historical geography of the Midwest, specifically looking at 19th-century immigrant populations and the cultural boundaries that define the region.
The Buckeye Talks on Tap series is modeled after the international Science Café movement, which connects academic researchers with local citizens in casual settings like pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops to encourage regional dialogue.
The June 9 event will take place inside Passenger & Rail Co. at 320 W. Center St. in downtown Marion. Doors are scheduled to open at 5 p.m., with the lecture beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by a brief question-and-answer session. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase food and beverages during the program and can enter a door prize drawing sponsored by Anchor and Away Travel.