New Alexandria is a village in eastern Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 232 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area. New Alexandria derives its name from the former proprietor, Alexander Smith, who laid out the town in 1831. Prior to this, the area was known as "Tempo" by the surrounding loca…New Alexandria is a village in eastern Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 232 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area. New Alexandria derives its name from the former proprietor, Alexander Smith, who laid out the town in 1831. Prior to this, the area was known as "Tempo" by the surrounding local community. This derives from either a temperance hotel that was kept there by Matthew Thompson as far back as 1820, or the village Tempo in Fermanagh County, Ireland where Thompson grew up. This information can be found in a privately printed biography of the Scott Family which was written primarily by a nephew of Thompson. However, no further evidence as to if Mr. Thompson's temperance hotel has anything to do with the name; note that there was also a small collection of houses here prior to Smith laying out the area. Mr. Thomson also started the first store and was the first postmaster of the village. In 1831 Mr. Smith opened a hotel and store in the newly organized area. Being distant from any rail or water transportation the village grew at a slow rate, it did however have a fairly large area of local trade with the rural community surrounding it. The village was incorporated in 1871 and has been the home of several small businesses, churches, clubs, a cemetery, a post office, a community park, a school and a volunteer fire department over the years.
Save
Share
More