The 2002 Winter Olympic Torch passed through Portsmouth, December 18, 2001, as it traveled a leg for the relay from Louisville, KY-Cincinnati, OH-Huntington WV-Charleston WV. The Torch covered 13,500 miles to its eventual end in Salt Lake City, UT and was carried by 12,012 Torchbearers. Three Scioto County residents were chosen to be Torchbearers through Portsmouth: Chris Lowery, Deanna Adams & Marcia Sanderlin. The Torch passed through 46 of 50 U.S. states.
June 2009 The Ohio Library Council promoted a "Save Our Libraries" campaign encouraging citizens to rally and support their local libraries due to proposed budget cuts on public libraries in the state of Ohio.
Photographs of the Portsmouth High School Building built in 1912, razed in 2007 to make room for the athletic complex built on the property. The new high school building is located across Waller Street facing Gallia Street.
