1981

• Empire-Detroit Steel closes plant

1982

• Hisle retired as a major league baseball player
• City Council, City manager Barry Feldman go to war

1984

• Prison guard murdered at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
• City begins to regulation garage sales

1985

• Inmates hold two prison guards hostage Southern Ohio Correctional Facility during the siege of '85
• Al Oliver retires from professional baseball

1886

• Shawnee State receives four-year university status
• Amendment to increase the city income tax to 3/4 of 1 percent was defeated
• U.S. Health of Southern Ohio was established unifying Scioto Memorial Hospital, Southern Hills Hospital and Mercy Hospital

1978

• Shawnee State University President Frank Taylor resigned
• Emergency Response Team formed by Portsmouth Police Chief Thomas Bihl
• Teachers at Shawnee State University picket in front of the college during a union walk out

1988

• Portsmouth High School Trojans basketball team won their fourth state championship

1989

• City bans skateboarding in downtown business area
• Franklin Gerlach became first mayor
• New Boston shopping center to be built anchored by Wal-Mart and a Buy-For-Less grocery store
• Wheelersburg Pirates football team takes the State Championship

1990

• Major cold wave hits area
• Southern Ohio Correctional Facility teacher murdered by inmate
• Troops sent to the Persian Gulf