Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio | |
---|---|
City | |
![]() Aerial view of downtown Findlay | |
Nickname(s): Flag City, USA | |
![]() Findlay's position within Hancock County (foreground) and Ohio (background) | |
Coordinates: 41°2′34″N 83°38′32″W / 41.04278°N 83.64222°WCoordinates: 41°2′34″N 83°38′32″W / 41.04278°N 83.64222°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Ohio |
County | Hancock |
Government | |
• Mayor | Lydia Mihalik[1] |
Area[2] | |
• Total | 19.25 sq mi (49.86 km2) |
• Land | 19.13 sq mi (49.55 km2) |
• Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2) |
Elevation[3] | 778 ft (237 m) |
Population (2010)[4] | |
• Total | 41,202 |
• Estimate (2015[5]) | 41,149 |
• Density | 2,153.8/sq mi (831.6/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 45839-45840 |
Area code(s) | 419, 567 |
FIPS code | 39-27048[6] |
GNIS feature ID | 1040439[3] |
Website | www.FindlayOhio.com |
Findlay is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Ohio, United States.[7] The city metro area is often referred as The Greater Findlay Area. The second-largest city in Northwest Ohio, Findlay lies about 40 miles (64 km) south of Toledo. The population was 41,202 at the 2010 census. It is home to the University of Findlay. Findlay is one of two cities in Hancock County, along with Fostoria.
History
![](../I/m/Panoramic_map_of_Findlay_Ohio.jpg)
![](../I/m/Bird's-eye_view_of_Findlay%2C_Ohio_Date_Created_Published-_Brooklyn%2C_N.Y._-_The_Albertype_Co._%3B_c.1906.jpg)
In the War of 1812, Colonel James Findlay of Cincinnati built a road and a stockade to transport and shelter troops in the Great Black Swamp region. This stockade was named Fort Findlay in his honor.[8][9] At the conclusion of the war, the community of Findlay was born. The first town lots were laid out in 1821 by the future Ohio Governor Joseph Vance and Elnathan Corry.
Before the Civil War, Findlay was a stop for slaves along the Underground Railroad.
During the 1880s, Findlay was a booming center of oil and natural gas production, though the supply of petroleum had dwindled by the early 20th century.
Findlay hosted the highly competitive Ohio State Music Festival in 1884. A young cornet player, Warren G. Harding, and his Citizens' Cornet Band of Marion placed third in the competition.[10] Harding would go on to be elected the 29th President of the United States.
On March 31, 1892, the only known lynching in the history of Hancock County occurred when a mob of 1,000 men, many "respectable citizens", broke into the county jail in Findlay. They lynched Mr. Lytle, who had seriously (but not fatally as believed at the time)[11] injured his wife and two daughters with a hatchet the day before, by hanging him twice (first from the bridge, then a telegraph pole) and finally shooting his body over a dozen times. The authorities had intended to secretly convey the prisoner to a suburb at 1 o'clock, where a train was to have been taken for Lima, but their plans were frustrated by the mob.[12]
In 1908, American songwriter Tell Taylor wrote the standard, "Down by the Old Mill Stream" while fishing along the Blanchard River in Findlay. The song was published in 1910.
For three months in the early 1960s, Findlay had the distinction of being the only community in the world where touch-tone telephone service was available. Touch-tone service was first introduced there on November 1, 1960.
The city's official nickname is "Flag City, USA".
Geography
![](../I/m/Pictures_of_FIndlay_012.jpg)
Findlay is located at 41°02′34″N 83°38′32″W / 41.042843°N 83.642216°W (41.042843, −83.642216).[13]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.25 square miles (49.86 km2), of which 19.13 square miles (49.55 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km2) is water.[2]
The Blanchard River travels through Findlay, flowing east to west.
The Findlay Reservoir No. 2 is the largest above ground reservoir in the state of Ohio with a capacity of approximately 5 billion US gallons (19,000,000 m3) of water.[14]
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1830 | 52 | — | |
1840 | 469 | 801.9% | |
1850 | 1,256 | 167.8% | |
1860 | 2,467 | 96.4% | |
1870 | 3,315 | 34.4% | |
1880 | 4,633 | 39.8% | |
1890 | 18,553 | 300.5% | |
1900 | 17,613 | −5.1% | |
1910 | 14,858 | −15.6% | |
1920 | 17,021 | 14.6% | |
1930 | 19,363 | 13.8% | |
1940 | 20,228 | 4.5% | |
1950 | 23,845 | 17.9% | |
1960 | 30,344 | 27.3% | |
1970 | 35,800 | 18.0% | |
1980 | 35,533 | −0.7% | |
1990 | 35,703 | 0.5% | |
2000 | 38,967 | 9.1% | |
2010 | 41,202 | 5.7% | |
Est. 2017 | 41,321 | [15] | 0.3% |
Sources:[6][16][17][18] |
2010 census
As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 41,202 people, 17,354 households, and 10,329 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,153.8 inhabitants per square mile (831.6/km2). There were 19,318 housing units at an average density of 1,009.8 per square mile (389.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 2.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.7% of the population.
There were 17,354 households of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.
The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.0% were from 45 to 64; and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile (875.2/km2). There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile (385.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.70% White, 1.40% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% of the population.
There were 15,905 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,883, and the median income for a family was $49,986. Males had a median income of $36,150 versus $23,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,328. About 5.9% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
![](../I/m/Pictures_of_FIndlay_021.jpg)
Findlay is the headquarters of the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, founded in 1914, which specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing, and sales of replacement automobile and truck tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle, and racing tires.
Findlay was also the longtime headquarters of the Marathon Oil Corporation from 1905 until 1990 when it moved its offices to Houston, TX, where it is currently located today. Marathon Petroleum Company, a former subsidiary of Marathon Oil, maintained its main office in Findlay after Marathon Oil moved. On July 1, 2011, Marathon Petroleum became an independent entity with its headquarters still in Findlay.
The city's major shopping center is Findlay Village Mall, opened in 1962.
Findlay is home to a Kohl's department store distribution center, which is Kohl's oldest distribution center after the recent closing of the original one in Wisconsin.
Findlay is home to the Whirlpool dishwasher manufacturing plant and distribution center. This plant is considered to be the largest dishwasher plant in the world (based on production).[19]
Findlay is home to several other chain distribution centers including Best Buy and Lowe's.
Largest employers
According to the Findlay 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR),[20] the following companies are the top employers in the city:
# | Employer | Number of employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Whirlpool | 2,376 |
2 | Cooper Tire & Rubber | 2,212 |
3 | Marathon Petroleum | 2,200 |
4 | Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center | 1,729 |
5 | Findlay City Schools | 847 |
6 | University of Findlay | 640 |
7 | Lowe's Distribution Center | 600 |
8 | Nissin Brake | 553 |
9 | Hancock County | 524 |
10 | Kohl's Distribution Center | 508 |
Annual activities
- Springtime in Ohio craft show – May
- Boogie on Main Street – June[21]
- Riverside Wine Festival – June[22]
- Flag City BalloonFest – August[23]
- Rib-Off on Broadway – August[24]
- The Hancock County Fair – Labor Day weekend
- Oktoberfest – September[25]
- Christmas in October craft show – October
- Findlay | Hancock County Halloween Parade – October[26]
Sports
- The University of Findlay participates in Division II athletics as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
- The University of Findlay Men's Basketball team became NCAA Division II National Champions for the 2008–2009 season on March 28, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts, capping off a perfect season (36–0).
- From 2006–2008, the city was home to the Findlay Freedom, a low level professional ice hockey team.
- Beginning in 2008, the Findlay Grrrowl played Junior A hockey at The Cube Ice Arena at the Hancock Rec Center. In 2009 the Grrrowl won the United Junior Hockey League's only championship beating the Jamestown Jets two games to one. The UJHL and an attempted successor folded the next year
Government
![](../I/m/Hancock_County_Ohio_Courthouse.jpg)
Findlay has a City Council and Mayor.
Education
![](../I/m/UofFindlay_OldMain.jpg)
The city is home to the University of Findlay, a private liberal arts college with an enrollment of over 4,100 students,[27] and Owens Community College, a state school with an enrollment of 2,391 students.[28] The University of Findlay is best known for its programs in Education (undergraduate and Master's) and the equestrian studies programs. Students enrolled in the Pre-Veterinary or western equestrian studies have access to a 152-acre farm operated by the university. Those students who are pursuing a degree in English equestrian studies have access to a separate rural facility composed of 32-acres, which includes the University Equine Veterinary Services Inc.[29]
Winebrenner Theological Seminary also makes its home in Findlay, adjacent to the university. Findlay also has a branch location of Brown Mackie College.
Findlay is also the home of the "Trojans" of Findlay High School. Findlay High School is a comprehensive high school with an enrollment of 1,632 students in grades 9–12. Of the 130 professional staff, 87 have master's degrees or beyond. Accreditation has been granted by AdvancEd Accreditation.[30]
Historically Findlay's middle school students attended one of three middle schools: Donnell (Atoms), Central (Spartans), or Glenwood (Eagles). The original Donnell School building located on Baldwin Avenue was razed in 2012 to make room for the construction of a new building, which began usage in January 2013. Another new school was built directly behind the original Glenwood building on North Main Street, and is also set to open January 2013. The building known as Central, located on West Main Cross, was originally Findlay's high school (until the current high school was built in 1960). Once the two new middle schools were opened, part of Central was razed, leaving only the auditorium. A new Performing Arts Center (funded by Marathon Petroleum Co.) was constructed by refurbishing and renovating Central's auditorium, finishing in December of 2015.[31]
There are four intermediate (3–5) buildings, four primary (K-2) buildings, and one K-5 building within the Findlay City School system as well.[32]
The city has the main branch of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.[33]
Transportation
Findlay Airport does not have regularly scheduled passenger flights.[34] Interstate 75, US 68, and US 224 are major highways that pass through the city. State routes in the city of Findlay include: Ohio State Route 12, Ohio State Route 15, Ohio State Route 568, and Ohio State Route 37.
Notable people
- Peggy Kirk Bell, golfer, winner of the 1949 Titleholders Championship
- Willard Harrison Bennett, inventor of the radio frequency mass spectrometer
- Joshua Brodbeck, international concert organist
- Gavin Creel, Tony Award-winning Broadway actor and singer
- Russel Crouse, Broadway playwright, The Sound of Music, State of the Union and Call Me Madam
- Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio's first female Speaker of the House
- James C. Donnell, president of The Ohio Oil Company (now Marathon Oil)
- Marie Dressler, actress and silent film star
- Ray Harroun, race car developer and driver, and first Indianapolis 500 winner
- Cliff Hite, Ohio senator, high school football coach of Ben Roethlisberger
- Michael Holmes, saxophonist
- Josh Huston, former kicker in the National Football League (NFL)[35]
- Grant "Home Run" Johnson, Negro league baseball player and manager
- John Kidd, professional football player (Punter), attended Findlay High School and native of Findlay[36]
- Dave Laut, shot-putter who won bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics[37]
- Mark Metcalf, actor in film (Niedermeyer in National Lampoon's Animal House), television ("The Maestro" on Seinfeld) and music videos (Twisted Sister)
- Marilyn Miller, Broadway star of the 1920s
- William Mungen, U.S. Representative, lawyer, Union Army colonel
- Dan O'Brien, cattleman and author
- Michael G. Oxley, Congressman (1981–2006), Financial Services Committee Chair and co-author of Sarbanes–Oxley Act. Executive Vice President of NASDAQ
- Lamont Paris, men's college basketball coach at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga[38]
- Tot Pressnell, pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs[39][40]
- James Purdy, novelist, short-story writer, poet, and playwright
- Bill Redpath, treasurer and former chairman, Libertarian Party (United States)
- Howard Taylor Ricketts, pathologist who discovered the causative agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rickettsia rickettsii, which was also named after him
- Ben Roethlisberger, football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, two-time Super Bowl champion; attended Findlay High School
- Philip Sugden, artist and painter
- Tell Taylor, composer of "Down by the Old Mill Stream"
References
- ↑ "Mayor Lydia Mihalik". City of Findlay, Ohio. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- 1 2 "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- 1 2 3 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 126.
- ↑ Kilbourn, John (1833). The Ohio Gazetteer, or, a Topographical Dictionary. Scott and Wright. p. 195. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ↑ Adams (1964, 1939), Incredible Era, p. 3
- ↑ "Penalty Paid". Kokomo Daily Gazette Tribune. April 1, 1892. p. 1.
- ↑ "Murderer Lytle Lynched: Taken From Jail and Hanged – Two of his Victims Dying". New York Times. April 1, 1892. (no author)
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "Findlay Reservoirs 1 and 2". wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
- ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ↑ "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ↑ "A Whirlpool revolution". reliableplant.com. 2005-07-01. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ↑ "CAFR-2017.pdf" (PDF). Dropbox.
- ↑ "Boogie on Main Street Findlay Ohio The Arts Partnership". artspartnership.com. 2012-10-17. Archived from the original on 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ↑ "Riverside Wine Festival Findlay Ohio The Arts Partnership". artspartnership.com. 2012-10-19. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ↑ "Findlay's Hot Air BalloonFest". touring-ohio.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
- ↑ "Rib Off on Broadway Findlay Ohio The Arts Partnership". artspartnership.com. 2012-07-30. Archived from the original on 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ↑ "Findlay Oktoberfest". downtownfindlay.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
- ↑ "Findlay / Hancock County Halloween Parade". hancockleadership.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
- ↑ "University of Findlay's Annual Report 2015-16". findlay.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ↑ "Master Fact Sheet-2012" (PDF). owens.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
- ↑ Equestrian/Pre-vet Farms Archived 2012-12-20 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "FHSProfile" (PDF). fhs.fcs.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ↑ Kempf, Jessica. "A LOOK INSIDE THE MARATHON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS". Findlay Area Family. Great Scott Community Markets. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ↑ "Choose Findlay City Schools". findlaycityschools.org.
- ↑ "Hours and Locations". Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ↑ "Findlay Airport (KFDY)". City of Findlay. City of Findlay Ohio. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ Thursday's sports transactions. Archived 2013-01-31 at Archive.is Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
- ↑ Chuck Jaffe (October 14, 1983). "NU punting is Kidd stuff". The Michigan Daily. p. 13.
- ↑ "Dave Laut Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com.
- ↑ "Paris named Chattanooga head men's basketball coach". University of Wisconsin.
- ↑ "Tot Pressnell Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio". Major League Baseball.
- ↑ Tot Pressnell at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by David Fleitz, Retrieved October 19, 2013.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Findlay, Ohio. |
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Wikisource has the text of The New Student's Reference Work article Findlay. |
Findlay travel guide from Wikivoyage- City of Findlay, Ohio
- Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau
- www.FindlayHancockED.com