Bowling Green, Ohio Explained

Official Name:Bowling Green, Ohio
Settlement Type:City
Nicknames:BG, Pull Town, USA
Image Blank Emblem:Logo of Bowling Green, Ohio.png
Blank Emblem Type:Logo
Mapsize:250px
Image Map1:Map of Wood County Ohio Highlighting Bowling Green City.png
Mapsize1:250px
Map Caption1:Location of Bowling Green in Wood County
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Ohio
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Wood
Government Type:"Mayor-Administrator"[1]
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Mike Aspacher[2]
Leader Title1:Municipal Administrator
Leader Name1:Lori Tretter[3]
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:1901[4]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[5]
Area Total Km2:33.44
Area Land Km2:33.32
Area Water Km2:0.12
Area Total Sq Mi:12.91
Area Land Sq Mi:12.86
Area Water Sq Mi:0.05
Area Water Percent:0.40
Population As Of:2020
Population Est:30384
Pop Est As Of:2023
Pop Est Footnotes:[6]
Population Total:30808
Population Density Km2:924.72
Population Density Sq Mi:2395.09
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:41.3739°N -83.6508°W
Elevation Ft:689
Postal Code Type:Zip code
Postal Code:43402 & 43403
Area Code:419, 567
Website:https://www.bgohio.org
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:39-07972[7]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1087179

Bowling Green is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Ohio, United States,[8] located 20miles southwest of Toledo. The population was 30,808 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Toledo metropolitan area and a member of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments.[9] Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University.

History

Settlement

Bowling Green was first settled in 1832, was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became a city in 1901. The village was named after Bowling Green, Kentucky, by a retired postal worker who had once delivered mail there.[10] [11]

Growth and oil boom

In 1868 Bowling Green was designated as the county seat, succeeding Perrysburg.[12]

With the discovery of oil in the area in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bowling Green enjoyed a boom to its economy. The results of wealth generated at the time can still be seen in the downtown storefronts, and along Wooster Street, where many of the oldest and largest homes were built.[13] A new county courthouse was also constructed in the 1890s. The Neoclassical US post office was erected in 1913.

Industrialization

This period was followed by an expansion of the automobile industry. In late 1922 or early 1923, Coats Steam Car moved to the area and hired numerous workers. It eventually went out of business as the industry became centralized in Detroit, Michigan.

Bank robbers Pretty Boy Floyd and Billy the Killer encountered police in Bowling Green in April 1931. Their armed confrontation resulted in the death of Billy the Killer.[14]

During World War II Italian and German prisoners of war were held nearby. They were used to staff the Heinz Tomato Ketchup factory in town.[15] The ketchup factory closed in 1975.[16]

A runaway freight train carrying hazardous liquids passed through Bowling Green in 2001, in what is known as the known as the CSX 8888 incident. It traveled more than 65 miles south of Toledo before being stopped by a veteran railroad worker near Kenton; he jumped into the train while it was moving. No one was hurt and there was no property damage in the incident.[17]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.61sqmi, of which 12.56sqmi is land and 0.05sqmi is water.[18] Bowling Green is within an area of land that was once the Great Black Swamp which was drained and settled in the 19th century. The nutrient-rich soil makes for highly productive farm land. Bowling Green, Ohio is in the North Western hemisphere at approximately 41.376132°N, -83.623897°W.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[19] of 2010, there were 30,028 people, 11,288 households, and 4,675 families living in the city. The population density was 2390.8PD/sqmi. There were 12,301 housing units at an average density of 979.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 6.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.8% of the population.[20]

There were 11,288 households, of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 58.6% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.[21]

The median age in the city was 23.2 years. 12.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 43.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 15.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,636 people, 10,266 households, and 4,434 families living in the city. The population density was 2919PD/sqmi. There were 10,667 housing units at an average density of 1050.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.84% White, 2.82% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.48% of the population.

There were 10,266 households, out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were people living alone, including 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 13.1% under the age of 18, 46.6% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,599, and the median income for a family was $51,804. Males had a median income of $33,619 versus $25,364 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,032. About 8.0% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Lubrizol maintains a soap and surfactant production plant in Bowling Green.[22] [23] The Bowling Green plant opened in 1994 and was expanded in 2013.[24]

Energy policy

Ohio's first utility-sized wind farm is located along U.S. Route 6 just west of the city limits.[25] There are four turbines that are each tall. These turbines generate up to 7.2 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply electricity for some 3,000 residents. Located about 6miles from the city, the turbines can be seen for miles and have become a local attraction.[26] At the site of the turbines, a solar-powered kiosk provides information for visitors, including current information on wind speeds and the amount of energy being produced by the turbines.

Culture

The Black Swamp Arts Festival is a free arts and live music festival held the first full weekend after Labor Day. Its mission is to "connect art and the community by presenting an annual arts festival and by promoting the arts in the Bowling Green community."[27]

Education

Primary and secondary

Public elementary schools of the Bowling Green City School District include Kenwood Elementary, Conneaut Elementary and Crim Elementary.[28] Ridge Elementary was closed in 2013[29] [30] and Milton Elementary was closed in 2011. Two private primary schools, Bowling Green Christian Academy and the Montessori School of Bowling Green, and one parochial, St. Aloysius, also call Bowling Green home. The Bowling Green Early Childhood Learning Center (Montessori) offers kindergarten and Plan, Do and Talk goes up to grade three.

Secondary schools include Bowling Green Middle School and Bowling Green Senior High School.

Post-secondary

Bowling Green State University is located on the northeast side of the city, along and north of Wooster Street (Ohio State Route 64, Ohio State Route 105). As of September 2020, it has 20,232 students.[31]

Library

Bowling Green has the main branch of the Wood County District Public Library.[32]

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Television

Transportation

A public demand response bus service is operated by the city through B.G. Transit.[33] Bowling Green State University offers shuttle services via its own buses with routes throughout campus and the downtown area.[34]

Bowling Green is linked to North Baltimore via a 13miles rail trail called the Slippery Elm Trail,[35] with East Broadway Street in North Baltimore on the south end and Sand Ridge Road in Bowling Green on the north end.[36] A CSX line runs through town.

Notable people

See also: List of Bowling Green State University alumni.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The City of Bowling Green, Ohio . December 31, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20051220075508/http://www.bgohio.org/history.html . December 20, 2005 .
  2. Web site: Mayor Mike Aspacher . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303203559/https://www.bgohio.org/478/Mayor-Mike-Aspacher . March 3, 2022 . August 20, 2022 . bgohio.org . City of Bowling Green Ohio.
  3. Web site: Municipal Administrator . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303203506/https://www.bgohio.org/216/Municipal-Administrator . March 3, 2022 . August 20, 2022 . www.bgohio.org . City of Bowling Green Ohio.
  4. Web site: City of Bowling Green . 2006-12-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051220075508/http://www.bgohio.org/history.html . 2005-12-20 . Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  5. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. September 20, 2022.
  6. Web site: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 . United States Census Bureau . 4 June 2024.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  8. Web site: Find a County . 2011-06-07 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . 2011-05-31 .
  9. Web site: TOLEDO METROPOLITAN AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MEMBERSHIP. 14 February 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222132106/http://www.tmacog.org/membership/CURRENT_Map/TMACOG_membershipmap_8_2012.pdf. 22 February 2014.
  10. Book: Overman, William Daniel. Ohio Town Names. 1958. Atlantic Press. Akron, OH. 17.
  11. The History of Bowling Green State University . Bgsu Faculty Books . January 1967 . 16 . 27 August 2020 . 20. Overman . James .
  12. News: Dinner celebrates Wood County history . 7 February 2022 . Sentinel-Tribune . en . February 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220207154626/https://www.sent-trib.com/news/dinner-celebrates-wood-county-history/article_6cb3fa8c-e6a4-11e9-bdba-8f83c31ff152.html . dead .
  13. Web site: Early History of Bowling Green, Ohio. https://web.archive.org/web/20111214212439/http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/acs/1890s/localhis.html. dead. December 14, 2011.
  14. Web site: McLaughlin . Jan Larson . Wood County had its share of murders & robberies in 'wild west' past – BG Independent News . 11 November 2019.
  15. Bee Gee News June 15, 1944 . BG News (Student Newspaper) . 24 November 2019 . 15 June 1944.
  16. The BG News April 2, 1975 . BG News (Student Newspaper) . 25 November 2019 . 2 April 1975.
  17. News: Claiborne . William . Phillips . Don . Railroad Worker Jumps Into, Stops Runaway Train . Washington Post . 12 November 2019 . 16 May 2001.
  18. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2013-01-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-01-25 .
  19. Web site: American FactFinder - Results. https://archive.today/20200212142945/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3907972. dead. 2020-02-12. United States Census Bureau. 2013-01-06.
  20. Web site: Quick Facts. United States Census Bureau. United States. 28 November 2016.
  21. Web site: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010. https://archive.today/20200212142945/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3907972. dead. 12 February 2020. American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. 7 February 2017.
  22. Web site: Lubrizol to expand its B.G. plant . 25 November 2019 . Toledo Blade . en.
  23. Web site: Tensions Surface . 6 December 2019 . HAPPI.
  24. Web site: Lubrizol to expand its B.G. plant . 6 December 2019 . Toledo Blade . en.
  25. Web site: Ohio's First Commercial Wind Farm . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071110050228/https://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=104 . 2007-11-10 . 2008-12-15 . Green Energy Ohio.
  26. Web site: 2008-01-12 . Ohio gov blows hard with wind-powered energy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726032837/http://www.environmentohio.org/in-the-news/energy/energy/-ohio-gov-blows-hard-with-wind-powered-energy . 2011-07-26 . 2008-12-15 . Environment Ohio.
  27. Web site: About . 14 March 2024 . blackswampfest.org . Black Swamp Arts Festival.
  28. Web site: Bowling Green City Schools :: Schools . 25 February 2014.
  29. Web site: Bowling Green City Council buys Ridge Elementary to convert to park . The BG News . 7 October 2013 . 25 February 2014 . Alusheff, Alex.
  30. Web site: BG City Schools to close two schools, cut no teachers . North West Ohio . 17 May 2011 . 25 February 2014 . Rice, Laura . https://web.archive.org/web/20140305155231/http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=619105#.Uw0p_kt9TWw . 5 March 2014 . dead .
  31. Web site: BGSU announces record retention, highest enrollment in more than a decade . July 13, 2022 . Bowling Green State University . en.
  32. Web site: Hours & Locations . Wood County District Public Library . 3 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164821/https://wcdpl.org/HoursLocations . 3 March 2018 . dead .
  33. Web site: Public Transportation. June 27, 2014. August 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140814104108/http://www.bgohio.org/departments/municipal-administrator/grants-administration/public-transportation. dead.
  34. Web site: Shuttle Routes. Bowling Green State University. 2018-12-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20170907113700/http://www.bgsu.edu/parking-services/shuttle-routes.html. 2017-09-07. dead.
  35. Web site: [Wood County Park District]]. https://web.archive.org/web/20140301121620/http://www.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=113. dead. March 1, 2014. www.wcparks.org.
  36. Web site: Wood County Park District. 25 February 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140301121620/http://www.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=113. 1 March 2014.
  37. "Foreword," in Barnes, John. Apostrophes and Apocalypses. NYC:Tor 1998 p. 9