| Official Name: | Swanton, Ohio |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Motto: | "Honoring the past - Committed to the future!" |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Image Map1: | Map of Fulton County Ohio Highlighting Swanton Village.png |
| Mapsize1: | 250px |
| Map Caption1: | Location of Swanton in Fulton County |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ohio |
| Subdivision Type2: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name2: | Fulton, Lucas |
| Subdivision Type3: | Townships |
| Subdivision Name3: | Fulton, Swan Creek, Swanton |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 8.90 |
| Area Land Km2: | 8.80 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.10 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.44 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.40 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.04 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 3897 |
| Population Density Km2: | 442.80 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1146.85 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 666 |
| Coordinates: | 41.5831°N -83.88°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 43558 |
| Area Code: | 419 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 39-75896[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2399940 |
Swanton is a village located in Fulton and Lucas counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 3,897 at the 2020 census. Total area is 8.9km2.
A post office called Swanton has been in operation since 1827.[3] The village takes its name from nearby Swan Creek.[4]
In the heyday of steam power, Swanton was home to the A. D. Baker Company, a manufacturer of steam powered traction engines and road contractors' equipment. It was at the Baker Company that an improved valve gear for steam engines was developed. A Baker employee named Gifford is credited with the initial idea, which was subsequently developed into the Baker valve gear and patented in 1903. Baker valve gear was eventually manufactured by The Pilliod Company, another Swanton business. Baker valve gear from Pilliod saw widespread use on U.S. steam locomotives for railroads in the first half of the 20th century.
On February 15, 1992, Air Transport International Flight 805 crashed in Swanton, killing all four people on board.[5]
On June 6, 2019, a vehicle left parked on the tracks next to the Main Street railroad crossing resulted in a derailment that knocked out power to the town and much of the surrounding area, and hampered traffic on one of the main rail lines linking the Midwest to the East Coast.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.13sqmi, of which 3.09sqmi is land and 0.04sqmi is water.[7]
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 3,690 people, 1,409 households, and 1,018 families living in the village. The population density was 1194.2PD/sqmi. There were 1,498 housing units at an average density of 484.8/mi2. The racial makeup of the village was 97.1% White, 0.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.
There were 1,409 households, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median age in the village was 38 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,307 people, 1,241 households, and 903 families living in the village. The population density was 1388sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of 542.3/mi2. The racial makeup of the village was 98.43% White, 0.18% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.
There were 1,241 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $44,127, and the median income for a family was $55,313. Males had a median income of $40,746 versus $32,207 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,160. About 1.5% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Public education in Swanton is administered by the Swanton Local School District.[12] St. Richard Catholic School is a private institution.[13] Swanton Public Library is the village's lending library.[14]
Swanton is home to an annual Corn Festival, occurring in August. The festival has a parade, volleyball competition, singing contest, car show, a resident caricaturist, much food and other festivities, along with the annual All Class high school reunion.
The Swanton Fine Art Exhibit is held each year at Valleywood Golf Club.
The Swanton Art Walk, with various artist exhibits and vendors, and the Swanton Downtown Market were inaugurated in 2022.