Galion, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Galion is a city in Crawford, Morrow, and Richland Counties in Ohio. It is part of the Mansfield, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,341 at the 2000 census. Galion is the second largest city in Crawford County.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Government
4 Education
5 History
6 Transportation
7 Industry
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Geography

Galion is located in the southeastern corner of Crawford county at 40°43′59″N, 82°47′19″W (40.733164, -82.788586)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 km² (5.0 mi²). 12.8 km² (5.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.20% is water.

The most important river in Galion is the Olentangy, which winds southward toward Columbus and eventually empties into the Scioto River. In Galion the Olentangy is not a very large river, though another creek joins it near Heise Park.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 11,341 people, 4,791 households, and 3,090 families residing in the city. The population density was 882.8/km² (2,286.5/mi²). There were 5,150 housing units at an average density of 400.9/km² (1,038.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.28% White, 0.22% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 4,791 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,513, and the median income for a family was $38,554. Males had a median income of $32,517 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,113. About 11.9% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

Galion Public Library

Galion is governed by an elected city council, which hires a city manager in lieu of an elected mayor. See also council-manager government.

[edit] Education

The Galion City School District does not correspond quite exactly with the city of Galion, but most of Galion is part of the school district, and vice versa. There are a handful of neighborhoods outside of Galion that are included in the school district.

[edit] History

Settlers arrived in the area as early as 1817. The location was at the crossroads of a north-south road (from Columbus to Portland) and the east-west route that later became (part of) the Lincoln Highway.

The name Galion was suggested in 1824 by a postmaster as a unique name when the city first obtained a post office, because the name that was originally proposed would have duplicated the names of other requested Ohio post offices. It is not known for certain whether the name was intended to have any particular meaning otherwise, although several possible etymologies have been posited.

A date often given for the founding of the city is 1831.

[edit] Transportation

In April, 1851 the Cleveland Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad began operating regular service between Columbus and Cleveland, stopping at Galion along the way.

Galion at one time was on the Lincoln Highway and close to an important railroad hub (in Crestline); there was also a railroad depot in Galion. Later, however, the highway was moved so that it passes north of town, and the railroad declined in importance, and the depot was converted for other uses. A new section of Route 30, opened up to traffic on August 4, 2005; the new section passes significantly closer to, but still not through, Galion.

State routes in Galion include 309, which connects Marion to the southwest with Ontario to the east; 598, which originates in Galion and stretches northward; 19, which heads westward toward the county seat and also south toward Williamsport; and 97, which goes east through Lexington.

[edit] Industry

The Galion brand of heavy equipment (such as road graders, road rollers, and earthmovers) was manufactured in Galion Iron Works, later purchased by Dresser Industries and then by Komatsu. As of 2000, the plant in Galion operated with a reduced work force, and products manufactured there are no longer branded with the Galion name.

Galion was once home to North Electric Company, a prime supplier of telephone switching systems for government and international markets. It was also producer of the Ericofon, the first ever one-piece telephone designed by Ralph Lysell and Hugo Blomberg. Founded in 1884 by Charles N. North, the company became part of Ericsson in 1951. It was purchased by ITT in the mid 1970s whereupon the company was moved to Cape Canaveral, Florida. The company no longer exists.

Perfection Colby was a manufacturer of dump truck bodies and other truck components.

[edit] References

Galion Historical Society. The Historian: A Quarterly Newsletter and Collectible Journal, Vol. 7 Issue #4, June 2006, special 175th celebration edition.