Bluffton, Ohio
| Bluffton, Ohio | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 | |
| Nickname(s): (Beavertown) | |
| Motto: "150 Years Of Progress" | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 40°53′38″N 83°53′30″W / 40.89389°N 83.89167°WCoordinates: 40°53′38″N 83°53′30″W / 40.89389°N 83.89167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Counties | Allen, Hancock |
| Townships | Richland, Orange |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Eric W. Fulcomer |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 3.62 sq mi (9.38 km2) |
| • Land | 3.55 sq mi (9.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 833 ft (254 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 4,125 |
| • Estimate (2012[3]) | 4,027 |
| • Density | 1,162.0/sq mi (448.7/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| ZIP code | 45817 |
| Area code | 419, 567 |
| FIPS code | 39-07426[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1064461[5] |
| Website | http://www.bluffton-ohio.com/ |
Bluffton, originally known as Shannon, is a village in Allen and Hancock counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 4,125 at the 2010 census. Bluffton is home to Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Bluffton is served by the Bluffton general aviation airport. Bluffton participates in the Tree City USA program.
The Allen County portion of Bluffton is part of the Lima Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Hancock County portion is part of the Findlay Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Bluffton is located at 40°53′38″N 83°53′30″W / 40.89389°N 83.89167°W (40.893881, -83.891605).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.62 square miles (9.38 km2), of which, 3.55 square miles (9.19 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water.[1]
Riley Creek flows through Bluffton.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 4,125 people, 1,428 households, and 913 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,162.0 inhabitants per square mile (448.7 /km2). There were 1,522 housing units at an average density of 428.7 per square mile (165.5 /km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.3% White, 1.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 1,428 households of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the village was 34 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 21.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 20% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,896 people, 1,329 households, and 851 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,170.2 people per square mile (451.7/km²). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 428.6 per square mile (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.77% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.
There were 1,329 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 22.3% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 76.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $43,208, and the median income for a family was $54,948. Males had a median income of $40,208 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,711. About 4.9% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
The village was founded in 1831 by Swiss Mennonites German Reformists, and Irish Catholics. It was originally named 'Crogan's Corners' after the postmaster. When the citizens chose to incorporate as a village, the Irish suggested the name 'Shannon' because of the green fields around the area. As there was already a village named Shannon in the state, the Swiss Mennonites suggested 'Bluffton', after the similar community in Indiana. The infamous bank robber John Dillinger robbed the Bluffton Bank (now known as Citizens National Bank of Bluffton) of $6,000 on August 14, 1933. In 2011, Bluffton celebrated its 150th birthday with a series of town-wide events.
Education
Elementary and secondary
Bluffton High School sports participate in the Northwest Conference, an athletic body sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) which includes the Ada Bulldogs, Allen East Mustangs, Bluffton Pirates, Columbus Grove Bulldogs, Convoy Crestview Knights, Delphos Jefferson Wildcats, Lincolnview Lancers, Paulding Panthers, and Spencerville Bearcats.
Higher education
Bluffton is home to Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution affiliated with Mennonite Church USA.
On March 2, 2007, five Bluffton University baseball players, as well as their bus driver and his wife, were killed in a chartered motorcoach crash on Interstate 75 near downtown Atlanta, Georgia while en route to a tournament in Sarasota, Florida. (See Bluffton University bus accident).
Economy
Bluffton is home to companies with a regional, national, or international presence. One of the oldest is the Bluffton Slaw Cutter Company, which has been making a unique food grater/cutter originally designed in 1915. The company presently makes several variations of this original design, and sells the "Bluffton Slaw Cutter" to North American, Asian, and European markets.
Mid Bus, founded in 1982 in Lima by former employees of the Superior Coach Company after the major school bus body company closed in 1981. Specializing in smaller models, primarily based upon van and cutaway van chassis, Mid Bus grew and became one of the larger manufacturers of customized school buses in the United States. After outgrowing several smaller facilities, in 1995, Mid Bus relocated to a much larger manufacturing and assembly facility in Bluffton. The company was acquired by Collins Industries in 1998. On September 19, 2007, Collins announced plans to close the Mid Bus plant in Ohio and consolidate all manufacturing at the Collins facility in Kansas.[7] Bluffton is also home to the international firm DTR, a cooperative venture between Duramax and Japan's Tokai Rubber, a manufacturer of rubber components for the auto industry.[8]
Grob Systems, a division of Grob Aerospace, also operates a facility in Bluffton. Bluffton has a lively local farmers market occurring on a weekly basis in the downtown precinct. The farmers market has an average of 18-21 vendors and attracts approximately 200 people a week.[9] Bluffton is also home to the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs, a business incubator that provides financial, intellectual, and technological resources throughout the Bluffton and surrounding areas.
Bluffton is also home to many small, family-run businesses, including florists, bakeries, coffee shops, and more. Bluffton has six fast food restaurants, including McDonald's, Arby's, Subway, Taco Bell, KFC, and Burger King, and recently a Wendy's. It is also home to the grocery store chain known locally as Community Markets. The local movie theater is the Shannon Theatre. Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Company is also located right next to the theater.
Notable people
- Science fiction writer Tobias Buckell lives in Bluffton.[10]
- Veteran broadcaster Hugh Downs was a student at Bluffton University and later began his broadcasting career at WLOK, the predecessor of the present-day WIMA (AM) in nearby Lima.
- Actress Phyllis Diller lived in Bluffton while attending Bluffton College.[11]
Annual activities
- Blaze of Lights Festival - Saturday after Thanksgiving
- Freedom Fest - sponsored by the Bluffton/Pandora Rotary Club, Saturday prior to July 4
- Festival of Wheels Car Show
- Special Places, Outdoor Spaces Spring Festival & Craft Show - Third Saturday in May
- Trout Derby - sponsored by the Bluffton Community Sportsmen's Club, first Sunday in May
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ http://www.collinsbus.com/pdf_files/091807.pdf
- ↑ http://www.blufftonoh.com/bluffton.html
- ↑ Steiner, Fred. "Farmer's market opening day is May 1", Bluffton Icon, April 12, 2010.
- ↑ "Biography - Tobias Buckell Online". Retrieved January 2014.
- ↑ "Phyllis Driver - Phyllis Diller - Ohio History Central - A product of the Ohio Historical Society". Retrieved 3 November 2008.
External links
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