Van Wert, Ohio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Van Wert is a city in and the county seat of Van Wert CountyGR6, Ohio, United States with a population of 10,690 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Van Wert Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Lima-Wapakoneta, Ohio Combined Statistical Area. Van Wert is named for Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of Major John André in the American Revolutionary War..
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[edit] History
The town is located in an area originally known as the Black Swamp. Early pioneers had to deal with swampy ground, mud, and malaria. They perservered, draining the swamp for agriculture and eventually reclaiming enough dry land to establish the town. Van Wert was the birthplace of aviation pioneer Walter Hinton. Houston, Texas based blues harmonica player and vocalist Sonny Boy Terry (Terry L. Jerome) was born and raised in Van Wert, learning to play in garages and taverns with childhood friend, guitarist Mike Sowers. After leaving Van Wert in 1981, Terry went on to record and tour with legends Johnny Clyde Copeland, Joe Guitar Hughes, and many other Texas blues luminaries, then crafting his own solo career as a band leader and one of the most respected blues artists in Texas. Henry "H-Bomb" Weck, drummer for the seminal rock and roll band Brownsville Station is from Van Wert. After Brownsville dissolved, Weck eventually went on to produce records for many music acts, including the platinum selling Blackfoot "Strikes".
At one time, Van Wert was the only place in the world producing Liederkranz cheese. This pungent dairy product was made at the now-closed Borden plant in Van Wert
The people of Van Wert (400 of which called themselves "Cheesemakers") contributed to the town of Vimoutiers, Orne, Basse Normandy, France with help in the costs of reconstruction and reparation of the town after it was mistakenly bombed by the US airforce during the second world war. This is recorded by a plaque in the market square of Vimoutiers. Vimoutiers is a centre for local making of Camembert, Livarot and Pont l'Eveque cheeses.
On 10 November 2002, an F4 tornado ripped through the town, killing two people. This was one of many touchdowns during the Veterans Day Weekend Outbreak. Van Wert's emergency warning system is credited with saving many lives after a car was thrown into a movie theatre that had been packed with people just minutes earlier.
[edit] Geography
Van Wert is located at (40.867863, -84.583461)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.8 km² (6.1 mi²). 15.4 km² (5.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (2.95%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 10,690 people, 4,556 households, and 2,947 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.0/km² (1,803.8/mi²). There were 4,927 housing units at an average density of 320.8/km² (831.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.07% White, 1.50% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 1.09% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 4,556 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% 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 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,205, and the median income for a family was $41,711. Males had a median income of $31,441 versus $23,143 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,413. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Van Wert High School sports participate in the Western Buckeye League, an athletic body sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). Van Wert has recently built a new high school and middle school complex. Along with the new school complex, a new performing arts center has been built, The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, thanks to the generous gift of Van Wert High School Alum, Scott Niswonger.
In 2005 and 2006 Van Wert Middle School received a "National Schools to Watch" award.
[edit] Trivia
Van Wert is thought to be the smallest city in the United States with both a YMCA and a YWCA.
Van Wert is home to the first county library in the United States, The Brumback Library. It also has a thriving community art center -- the Wassenberg Art Center -- and the award-winning Van Wert Civic Theatre.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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Van Wert County, Ohio Van Wert, county seat |
|---|---|
| Municipalities |
Convoy | Delphos | Elgin | Middle Point | Ohio City | Scott | Van Wert | Venedocia | Willshire | Wren |
| Townships |
Harrison | Hoaglin | Jackson | Jennings | Liberty | Pleasant | Ridge | Tully | Union | Washington | Willshire | York |
