Bluffton, Ohio

Geography

Bluffton is located at 40°53′38″N 83°53′30″W (40.893881, -83.891605).

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.

Riley Creek flows through Bluffton.

2010 census

As of the census 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 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 town was renamed Bluffton for the hilly terrain of the town site.

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.

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 the 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 located approximately halfway between Lima and Findlay, two larger cities in northwest Ohio along Interstate 75.

Bluffton is home to companies with regional, national, and international presences. One of the oldest is the Bluffton Slaw Cutter Company, which has been making a unique food grater/cutter designed in 1915. The company makes several variations of the product using equipment of the same vintage as the design.

Modern manufacturing in Bluffton includes the international firm DTR, a cooperative venture between Duramax and Tokai Rubber of Japan, that makes rubber components for the auto industry. GROB Systems, a division of the German company GROB Group, produces machining and automation systems at its plant in Bluffton. Diamond Manufacturing of Bluffton produces metalwork and leases warehousing space.

The downtown area is anchored by the 19th century town hall and includes a local farmers market on Saturday mornings from May through October. With an average of 20 vendors, shoppers can choose from local foods and produce, as well as potted herbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

Local restaurants include Bluffton Dari Freeze, China Wok, Jeanne's Kitchen, Luke's Bar and Grill, LuLu’s Diner and Mustard Seed Cafe. For carryout pizza, there is Padrone's Pizza and East of Chicago. Common Grounds coffee shop features house-roasted coffee. There are several fast food chains at exit 142, including Arby's, Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy's.

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade retailer that was born in Bluffton. Like its counterparts in larger cities, the shop sells products made by artisans in developing countries. Two shops help fund the worldwide relief work of the Mennonite Central Committee: the Et Cetera Shop thrift store and Book ReViews Et Cetera. The Black Lab Trading Co.—which says it sells "a little bit of everything”—is located in a former opera house building. For grocery shopping, the village has a Community Markets store, The Dough Hook bakery and meat market, and The Food Store, a health and natural foods store.

The Shannon Theatre is a movie theater in the downtown area. Right next door is the original Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn, a franchise born in Bluffton after people came to the theater just to buy popcorn. Other leisure opportunities are the Bluffton University nature preserve, an extensive bike and pedestrian pathway, and Southgate Lanes.

Notable people

Annual activities