Bowling Green, Ohio

History

Bowling Green was first settled in 1832, was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became a city in 1901. The village was named after Bowling Green, Kentucky by a retired postal worker who had once delivered mail there. With the discovery of oil in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bowling Green experienced a boon to its economy. The wealth can still be seen in the downtown storefronts, and along Wooster Street, where many of the oldest and largest homes were built. A new county courthouse was also constructed in the 1890s, and a Neoclassical post office was erected in 1913. This period was followed by an expansion of the automobile industry. In late 1922 or early 1923, Coats Steam Car moved to the area, but eventually went out of business.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.61 square miles (32.66 km²), of which 12.56 square miles (32.53 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) is water. Bowling Green is within an area of land that was once the Great Black Swamp which was drained and settled in the 19th century. The nutrient-rich soil makes for highly productive farm land. Bowling Green, Ohio is in the North Western hemisphere at approximately 41.376132°N, -83.623897°W.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 30,028 people, 11,288 households, and 4,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,390.8 inhabitants per square mile (923.1/km²). There were 12,301 housing units at an average density of 979.4 per square mile (378.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 6.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.8% of the population.

There were 11,288 households of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 58.6% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 23.2 years. 12.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 43.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 15.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,636 people, 10,266 households, and 4,434 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,919.0 people per square mile (1,127.3/km²). There were 10,667 housing units at an average density of 1,050.6 per square mile (405.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.84% White, 2.82% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.48% of the population.

There were 10,266 households out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were people living alone, including 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out with 13.1% under the age of 18, 46.6% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,599, and the median income for a family was $51,804. Males had a median income of $33,619 versus $25,364 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,032. About 8.0% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Black Swamp Arts Festival

Every September, the Black Swamp Arts Festival takes place in Bowling Green. Started in 1993, the festival has grown in size and prestige.

The name Black Swamp was chosen for the festival because it is a common term for this area of the state. The Great Black Swamp, which was drained near the end of the 1800s to make farming possible, extended from Lake Erie to Indiana. It was the last area of Ohio to be settled. Bowling Green is the largest city now in the remnants of this vast wetland.

Main Street is closed to traffic for the festival, and artists from around the country display and sell a variety of artwork. There are also musical performances, children's activities, and food. The festival has grown to include over 100 juried artists, 50 local/invitational artists, four live music stages, youth arts, acts of art, and concessions. Numerous types of music, including blues, jazz, and rock, are heard from the main stage. The Festival has a reputation for booking a diverse and entertaining musical line up. The Main Stage features national and international touring bands of all genres. The Black Swamp Arts Festival attracts 40,000 art and music fans to Bowling Green.

National Tractor Pulling championships

Bowling Green has hosted the National Tractor Pulling Championships since 1967. This annual event, one of the largest in the nation, is held at the Wood County Fairgrounds and draws an estimated 60,000 people. The Fairgrounds is located along Poe Road between Haskins Road (State Route 64) and Brim Road.

Wood County Fair

Every year Bowling Green hosts the Wood County Fair, a week-long festival that begins shortly before or after the end of July. The fairgrounds are located off Poe Road between Haskins and Brim roads. Main Events include: Tractor Pull, Altered Farm stock Tractor Pull, Antique Tractor Pull, Mule Pull, Semi-Truck Pull, Youth Parade, Demolition/Combine Derby, Catch-a-pig, Cheerleading Competition, Harness Racing, and the annual Country Music Concert. Another special event is quilt day. Special Days like Senior Citizen day or DARE day allow discounted tickets.

Country singers who have performed at the Wood County Fair:

Winterfest

Similar to other winter cities, Bowling Green hosts an annual event for three days in February to celebrate winter, snow, and cold weather activities. Winterfest in Bowling Green centers around the rich ice skating and ice hockey traditions of the town. Winterfest events are held all over Bowling Green, and on and off campus of Bowling Green State University. Notable events include curling, carriage rides, ice sculptures, and live entertainment, plus BGSU Athletic events such as hockey and basketball games and figure skating exhibition with local stars such as Scott Hamilton.

Education

Primary education

Public elementary schools of the Bowling Green City School District include Kenwood Elementary, Conneaut Elementary and Crim Elementary. Ridge Elementary was closed in 2013 and Milton Elementary was closed in 2011. Two private primary schools, Bowling Green Christian Academy and the Montessori School of Bowling Green, and one parochial, St. Aloysius, also call Bowling Green home. The Bowling Green Early Childhood Learning Center (Montessori) offers kindergarten and Plan, Do, Talk goes up to grade three.

Secondary education

Post-secondary education

Newspapers

Radio stations

Television station

Transportation

Energy policy

Ohio's first utility-sized wind farm is located along U.S. Route 6 just west of the city limits. There are four turbines that are each 257 feet (78 m) tall. These turbines generate up to 7.2 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply electricity for some 3,000 residents. Located about six miles (10 km) from the city, the turbines can be seen for miles and have become a local attraction. At the site of the turbines, a solar-powered kiosk provides information for visitors, including current information on wind speeds and the amount of energy being produced by the turbines.

Through the city's Municipal Utilities office, residents can request that their power come from green energy. As of March 1, 2014, the current power cost premium is $.007 per KWH.

However, Bowling Green's green credentials were damaged in 2008, when the city signed a power contract with AMP-Ohio to help build a 960-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Meigs County, Ohio. Several large environmental groups, including Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Ohio Environmental Council, opposed the building of a coal-fired power plant due to the pollution it would cause. In late 2009, AMP canceled the project, citing an estimated 37% increase in cost to more than $3 billion.

Notable people

Sister cities

Bowling Green is a sister city to St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.