Vermilion, Ohio

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Vermilion, Ohio
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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image_caption = Aerial view of Vermilion, Ohio. View is to the north over Lake Erie.
imagesize = 250px


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Vermilion, Ohio


mapsize1 =
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Ohio
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Lorain, Erie

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 28.1
area_land_km2 = 27.9
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 10.8
area_land_sq_mi = 10.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 10927
population_density_km2 = 391.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1012.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 181
elevation_ft = 594
latd = 41 |latm = 25 |lats = 4 |latNS = N
longd = 82 |longm = 20 |longs = 40 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 44001
area_code = 440
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 39-79716GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1049274GR|3
website = http://www.vermilion.net/
footnotes =

Vermilion is a city in Erie and Lorain counties in Ohio, U.S.A. The population was 10,927 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Jean Anderson. It is part of the Sandusky, Ohio metropolitan statistical area.

The nickname of Vermilion High School sports teams is the "Sailors", and many prominent sailboat racers of the Great Lakes have lived here. The area is noted for its many orchards, wineries, and roadside fruit and vegetable stands.

History

Vermilion was initially settled in the early 19th century and formed as a village in 1834. It was noted as a fishing and small boat harbor. The oldest permanent structure dates to 1811 (it is still a private residence). In 1847 the Congress of the United States built the Vermilion Lighthouse to aid navigation on Lake Erie.

As commerce grew in larger nearby cities, the Vermilion River proved inadequate to large commercial traffic, but the commercial fishing business remained active until the 1970s. During the early 20th century the area became known as a resort community, featuring beaches and cottages. Although most structures were eventually converted to year-round use, many still are used as summer homes or vacation houses.

Merging with the nearby village of Vermilion-on-the-Lake in 1960, Vermilion grew and became a city (Ohio law provides a distinction between communities with populations under or over 5,000 people).

In 1953 the Great Lakes Historical Society opened the Inland Seas Maritime Museum in the former Wakefield Mansion. A local non-profit group, Friends of Harbourtown, actively promotes tourism and the historical connection to Vermilion's roots as a maritime community, using the slogan "Harbourtown 1834".

Geography

Vermilion is located at coor dms|41|25|4|N|82|20|40|W|city (41.417656, -82.344351)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.8 square miles (28.1 km²), of which, 10.8 square miles (27.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.46%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 10,927 people, 4,254 households, and 3,113 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,012.6 people per square mile (391.0/km²). There were 4,713 housing units at an average density of 436.7/sq mi (168.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.14% White, 0.17% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 4,254 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,926, and the median income for a family was $57,311. Males had a median income of $41,269 versus $25,195 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,635. About 4.1% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Living heritage

Vermilion was once known as the “Village of Lake Captains,” and no other place in Ohio has so many beautifully maintained captains’ homes in its historic district. The Harbour Town Historic District also features housing styles from the Victorian, Italianate, Arts and crafts, and Queen Anne eras. The Vermilion River endows marina facilities with more than 3,000 boat slips and ramps for easy access to the Lake, earning Vermilion the title of the "Largest Small Boat Harbour on the Great Lakes." Lake freighters are also a regular sight on Lake Erie making their way through the Great Lakes nine months out of the year.

The Harbour Town 1837 Historic District is the center of the community where historic downtown Vermilion is located. It is the focal point for many professional offices, the city administration, the Chamber of Commerce, restaurants, shops, and marinas. Community wide revitalization efforts have been promoted since the 1970s, encouraging property owners and citizens to retain the unique charm of their businesses and homes while maintaining high standards of care and construction. The Vermilion Lagoons, located on the east side of the Vermilion River, is considered one of the first planned residential neighborhoods on the water in the country. Construction started in 1928.

Recreation

Along with sandy beaches, recreational boating, jet skis, canoeing, and sail boats adorn the Vermilion harbor, where ship building was once the major industry.

On summer nights, residents and visitors congregate on the large deck at Main Street Beach to watch boats sail back and forth in front of the Lake Erie sunset and watch the "Mystic Belle", a small paddle wheeler, offering rides on the Vermilion River. Children attend Sail Camp where they learn water safety and sailing supervised.Vermilion is home to many world renowned sailboat racers.

Cultural attractions

The Woollybear Festival is a one-day gathering that draws over 150,000 visitors to Vermilion and includes the longest parade in the State of Ohio. In the majority of years, the Vermilion High School Band Festival is held the night before the Woolybear Festival. Area high schools and the Vermilion High School Alumni Band take the field to entertain community members before the next day's parade.

The Festival of the Fish, held each June, is a three-day event, drawing people from Vermilion and the neighboring communities to take part in the Queen and Princess pageant, local talent concerts, parade, and concessions. Historic SummerFare, which features the Antique Craft and Boat Show, brings thousands of boat enthusiasts and aficionados to the harbor to see wooden boats from another era. Historic SummerFare also sponsors Antiques in the Park, the Community Chicken BBQ and Street Dance, and many family activities at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum.

The Inland Seas Maritime Museum, located adjacent to the Main Street Beach, features nautical and maritime exhibits of the Great Lakes, and is a tremendous draw for visitors interested in freighters, underwater archaeology, maritime history, and ship building. The museum was recently renovated to include many hands-on interactive computerized exhibits and is open year round.

Concerts in the Park, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, occur during July and August each year. The concerts are open to everyone, free of charge, and feature a variety of entertainment from swing music to barbershop quartets. The Vermilion Area Archival Society, established in 2000, collects, stores, and indexes archival materials for research from the Vermilion area and provides assistance, as well as monthly programs, regarding the history and records of the area.

Vermilion also has a wealth of art attractions. There are several art galleries in town that often display local works and hold showings of individual artists.

Schools

The Vermilion School System provides public school education for area children from ages K through 12th grade, with vocational and professional education opportunities at Lorain County Joint Vocational School (LCJVS) and at EHOVE Career Center. Lake Ridge Academy, a private grade school and high school in nearby North Ridgeville, offers daily school bus service for Vermilion students. St. Mary’s parochial school serves grades 1-6.

The Lucy Idol School, located on the edge of town, offers non-residential care for handicapped children and adults. Bowling Green State University (Firelands Campus) and Lorain County Community College, both accredited schools offering four-year and advanced degrees, are located within a twenty-minute drive of Vermilion.

Vermilion High School home of the Sailors

Notable Vermilionites

* Albert D. Baumhart, member of the United States House of Representatives
* Lee C. Howley, Jr., U.S. Public Representative to the United Nations, 1994-95
* Phoebe Judson, American pioneer.
* Allie LaForce, Miss Teen USA 2005
* Thomas L. Siebert, U.S, Ambassador to Sweden

See also

References

External links

* [http://www.discoververmilion.com Discover Vermilion]
* [http://www.vermilionohio.com Vermilion Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.vermilion.net City of Vermilion]
* [http://www.vermilionohionews.com Vermilion Ohio News (a non-profit news source)]
* [http://boatvermilion.com BoatVermilion.com]
* [http://www.vcma.net Vermilion Community Music Association]