Van Wert, Ohio

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Van Wert, Ohio
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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image_caption = Downtown Van Wert.
imagesize = 250px


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Van Wert, Ohio


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Ohio
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Van Wert

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Louis Ehmer
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 15.8
area_land_km2 = 15.3
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 6.1
area_land_sq_mi = 5.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 10690
population_density_km2 = 696.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1803.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 237
elevation_ft = 778
latd = 40 |latm = 52 |lats = 4 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 35 |longs = 0 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 45891
area_code = 419
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 39-79562GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1058096GR|3
website = http://www.vanwert.org/
footnotes =

Van Wert is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Van Wert County. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio 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. 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 Wassenburg Art Center and the award-winning Van Wert Civic Theatre. Van Wert is the smallest city in the United States with both a YMCA and a YWCA.Fact|date=May 2007

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 persevered, 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.

At one point, Van Wert was the only place in the world producing Liederkranz cheese. This pungent dairy product was made at the now-closed Borden plant.

The people of Van Wert (400 of which called themselves "Cheesemakers") contributed to the town of Vimoutiers, Orne, Lower 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. They volunteered to pay for the replacement of Marie Harel's statue. 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 November 10, 2002, an F4 tornado ripped through the town, killing two people. [ [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/events/2002/11_10_02_tornadoes/timeline.php Timeline of the events of November 10, 2002.] National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.] 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 several cars were thrown into a movie theatre that had been packed with people just minutes earlier.

Geography

Van Wert is located at coor dms|40|52|4|N|84|35|0|W|city (40.867863, -84.583461)GR|1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (2.95%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 10,690 people, 4,556 households, and 2,947 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,803.8 people per square mile (696.0/km²). There were 4,927 housing units at an average density of 831.4/sq mi (320.8/km²). 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.

Education

Van Wert City Schools enroll 2,027 students in primary schools. [cite web |last=Great Schools.com |url=http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/oh/district_profile/737 |title=District Profile |accessdate=2008-04-03 ] The district operates 6 public schools including four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. 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, 2006, and, 2007 Van Wert Middle School received a "National Schools to Watch" award.The Van Wert High School Symphony Band received straight superior ratings at the state contest in 2007. They were one of only four bands to do so at the site in which they performed.

Notable natives

*Brent Mason, session guitarist

Larry "Coach" Smith college football coach

External links

* [http://vanwert.org/ City of Van Wert]
* [http://vimoutiers.net/vimus/mh2eng.htm The story of Marie Harel's 2nd statue offered by the cheesemakers of Van Wert]