Findlay, Ohio
—  City  —
Downtown Findlay from the air
Nickname(s): Flag City, USA. Tree City. Lay-town.
Findlay's position within Hancock County (foreset) and Ohio (background)
Coordinates: 41°2′34″N 83°38′32″W / 41.04278°N 83.64222°W / 41.04278; -83.64222Coordinates: 41°2′34″N 83°38′32″W / 41.04278°N 83.64222°W / 41.04278; -83.64222
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Hancock
Government
- Mayor	Pete Sehnert[1]
Area
- Total	17.3 sq mi (44.8 km2)
- Land	17.2 sq mi (44.5 km2)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation[2]	778 ft (237 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	38,967
- Density	2,266.3/sq mi (875.0/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	45839-45840
Area code(s)	419, 567
FIPS code	39-27048[3]
GNIS feature ID	1040439[2]
Website	www.ci.findlay.oh.us

Findlay is a city in Hancock County, Ohio, United States.^[4] The city metro area is often referred as The Greater Findlay Area. Located in northwestern Ohio, the city lies approximately 50 miles (80 km) south of Toledo. The population was 38,967 at the 2000 census, Greater Findlay Area was at 45,284. It is home to the University of Findlay. The city's official nickname is "Flag City, USA". Findlay is one of only two cities in Hancock County, along with Fostoria. Findlay is one of the few areas in Northwest Ohio that is still growing and is the second largest city in that region.

The Findlay and Hancock County community was named a winner in the first-ever national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People in September 2005. The honor was awarded through the America's Promise Alliance. Findlay and Columbus were the only two cities in Ohio to receive the distinction. In 2007, Findlay-Hancock County was once again selected (one of 52 repeat honorees), and joined Toledo as the only two cities in Ohio to receive this designation. Findlay is home to Blanchard Valley Regional Hospitals, which has been rewarded one of the best 100 hospitals in the United States.

Contents 1 History 1.1 2007 flooding 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Education 6 Transportation 7 Annual activities 8 Sports 9 Notable natives 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

The city derives its name from a fort erected on its site in 1812 as a local outpost in the War of 1812, which was commenced by Col. James Findlay and named in honor of that officer. The history of Findlay as a village began on the 3rd of July, 1821, when Joseph Vance of Urbana, William Neill of Columbus and Elnathan Cory of New Carlisle entered the area and laid out the site. It was incorporated as a city in 1887.

During the 1880s, Findlay was a booming centre of oil and natural Gas production though the supply of petroleum had dwindled by the early 20th century. The completion of I-75 in the sixties added to the growth of Findlay.

Findlay hosted the highly competative Ohio State Music Festival in 1884. A young cornet player, Warren G. Harding, and his Citizens' Cornet Band of Marion placed third in the competition.^[5] Harding would go on to be elected the 29th President of the United States.

On March 31, 1892, the only known lynching in the history of Hancock County occurred when a mob of 1,000 men, many "respectable citizens", broke into the county jail in Findlay. They lynched Mr. Lytle, who had fatally injured his wife and two daughters with a hatchet the day before, by hanging him twice (first from the bridge, then a telegraph pole) and finally shooting his body over a dozen times. The authorities had intended to secretly convey the prisoner to a suburb at 1 o'clock, where a train was to have been taken for Lima, but their plans were frustrated by the mob.^[6]

In 1908, American songwriter Tell Taylor wrote the standard, "Down by the Old Mill Stream" while fishing along the Blanchard River in Findlay. The song was published in 1910.

For three months in the early 1960s, Findlay had the distinction of being the only community in the world where touch tone telephone service was available. Touch tone service was first introduced in Findlay on November 1, 1960.

In 2000, the Findlay area was rated as the "fastest growing small city", and was even stated in a question on Jeopardy!.

[edit] 2007 flooding

On August 22, 2007, Findlay experienced the second-worst flood in the city's history, when the Blanchard River crested at 18.46 feet (more than 7 feet above flood stage, and just missing the 1913 record level of 18.50 feet) shortly after 4 p.m. No one in Findlay was killed, however there were a few reports of missing persons filed after the August flood. Findlay was the largest city to be affected by this particular flood, making the focus on Findlay more publicly known.

This flood gathered a great deal of attention nationally from news agencies including The Associated Press, CNN, USA TODAY, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and the Washington Post.

On August 27, President Bush declared the scene to be a disaster area.

The flood destroyed a number of homes, and damaged hundreds more as the water rose.

Local schools and businesses (including the county jail, the main branch of the public library and Central Middle School) in the downtown area suffered considerable damage. At Central Middle School, some offices, the school's cafeteria, and many critical servers used for e-mail and student records were completely ruined by the floodwaters.

It was not until the first week of December that the main branch of the Findlay Hancock County Public Library recovered enough to reopen.

[edit] Geography

Findlay is located at 41°02′34″N 83°38′32″W / 41.042843°N 83.642216°W / 41.042843; -83.642216 (41.042843, -83.642216).^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.3 square miles (44.8 km²), of which, 17.2 square miles (44.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.64%) is water.

The Blanchard River travels through Findlay, flowing east to west.

The Findlay Reservoir No. 2 is the largest above ground reservoir in the state of Ohio, with a capacity of 5 billion gallons of water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	52		—
1840	469		801.9%
1850	1,256		167.8%
1860	2,467		96.4%
1870	3,315		34.4%
1880	4,633		39.8%
1890	18,553		300.5%
1900	17,613		−5.1%
1910	14,858		−15.6%
1920	17,021		14.6%
1930	19,363		13.8%
1940	20,228		4.5%
1950	23,845		17.9%
1960	30,344		27.3%
1970	35,800		18.0%
1980	35,533		−0.7%
1990	35,703		0.5%
2000	38,967		9.1%
Est. 2009	36,657		−5.9%

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 45,284 in the GFA, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile (875.2/km²). There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6/sq mi (385.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.70% White, 1.40% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% of the population.

There were 15,905 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,883, and the median income for a family was $49,986. Males had a median income of $36,150 versus $23,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,328. About 5.9% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

Findlay is the headquarters of the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, founded in 1914, which specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of automobile, truck and motorcycle tires, together with other automotive products.

Findlay was also the longtime headquarters of the Marathon Oil Corporation, from 1905 until 1990. Marathon is now based in Houston, Texas, but still maintains operations in Findlay under a newly (as of September 1, 2005) organized subsidiary, the Marathon Petroleum Company.

Findlay is home to a Kohl's department store distribution center. Findlay's branch is Kohl's oldest distribution center after the recent closing of the original one in Wisconsin.

Findlay is home to Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. formerly Hancor, Inc. two manufacturing facilities and corporate north campus office. ADS employs approximately 200 at their Findlay facilities.

Findlay is home to a Whirlpool manufacturing plant and distribution center. Whirlpool employs a significant percent of the working population in the Findlay area.

Findlay is home to several other chain distribution centers; Best Buy, Lowes, Hercules Tire headquarters and distribution center and also Hercules Tire TDW. Several miles north is a Home Depot distribution center, due to be completed in 2010.

[edit] Education

The city is home to the University of Findlay, a private liberal arts college, which is known for its equestrian programs. Winebrenner Theological Seminary also makes its home in Findlay, adjacent to the University. Findlay also has branch locations of both Owens Community College and Brown Mackie College.

Findlay is also the location of Findlay High School, which serves grades 9-12.

[edit] Transportation

Findlay Airport is home to Sky Cab, with service throughout the eastern parts of the United States (for commercial use mainly). Findlay was considered for the site of the first diverging diamond interchange in the United States. The road junction was planned for the interchange between Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 224. State officials rejected this plan over the recommendation of city leaders out of concerns that the unusual road layout could cause numerous accidents.

[edit] Annual activities

• Boogie on Main - takes place in June ^[8]
• Riverside Wine Festival - also in June
• Findlay's Hot Air Balloon Festival - takes place in the middle of August^[9]
• RibOff on Broadway - also in August
• ArtWalk presented by Findlay Art League is in the spring and fall ^[10]

[edit] Sports

• The University of Findlay Men's Basketball team became NCAA Division II National Champions for the 2008-2009 season on March 28, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts
• The University of Findlay participates in Division II athletics as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
• From 2006-2008 the city was home to the Findlay Freedom, a low level professional ice hockey team
• Beginning in the Fall of 2008 the Findlay Grrrowl will play Jr. A hockey at The Cube Ice Arena at the Hancock Rec Center. In 2009 the Grrrowl won the Knox Cup beating the Jamestown Jets 2 games to one.
• The Findlay Rugby Football Club was established in 1972 by Dale Pitney and continues to compete in the Michigan Rugby Union. www.findlayrugby.com

[edit] Notable natives

• Ben Rothelisberger, Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2004, 2-time Super Bowl champion.
• Nick Moore, Musician signed to Rise Records/Warner Brothers. Charted #10 on Billboard Heatseekers
• Willard Harrison Bennett, inventor of the radio frequency mass spectrometer.
• Gavin Creel, Broadway actor and singer.
• James C. Donnell, president of The Ohio Oil Company (now Marathon Oil).
• Ray Harroun, race car developer and driver, and first Indianapolis 500 winner.
• Josh Huston, Former kicker in the National Football League (NFL).^[11]
• Mark Metcalf, actor in film (Niedermeyer in National Lampoon's Animal House), television ("The Maestro" on Seinfeld) and music videos (Twisted Sister).
• William Mungen, U.S. Representative, lawyer, Union Army colonel.
• Michael Holmes (saxophonist), saxophonist
• Dan O'Brien, cattleman and author.
• Michael G. Oxley, Congressman (1981–2006), Financial Services Committee Chair and co-author of Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Executive Vice President of NASDAQ.
• James Purdy, Novelist, Short story-writer, Poet, and Playwright
• Tell Taylor, composer of "Down by the Old Mill Stream".
• Josh Woodward, independent musician, podsafe music pioneer
• Philip Sugden, artist and painter.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• City website
• Findlay/Hancock County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Downtown Findlay
• Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
• Findlay City Schools
• The University of Findlay

v · d · eMunicipalities and communities of Hancock County, Ohio County seat: Findlay Cities Findlay | Fostoria‡ Villages Arcadia | Arlington | Benton Ridge | Bluffton‡ | Jenera | McComb | Mount Blanchard | Mount Cory | Rawson | Van Buren | Vanlue Townships Allen | Amanda | Biglick | Blanchard | Cass | Delaware | Eagle | Jackson | Liberty | Madison | Marion | Orange | Pleasant | Portage | Union | Van Buren | Washington Unincorporated communities Mortimer | Williamstown Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties