Celina, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Celina, Ohio
City
Downtown Celina
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  C-Town
Motto(s):  "One Of The 100 Best Small Towns!"
Location in Mercer County and the state of Ohio.
Celina, Ohio Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Celina, Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Mercer
Township	Center, Jefferson
Area
• Total	5.35 sq mi (13.87 km2)
• Land	5.03 sq mi (13.02 km2)
• Water	0.33 sq mi (0.84 km2)
Elevation	886 ft (270 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,935
• Estimate  (2023)	10,885
• Density	2,174.82/sq mi (839.71/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	45822, 45826
Area code(s)	419, 567
FIPS code	39-12868
GNIS feature ID	2393778
Website	City of Celina, Ohio

Celina (pronounced sə-LY-nə) is a city located in Mercer County, Ohio, in the United States. It is the main city, also known as the county seat, of Mercer County. Celina is about 58 miles (93 km) northwest of Dayton. In 2020, about 10,935 people lived there. The city is found on the northwestern edge of Grand Lake St. Marys.

History of Celina

Celina was founded by James Watson Riley in 1834. The city was named after a place called Salina, New York.

By the 1880s, Celina grew a lot. This was mainly because oil and natural gas were found nearby. These discoveries helped the town become bigger and more important.

On May 27, 2019, a strong tornado hit the town. It caused a lot of damage to homes, buildings, trees, and power lines. Sadly, one person died and eight others were hurt. The community worked together to recover from the storm.

Geography and Climate

Celina is a city with a total area of about 5.27 square miles (13.65 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.98 square miles (12.90 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.29 square miles (0.75 square kilometers), is water.

Celina has a climate with four different seasons. Summers are usually warm, and winters are cold. The city gets rain throughout the year, and snow in the winter months.

Population and People

In 2020, the population of Celina was 10,935 people. The city has grown steadily over the years.

In 2010, there were 10,400 people living in Celina. The average age of people in Celina was about 38.3 years old. About 27.9% of the population was under 19 years old. This shows that many young people and families live in Celina.

Economy and Jobs

Celina has a mix of different types of businesses. In the past, companies like Huffy Bicycle and Mersman Furniture had factories here.

Today, some of the biggest employers are manufacturing companies. These include Celina Aluminum Precision Technology, which supplies parts to Honda. Crown Equipment Corporation also has a large facility in Celina. Other companies like Thieman Tailgates and Celina Tent Inc. are also based here.

Farming is also a very important part of Celina's economy. Farmers in the area grow crops like soybeans, corn, and wheat.

Fun Things to Do: Arts and Culture

Celina hosts several exciting events throughout the year.

• Freedom Days Picnic: Every year in early July, Celina celebrates American Independence with the Freedom Days Picnic. It's a fun event for everyone.

• Celina Lake Festival: During the last weekend of July, the Celina Lake Festival takes place. This festival celebrates Celina's history with Grand Lake St. Marys. It's famous for hosting one of the world's largest gatherings of Amphicars. These are cool cars that can also drive in water! They even have a "swim-in" on Friday night.

Mercer County Fair Demo Derby

• Mercer County Fair: In the second week of August, Celina is home to the Mercer County Fair. This fair has lots of arts and crafts, farm animals, tasty food, and exciting rides. A popular event at the fair is the demolition derby.

• Governors Cup Regatta: Celina also hosts the annual Governors Cup Regatta. This event features thrilling hydroplane racing on Grand Lake St. Marys.

Education in Celina

Celina has a good school system and options for higher education.

Public Schools

The public schools in Celina are part of the Celina City School District. The district has several schools for different age groups:

• Celina Primary School (Kindergarten to 2nd grade)
• Celina Elementary School (3rd to 4th grade)
• Celina Intermediate Elementary School (5th to 6th grade)
• Celina Middle School (7th to 8th grade)
• Celina High School (9th to 12th grade)

There is also an alternative high school located at the Education Complex. The Celina-Mercer County Head Start Program helps young children get ready for school.

Colleges and Universities

For students who want to continue their education, Wright State University has a campus in Celina. The Lake Campus is located on Lake Campus Drive. It offers many different college programs.

Libraries

The main library for the Mercer County District Library is in Celina. It is located at 303 North Main Street. There are also other library branches in nearby towns.

Media and News

Grand Lake

Celina has its own local newspaper called The Daily Standard. It has been published since 1848 and shares news with about 10,000 readers every day.

The city also has three local radio stations:

• WCSM AM (1350 AM) plays news, talk shows, and classic adult music.
• WCSM-FM (96.7 FM) plays popular adult contemporary music.
• WKKI (94.3 FM) plays rock music.

Famous People from Celina

Many interesting people have connections to Celina, Ohio. Some of them include:

• Vera Barstow (1891–1975), a talented violinist.
• Mike Bath (born 1977), an American football player and coach.
• Galen Cisco, a baseball player and coach who lived in Celina.
• Mindy Cook (born 1988), a silver medalist in goalball at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
• Keith Faber (born 1966), a former President of the Ohio Senate and Ohio Auditor.
• Tennyson Guyer (1912–1981), who was Mayor of Celina and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Jim Otis (born 1948), a football running back who played for Ohio State and in the NFL.
• Rick Derringer (born 1947), a well-known musician.

See also

In Spanish: Celina (Ohio) para niños