Defiance, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Defiance, Ohio
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Top to bottom, left to right:
Downtown Defiance, post office of Defiance and Defiance County Courthouse |
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| Nickname(s):
"Shell Town"
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| Motto(s):
"A Great Place to Live"
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Location of Defiance in Defiance County
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 Defiance, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Defiance, Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Defiance |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.28 sq mi (34.40 km2) |
| • Land | 12.79 sq mi (33.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.49 sq mi (1.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 696 ft (212 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,066 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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17,043 |
| • Density | 1,334.74/sq mi (515.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
43512
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| Area code(s) | 419 |
| FIPS code | 39-21308 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394492 |
| Website | City of Defiance, Ohio |
Defiance is a city in Ohio, United States. It is the main city of Defiance County. In 2020, about 17,066 people lived there.
The city is located where the Auglaize and Maumee rivers meet. This spot is about 55 miles (88 km) southwest of Toledo. It is also about 47 miles (75 km) northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Defiance is in the northwestern part of Ohio.
Contents
History of Defiance, Ohio
The city of Defiance is built on the site of Fort Defiance. General "Mad" Anthony Wayne built this fort in August 1794. This happened during the Northwest Indian War. General Wayne famously said, "I defy the English, Indians, and all the devils of hell to take it." This is how the fort and later the city got its name.
Using the fort as a base, Wayne's soldiers destroyed Native American crops and villages. These were within a 50-mile (80 km) area around the fort. Today, two cannons stand outside the city library. They mark the spot of Fort Defiance where the rivers meet. You can also see a raised outline of the old fort walls.
Key Battles and Forts
After building Fort Defiance, U.S. forces moved along the Maumee River. They fought the important Battle of Fallen Timbers. This battle took place near the town of Maumee, Ohio. The victory helped the United States gain control of the Northwest Territory. This area now includes states like Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.
During the War of 1812, another fort was built on the same spot. This was Fort Winchester. It was larger than Fort Defiance. It stretched further south along the Auglaize River. You can find historical markers on the sidewalks showing where Fort Winchester once stood.
Growth of the City
In 1822, Defiance was officially planned as a town. By 1845, it became the main city, or county seat, of the new Defiance County. Defiance officially became a city in 1881.
Geography of Defiance
Defiance covers a total area of about 12.13 square miles (31.42 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 11.62 square miles (30.10 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.51 square miles (1.32 square kilometers), is water.
The Defiance Moraine
Defiance gives its name to a special landform called the Defiance moraine. A moraine is a ridge of rocks and dirt left behind by a glacier. This moraine was formed by the Wisconsin glaciation, a very old ice age.
Scientists say the Defiance moraine shows where the glacier stopped for a while. It is like a wide wave, about 2 to 4 miles (3 to 6 km) wide. Its top rises about 20 to 50 feet (6 to 15 meters) above the flat land around it.
Climate in Defiance
| Climate data for Defiance, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) |
73 (23) |
89 (32) |
91 (33) |
99 (37) |
107 (42) |
111 (44) |
104 (40) |
100 (38) |
92 (33) |
82 (28) |
70 (21) |
111 (44) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.6 (12.6) |
57.0 (13.9) |
69.0 (20.6) |
79.9 (26.6) |
87.8 (31.0) |
93.6 (34.2) |
94.1 (34.5) |
92.3 (33.5) |
90.4 (32.4) |
82.1 (27.8) |
67.8 (19.9) |
57.4 (14.1) |
96.0 (35.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.3 (0.2) |
35.5 (1.9) |
46.4 (8.0) |
59.9 (15.5) |
71.3 (21.8) |
80.7 (27.1) |
84.6 (29.2) |
82.3 (27.9) |
76.5 (24.7) |
63.3 (17.4) |
49.0 (9.4) |
37.2 (2.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 25.1 (−3.8) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
37.1 (2.8) |
49.1 (9.5) |
60.5 (15.8) |
70.3 (21.3) |
73.9 (23.3) |
71.9 (22.2) |
65.2 (18.4) |
53.0 (11.7) |
40.7 (4.8) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
50.4 (10.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.8 (−7.9) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
38.3 (3.5) |
49.7 (9.8) |
59.8 (15.4) |
63.2 (17.3) |
61.5 (16.4) |
53.9 (12.2) |
42.7 (5.9) |
32.4 (0.2) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
40.9 (4.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −2.9 (−19.4) |
2.0 (−16.7) |
11.9 (−11.2) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
36.2 (2.3) |
46.8 (8.2) |
52.9 (11.6) |
51.3 (10.7) |
41.2 (5.1) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
18.9 (−7.3) |
6.4 (−14.2) |
−6.2 (−21.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−22 (−30) |
−7 (−22) |
4 (−16) |
24 (−4) |
35 (2) |
40 (4) |
36 (2) |
26 (−3) |
14 (−10) |
0 (−18) |
−19 (−28) |
−26 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.59 (66) |
2.17 (55) |
2.55 (65) |
3.67 (93) |
4.26 (108) |
3.63 (92) |
3.66 (93) |
3.50 (89) |
3.25 (83) |
2.87 (73) |
3.00 (76) |
2.55 (65) |
37.70 (958) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.7 (22) |
8.0 (20) |
2.6 (6.6) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
3.8 (9.7) |
24.2 (61.11) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.3 | 9.9 | 10.7 | 13.4 | 13.1 | 10.8 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 10.8 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 131.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.7 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 16.6 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Defiance has a climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cold. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. Snowfall is common in winter months.
People of Defiance
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 800 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,399 | 74.9% | |
| 1870 | 2,750 | 96.6% | |
| 1880 | 5,907 | 114.8% | |
| 1890 | 7,694 | 30.3% | |
| 1900 | 7,579 | −1.5% | |
| 1910 | 7,327 | −3.3% | |
| 1920 | 8,876 | 21.1% | |
| 1930 | 8,818 | −0.7% | |
| 1940 | 9,744 | 10.5% | |
| 1950 | 11,265 | 15.6% | |
| 1960 | 14,553 | 29.2% | |
| 1970 | 16,281 | 11.9% | |
| 1980 | 16,783 | 3.1% | |
| 1990 | 16,768 | −0.1% | |
| 2000 | 16,465 | −1.8% | |
| 2010 | 16,494 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 17,066 | 3.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,043 | 3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Defiance has grown steadily over the years. The population was 17,066 people in 2020.
Who Lives in Defiance?
In 2020, there were about 17,052 people living in Defiance. There were 7,219 households. Most people (83.6%) were White. About 3.4% were African American. About 8.1% of people were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 15.0% of the population.
Most adults in Defiance have finished high school (90.6%). About 20.2% have a college degree or higher. The average household income in 2022 was $58,750.
Parks and Fun in Defiance
Defiance has many city parks for outdoor activities. You can find baseball and softball fields there. There is also playground equipment for kids. Some popular parks include Kingsbury Park and Diehl Park. Kingsbury Park also has a public swimming pool.
State Parks and Historic Sites
Independence Dam State Park is about 4 miles (6 km) east of the city. It is located along the Maumee River. This park is a favorite spot for local residents. It has picnic areas and nature trails. You can also go fishing there. The park features a reservoir with trails and a Frisbee golf course. There is also a dog park for pets.
Fort Defiance Park is a special park. It is located where the historic Fort Defiance once stood. In 1980, this park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Education in Defiance
The Defiance City Schools provides public education for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. This covers most of the city. Some areas outside the main city are part of the Northeastern Local Schools.
Schools and Colleges
Local Lutheran and Catholic churches also have schools. These schools offer education from preschool up to 8th grade.
There are three high schools in the Defiance area:
- Defiance High School (in Defiance)
- Tinora High School (part of Northeastern Local Schools)
- Ayersville High School
Tinora and Ayersville High Schools serve the rural areas around Defiance.
Defiance College is a small college in the city. It is a liberal arts college. About 1,000 students attend this college. It is part of the NAIA sports league. This means student athletes can get scholarships to play sports there.
Defiance also has a public library. It is a branch of the Defiance Public Library System.
Media in Defiance
Newspaper
- The Crescent-News is the local newspaper.
Radio Stations
- WONW, 1280 AM, plays news and talk shows.
- WDFM, 98.1 FM, is known as "Hot AC."
- WZOM, 105.7 FM, is called "The Bull" and plays country music.
Television
- WNHO-LD channel 44 is a TV station. It repeats programs from WLMA in Lima, Ohio.
Famous People from Defiance
- Kevin Bacon, an Ohio Senator.
- Doug Bair, a baseball pitcher who played for seven Major League Baseball teams.
- Chad Billingsley, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Michelle Burke, an actress in TV shows and movies.
- Wild Bill Davison, a famous jazz cornet player.
- Alene Duerk, the first female admiral in the U.S. Navy.
- Alan Francis, a 24-time Horseshoe World Champion.
- Chet Grant, a football player and journalist.
- Asel Hagerty (1837–1919), a Canadian-born soldier who received the Medal of Honor.
- Jessicka Havok, a professional wrestler.
- Michael Hitchcock, an actor, comedian, writer, and TV producer.
- Greg Kampe, the head basketball coach at Oakland University.
- Sarah Kurtz, a materials scientist and member of the National Academy of Engineering.
- Don Miller, one of the "Four Horsemen" from Notre Dame football.
- Ray T. Miller, the 43rd Mayor of Cleveland.
- Jon Niese, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Jason Osborne, a political leader in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
- Chad Reineke, a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.
- Terry "Tuff" Ryan, an author.
- Bruce Shingledecker, an Alaskan wildlife painter.
- H. Allen Smith, a humorist.
- Scott Taylor, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
- Walter W. Wensinger, a lieutenant general in the Marine Corps during World War II.
See also
In Spanish: Defiance (Ohio) para niños
