Delphos, Ohio Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Delphos, Ohio

City

North Main Street in Delphos

Flag

Seal

Motto(s):

"America’s Friendliest City"

Location of Delphos in Allen County

Delphos, Ohio

Location in Ohio

Delphos, Ohio

Location in the United States

United States

Townships

Marion, Washington

Established in

1836-1842

Government

• Type

Mayor–council

Area

• Total

3.37 sq mi (8.72 km²)

• Land

3.32 sq mi (8.60 km²)

• Water

0.04 sq mi (0.12 km²)

Elevation

768 ft (234 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

7,117

• Estimate

(2023)

7,061

• Density

2,142.38/sq mi (827.16/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP code

45833

Area code(s)

419

FIPS code

39-21602

GNIS feature ID

2394508

Delphos is a city in Ohio, a state in the United States. It is located in both Allen and Van Wert counties. About 7,117 people lived there in 2020.

Delphos is about 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Lima. It is also 13 miles (21 km) east of Van Wert. The part of Delphos in Allen County is near the larger city of Lima. The part in Van Wert County is near the city of Van Wert.

History of Delphos
Geography
Population Information
- 2010 Census Details
Parks and Recreation
Education
Notable People
Gallery: Delphos in the National Register of Historic Places
See also

History of Delphos

Remaining section of the Erie and Miami Canal in downtown Delphos

Delphos started in the early 1850s. It was formed when four smaller towns decided to join together. These towns were Howard, Section 10, Bredeick Street, and East Bredeick. East Bredeick was named after Father John Otto Bredeick, who bought land there in 1840. In 1851, they all agreed to become one town called Delphos. The city's name comes from the Greek god Delphus.

The Miami and Erie Canal

The Miami and Erie Canal was a very important waterway. It was 274 miles (441 km) long and connected the cities of Cincinnati and Toledo. This canal ran right through Delphos. The first people to settle in Delphos were workers building this canal.

The canal took 20 years to build. It was finished on July 4, 1845. The governor of Ohio even rode the first boat through Delphos!

Delphos as a Trade Center

The canal helped Delphos grow a lot in the 1800s. It became a major center for trade in the area. Delphos was one of the busiest ports along the canal. Goods could be moved from canal boats to trains, which helped trade even more.

Many factories opened in Delphos because of the canal. By 1879, over 100 factories were making products. These goods were sold all over the country and even to other countries. But later, trains became the main way to move goods long distances. This made the canal less important, and Delphos's role as a trade hub changed.

Historic Buildings

Delphos has three buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are special places recognized for their history. The Marks-Family House and St. John's Catholic Church are in Allen County. The Bredeick-Lang House is in Van Wert County.

Geography

Delphos covers a total area of about 3.48 square miles (8.72 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 3.44 square miles (8.60 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.12 square kilometers), is water.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	374	—
1860	425	13.6%
1870	1,667	292.2%
1880	3,814	128.8%
1890	4,516	18.4%
1900	4,517	0.0%
1910	5,038	11.5%
1920	5,745	14.0%
1930	5,672	−1.3%
1940	5,746	1.3%
1950	6,220	8.2%
1960	6,961	11.9%
1970	7,608	9.3%
1980	7,314	−3.9%
1990	7,093	−3.0%
2000	6,944	−2.1%
2010	7,101	2.3%
2020	7,117	0.2%
2023 (est.)	7,061	−0.6%
Sources:

2010 Census Details

In 2010, there were 7,101 people living in Delphos. These people lived in 2,893 households. About 1,865 of these were families. The city had about 2,064 people per square mile (827 per square kilometer).

About 31.2% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (48.3%) were married couples. The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 3.00 people.

The average age of people in Delphos was 38.6 years old. About 24.6% of residents were under 18. And 17.1% were 65 years or older.

Parks and Recreation

Delphos has several city parks for everyone to enjoy. These include Stadium Park, Waterworks Park, Leisure Park, Garfield Park, and Suever Park.

Stadium Park is a very important park. It has a football field where the Delphos Jefferson Wildcats and the St. Johns Blue Jays play. The stadium was built in 1940 and can hold 3,900 people. Stadium Park also has tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball courts, and a playground. There is also an eating area for picnics.

Education

Delphos has several schools for students. The public schools are part of Delphos City Schools. These include Jefferson High School, Jefferson Middle School, and Franklin Elementary School. Franklin Elementary is in Allen County. The Middle School and High School buildings are in Van Wert County.

There are also Catholic schools in Delphos. These are Delphos St. John's High School and St. John's Elementary School. They are part of St. John's Catholic Church. Both of these school buildings are in Allen County.