Fairborn, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fairborn, Ohio
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Downtown Fairborn
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| Motto(s):
"A City in Motion"
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 Fairborn, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Fairborn, Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Ohio | ||
| County | Greene | ||
| Incorporated | 1950 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-Manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 14.725 sq mi (37.77 km2) | ||
| • Land | 14.71 sq mi (37.74 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.015 sq mi (0.03 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 840 ft (260 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 34,510 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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34,729 | ||
| • Density | 2,368.57/sq mi (914.50/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern (EDT)) | ||
| ZIP code |
45324
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| Area codes | 937, 326 | ||
| FIPS code | 39-25914 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2394726 | ||
| Website | https://www.fairbornoh.gov | ||
Fairborn is a lively city located in Greene County, Ohio, in the United States. In 2020, about 34,510 people called Fairborn home. It's a suburb of Dayton and an important part of the larger Dayton area.
This city is special because it's home to Wright State University, where thousands of students learn and grow. Fairborn also hosts a unique disaster training center, sometimes called Calamityville. Here, people learn how to respond to emergencies.
Fairborn is the only city in the world with its name! The name "Fairborn" is a mix of two older village names: Fairfield and Osborn. These two villages joined together to form Fairborn in 1950. This happened after the big Great Dayton Flood of 1913. After the flood, a dam was built to control the Mad River. Many residents from Osborn had to move their homes to a new area next to Fairfield.
Contents
Discovering Fairborn, Ohio
Fairborn has a fascinating past, starting with two separate villages that eventually became one city. It officially became a city on August 1st, 1950.
Fairborn's Early Days
The village of Fairfield was founded by European settlers in 1816. Osborn was established a bit later, in 1850. The very first log cabin in the area was built in 1799 by George Greiner. Pioneers from Kentucky and Virginia found this area near the Mad River a good place to settle. They shared the land with the native Shawnee people.
How Fairfield Got Its Name
There are two stories about how Fairfield got its name. One story says that a Native American chief, possibly Shawnee, made peace with the settlers. He looked out from Reed's Hill and said, "Yonder lies a fair field." He saw many people moving in that beautiful area. The other idea is that the name came from a town called Fairfield in England.
The Story of Osborn
Nearby Osborn was named after E.F. Osborn, a railroad superintendent. The village allowed a railroad to be built through it, even though Fairfield had said no. Many original houses from old Osborn are still in Fairborn's Historic Osborn District today. In the early 1920s, about 200 houses were moved using mules and tractors to this new location!
Growing with the Air Force
From 1950 to 1970, Fairborn grew a lot! Its population became six times larger. This was mainly because of the growth of the nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. During this time, a large cement factory, Southwestern Portland Cement, was also a big employer in the city.
For a period, Fairborn had rules that made it difficult for African Americans to live in the city. However, leaders at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base worked with the community to change these rules. This helped make Fairborn a more welcoming place for everyone, especially as the United States military became integrated starting in 1948.
The construction of Interstate 675 began in the 1960s. This highway helped people travel around Dayton. The first part of I-675, just east of Fairborn, was finished in the early 1970s. The full highway was completed by 1987.
Modern Fairborn
Fairborn's growth slowed down in the 1970s but picked up again in the late 1980s. Today, many residents still work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This base is known as one of the largest and most complex in the Air Force.
Many people also work or study at Wright State University. This university became independent in 1967 and has grown into a large campus. Even though it has a Dayton address, Wright State University is actually within Fairborn's city limits.
Fairborn is proud to be home to Fairborn Primary School, which is the largest elementary school in Ohio! The city also hosts fun annual events. These include the Sweet Corn Festival in August, the USAF Marathon in September, and a big 4th of July Parade.
Fairborn's Location and Size
Fairborn covers a total area of about 14.725 square miles (37.77 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 14.71 square miles (37.74 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.015 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water. A large portion of the land is used for homes, while other parts are for businesses, farms, or factories.
Who Lives in Fairborn?
According to the 2020 census, Fairborn had a population of 34,510 people. There were 15,601 households in the city. The city's population density was about 2,368.6 people per square mile (914.5 people per square kilometer).
The median age in Fairborn in 2020 was 34.0 years old. About 19.8% of residents were under 18, and 15.1% were 65 or older.
The table below shows the different racial backgrounds of people living in Fairborn as of the 2020 census:
| Race | Number | Percent |
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| White | 26,869 | 77.9% |
| Black or African American | 3,045 | 8.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 107 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 1,161 | 3.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 38 | 0.1% |
| Some other race | 498 | 1.4% |
| Two or more races | 2,792 | 8.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 1,321 | 3.8% |
Fairborn's Economy
Fairborn has a strong economy with several important employers. Many people work at Wright State University and other local businesses.
Here are some of the top employers in Fairborn, based on 2021 data:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Wright State University | 2,300 |
| 2 | Morris Home Furnishings | 443 |
| 3 | Peerless Technologies | 300 |
| 4 | Ali Industries | 282 |
| 5 | Kroger Co. | 206 |
| 6 | I-Supply | 173 |
| 7 | Ball Aerospace | 126 |
| 8 | The Design Knowledge Company | 70 |
The city also collects a 2.0% income tax and a 0.5% school district tax to help fund local services and schools.
Fun in Fairborn: Parks and Recreation
Fairborn offers many green spaces for everyone to enjoy! The city's Parks & Recreation Division manages over 773 acres of parks, nature preserves, and cemeteries.
There are also two nature preserves, covering 242 acres, managed by Greene County Parks and Trails. The Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, a private group, also looks after a 130-acre nature preserve within Fairborn. In total, a large part of Fairborn's land is dedicated to parks and nature.
Some of the parks and reserves include:
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Learning in Fairborn: Schools and Universities
Fairborn is a great place for learning, with excellent schools and universities.
Public Schools in Fairborn
Fairborn City Schools have been building new facilities to provide modern learning environments.
- Fairborn Primary School (for grades pre-K to 2) opened in 2020.
- Fairborn Intermediate School (for grades 3 to 5) opened in 2022.
- Fairborn High School (for grades 9 to 12) opened in 2024.
- A new Fairborn middle school is currently under construction.
Private and Higher Education
- Bethlehem Lutheran School offers education for grades pre-K to 8.
- Wright State University is a large public university with thousands of students.
- Air Force Institute of Technology is a university for military and Department of Defense personnel, located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Fairborn also has a branch of the Greene County Public Library, where everyone can find books and resources.
Famous Faces from Fairborn
Many talented people have connections to Fairborn!
- Brian Billick — a successful football coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
- Roger B. Chaffee — an astronaut.
- Kevin DeWine — an Ohio Representative.
- Gus Grissom — an astronaut.
- J. D. Harmeyer — an entertainment figure from the Howard Stern Show.
- Colonel Gregory H. Johnson — a NASA astronaut.
- Gary A. Klein — a pioneer in the study of how people make decisions.
- Martha Masters — a classical guitarist.
- Buddy Miller — a roots musician, singer-songwriter, and producer.
- Roger Osborne — an author.
- Michael J. Saylor — the founder of MicroStrategy.
- Mark Turner — a jazz saxophonist and teacher.
- Jackie (Waddell) Warner — an actress from the reality TV series Work Out.
More About Fairborn
In Spanish: Fairborn (Ohio) para niños
- Fairborn Daily Herald, the local daily newspaper.
- Nutter Center, a large arena and event center.
- Mercer Log House, a historic building.
