Fremont, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fremont, Ohio
City
Downtown Fremont, Ohio on South Front Street
Nickname(s):  Cutlery Capital of the World
Motto(s):  "Where People Come First"
Location of Fremont in Sandusky County
Fremont, Ohio Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Fremont, Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Sandusky
Township	Ballville, Sandusky
Area
• Total	8.74 sq mi (22.64 km2)
• Land	8.52 sq mi (22.07 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2)
Elevation	581 ft (177 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	15,930
• Estimate  (2023)	15,812
• Density	1,869.28/sq mi (721.70/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	43420
Area code(s)	419, 567
FIPS code	39-28826
GNIS feature ID	1086909

Fremont is a city in Ohio, United States. It is the main city of Sandusky County. Fremont is located along the Sandusky River, about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Toledo. It is also about 25 miles (40 km) west of Sandusky. In 2020, about 15,930 people lived in Fremont.

Fremont was once home to Rutherford B. Hayes, who was the 19th President of the United States from 1877 to 1881. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center was the very first presidential library. It is a major attraction in the city. Since 1986, Fremont has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. This means the city cares a lot about its trees.

History of Fremont

Drawing of Fremont in the early 19th century

Fremont is built on the old site of Junquindundeh. This was a historic village of the Wyandot people. It was located on the west side of the lower Sandusky River, near some waterfalls. French traders set up a trading post here in the 1750s. Later, British forces took control of the area after winning the French and Indian War.

In 1787, the United States created the Northwest Territory. This area included all the land west of the Ohio River. In 1803, Ohio became a new state. The area around what is now Fremont was set aside as Indian Territory. American settlers who moved into this area were breaking the 1795 Treaty of Greenville. This treaty was made to protect land for Native Americans.

Tensions grew with Great Britain in the early 1800s. The U.S. government stopped all trade with the British. The U.S. Army built Fort Sandusky near the river to protect important supplies. During the War of 1812, the fort's name was changed to Fort Stephenson. In August 1813, British forces attacked the fort. This event is known as the Battle of Fort Stephenson. Major George Croghan and his U.S. Army soldiers successfully defended the fort.

After the war, a settlement grew around the fort. It was called Lower Sandusky because it was on the lower part of the Sandusky River. In 1821, Lower Sandusky became the main city of Sandusky County. The town grew, with people working in shipbuilding, fishing, and farming. The Sandusky Bay leads to Lake Erie, and the river had good fishing. By the 1830s, more white settlers lived there. Many Wyandot people still lived in the area. Also, some runaway African American slaves found safety there. The city had mills for grain and wood. It also had Ohio's first sugar mill.

In 1849, the people of Lower Sandusky changed the city's name to Fremont. They did this to honor John C. Frémont. He was important in helping the U.S. get California during the Mexican–American War.

In 1873, before he became president, Rutherford B. Hayes moved to a family home in Fremont called Spiegel Grove. His uncle, Sardis Birchard, left money in his will to start a public library. It opened in 1874. A new library building was built in 1878 at Fort Stephenson State Park. Today, it is called the Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County. Spiegel Grove became part of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. This center was founded in 1916 as the first presidential library in the United States.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Fremont became a big center for making cutlery (like knives and forks). It also had other industries. The cutlery industry has become smaller. However, the city still has a large Heinz factory that makes ketchup. In 1999, the ketchup factory had a $40 million expansion.

Remembering the Battle of Fort Stephenson

The city created Fort Stephenson Park to remember the fort from the War of 1812. Only its stone foundations can still be seen. In 1885, the Sandusky County Soldiers Monument was placed in the park. It is near Croghan Street, which is named after Major George Croghan. Former President Rutherford B. Hayes attended the ceremony.

In 1906, Colonel Croghan's remains were moved from Kentucky to Fremont. They were reburied under the Soldiers Monument. At the same ceremony, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) put up a plaque. It honored Croghan and his soldiers for their victory in the Battle of Fort Stephenson.

The main building of the Birchard Public Library was built in 1878 in Fort Stephenson Park. This was thanks to Sardis Birchard's gift of $50,000 to start a public library. The first library opened in 1874 on Front Street.

Geography

Fremont is located on both sides of the Sandusky River. The city covers a total area of about 8.57 square miles (22.19 km²). About 8.35 square miles (21.63 km²) is land, and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km²) is water.

Climate

Fremont has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. It gets rain throughout the year.

Population Data

Fremont's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 16,734 people living in Fremont. There were 6,745 households and 4,162 families. The city had about 2,004 people per square mile (773.7 per km²). About 34.2% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.42 people. The average family had 3.04 people.

The average age in the city was 35.3 years old. About 27.2% of residents were under 18. About 13.9% were 65 or older. The population was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

Economy and Jobs

The world's largest ketchup plant, run by Heinz, is in Fremont. It makes 80% of the ketchup sold in the United States. Fremont was once known for its cutlery companies. These included Christy Company, Clauss Cutlery Company, and Ginsu Cutlery. The city also had a sugar processing plant, which closed in 1997. It is now a warehouse.

Arts and Culture in Fremont

The Rutherford B. Hayes House at Spiegel Grove

Important Landmarks

• Birchard Public Library (built in a park where Fort Stephenson once stood)
• H. J. Heinz Company ketchup factory (the biggest ketchup factory in the world)
• Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
• Sandusky County Jail and Sheriff's House
• Spiegel Grove (the home of President Rutherford B. Hayes)
• Fremont Speedway (a place for car racing)
• The Strand Concert Theater
• Fremont Amphitheater

Downtown Fremont

Downtown Fremont is located next to the Sandusky River on Front Street. It is a nice area for walking. Many small businesses are in historic buildings here. You can find boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, and other fun places. Downtown Fremont has been the heart of the city for many years.

Transportation Around Fremont

Two major US routes, U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 20, pass near Fremont. State Routes 12, 19, 53, and 412 also go through or end in the Fremont area. State Route 53 follows the Sandusky River, which is a state scenic river.

These main routes now go around the city on a bypass. Most of this bypass has four lanes. Before the bypass was built in the late 1950s, all these routes went right through Fremont. Their old paths are now called "City Route (number)".

The Ohio Turnpike, another major east-west road, is about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Fremont. The Turnpike is also known as Interstates 80 and 90. Exit 91 connects the Turnpike to Fremont using State Route 53.

The Norfolk Southern railroad serves the industries in the city. It uses parts of old railroad lines to reach factories.

Schools and Learning

First high school in Fremont

Public schools in Fremont are part of the Fremont City School District. About 3,519 students attend these schools. The district has four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, Fremont Ross.

Fremont is also home to Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers. They offer college-level classes for specific careers. Bishop Hoffman Catholic Schools serve students from preschool to 12th grade. This includes Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School. Another private school, Temple Christian Academy, is run by Fremont Baptist Temple. The first public school in Fremont was built in 1816.

Terra State Community College is a two-year college. It was started in 1968. It is located on a 143-acre (58 ha) campus in the western part of the city. About 2,400 students attend this college. Most students come from Sandusky, Seneca, and Ottawa counties.

Fremont has a public library, which is a branch of the Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County.

News and Radio

Fremont's daily newspaper is called The News-Messenger. The radio station WFRO-FM (99.1 FM), also known as "Eagle 99," broadcasts from Fremont.

Famous People from Fremont

• Margret Holmes Bates (1844-1927), author
• Alycia Baumgardner, model and professional boxer
• Tom Beier, professional football player
• Bob Brudzinski, professional football player
• Clarence Childs, 1912 US Olympic team member, bronze medalist in hammer throw
• Mark Coleman, mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Fame member
• Everton Conger, captured John Wilkes Booth
• Dana DeMuth, professional umpire in Major League Baseball
• Paul Dietzel, former college football head coach
• Doug Gallagher, professional baseball player
• Andy Genzman, racing driver
• Robert W. Hines, national wildlife artist
• Alice E. Johnson, architect
• Carla F. Kim, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School
• Robert Knepper, actor, known for "T-Bag" in Prison Break
• Tony Little, television fitness personality
• Rob Lytle, professional football player, College Football Hall of Fame member
• Shawn McCarthy, former NFL punter
• Walter R. Nickel, dermatologist
• Myles Porter, 2012 US Paralympic Team member, silver medalist in judo
• Gary Shilling, financial analyst
• Bob Snyder, professional football player and NFL head coach
• Diane Wray Williams, Minnesota state legislator and businesswoman
• Charles Woodson, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Football Hall of Fame member
• Jacob Wukie, 2012 US Olympic team member, silver medalist in archery

See also

In Spanish: Fremont (Ohio) para niños