Galion, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Galion, Ohio
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The Galion Theatre located on Harding Way West in uptown Galion
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Location of Galion, Ohio
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Location of Galion in Crawford County
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Counties | Crawford, Morrow, Richland |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.41 sq mi (19.20 km2) |
| • Land | 7.39 sq mi (19.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,171 ft (357 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 10,512 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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9,982 |
| • Density | 1,350.20/sq mi (521.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
44833
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| Area code(s) | 419 |
| FIPS code | 39-29162 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1064699 |
| Website | http://www.galion.city |
Galion is a city in Crawford, Morrow, and Richland counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 10,512 at the 2010 census. Galion is the second-largest city in Crawford County after Bucyrus.
The Crawford County portion of Galion is part of the Bucyrus Micropolitan Statistical Area. The small portion of the city that is located in Richland County is part of the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the portion extending into Morrow County is considered part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Galion was laid out in 1831. The etymology of the name Galion is uncertain. A post office called Galion has been in operation since 1825.
Geography
Galion is located in the southeastern corner of Crawford County at 40°43′59″N 82°47′19″W / 40.73306°N 82.78861°W (40.733164, -82.788586).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.63 square miles (19.76 km2), of which 7.61 square miles (19.71 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.
The Olentangy River begins near and runs through Galion, and then winds southward toward Columbus and eventually empties into the Scioto River.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,966 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,523 | 79.2% | |
| 1880 | 5,635 | 59.9% | |
| 1890 | 6,326 | 12.3% | |
| 1900 | 7,282 | 15.1% | |
| 1910 | 7,214 | −0.9% | |
| 1920 | 7,374 | 2.2% | |
| 1930 | 7,674 | 4.1% | |
| 1940 | 8,685 | 13.2% | |
| 1950 | 9,952 | 14.6% | |
| 1960 | 12,650 | 27.1% | |
| 1970 | 13,123 | 3.7% | |
| 1980 | 12,424 | −5.3% | |
| 1990 | 11,859 | −4.5% | |
| 2000 | 11,341 | −4.4% | |
| 2010 | 10,512 | −7.3% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 9,982 | −5.0% | |
| Sources: | |||
2010 Census
As of the census of 2010, there were 10,512 people, 4,484 households, and 2,797 families living in the city. The population density was 1,381.3 inhabitants per square mile (533.3/km2). There were 5,192 housing units at an average density of 682.3 per square mile (263.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 4,484 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size as 2.89.
The median age in the city was 39.7 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
Transportation
The Erie Railroad also ran through Galion and established large rail yards here, making the city an important rail center. In April, 1851 the Cleveland Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad, later known as the "Big Four" and eventually the New York Central, began operating regular service between Columbus and Cleveland, stopping at Galion along the way. Prior to the end of the 19th century, Galion became a division headquarters for the line.
Galion once boasted two large railroad depots, the Big Four Depot on Washington Street, and the Erie Depot on South Market Street, which was torn down in 1986 due to its poor condition, after having served as a maintenance office for Conrail. With the move of the Erie yards to Marion in the 1910s, the railroads declined, although the city remained a passenger rail center into the 1960s. The Big Four Depot was abandoned; however, it has since been acquired by the City of Galion and is undergoing a slow but thorough restoration.
From 1915 to 1923, Galion was on the original route of the Lincoln Highway, America's first coast-to-coast route. In later years, however, the northern route was improved and became US 30 North, although until approximately 1970 the route through Galion was designated as US 30 South. The new, four-lane US 30 opened in 2005, and passes just north of town, giving the community excellent transportation access.
State routes in Galion include 309, which connects Marion to the southwest with Ontario to the east; 598, which originates in Galion and stretches northward; 19, which heads westward toward the county seat and also south toward Williamsport; 61, which goes south towards Morrow and Delaware Counties and north to Lake Erie, and 97, which goes east through Lexington.
Education
Galion City School District
The Galion City School District encompasses the entire city of Galion, graduating about 150 students annually. There are a handful of neighborhoods outside of Galion that are also included in the school district, including Blooming Grove. Galion High School serves students ranging from grades 9 through 12. The school colors are blue and orange and its athletic teams are known as the Tigers. The current high school building opened in 2007 following the demolition of the previous home of Galion High School on North Union Street.
The first Galion Union High School was built in 1868 on West Walnut Street and served as Galion High School until 1917. This building was demolished in 1924 and a new junior high school was built on the site in 1925, which was razed in April 2008. The second home of GHS was built in 1917 on the site of a former cemetery on North Union Street. This building was extended in 1962, adding features such as a large gymnasium. This building was in use until the end of the 2006–2007 school year, with the new Galion High School opening in late 2007.
Galion Public Library
The Galion Public Library was formally dedicated on April 28, 1904. The "purely 20th century synthesis of Greek and Roman designs" was designed by Vernon Redding a prominent architect from Mansfield, Ohio that designed the Mansfield Public Library using the Galion design as a foundation. However, the organization and establishment of the current library were made from the efforts of a woman's organization called The Current News Club. The organization pushed for the establishment of a public library and started a library fund that had been started using funds from other organizations and contributions from citizens of Galion. In 1898, a state law was passed providing for a mandatory establishment of a library through the Boards of Education in Galion due to its size. The Current News Club incorporated the Galion Public Library Association on March 26, 1901 with "the purpose of building and opening a public library free to all the citizens of the Galion Public School district." The association purchased the land in which the building currently resides on North Market street for $2,850 in which "the lot already had an old log residence on it, one of the oldest buildings in the city, and was one of the early school houses half a century previously." This log building, now located in Heise Park, provided for a comfortable "reading room" and "became the pride and glory of the infant library association" but quickly became too small for to serve the citizens of Galion. In February 1902 the association sent representatives to meet with Andrew Carnegie to seek financial assistance in building a new library and was approved for $15,000 with a "guarantee of an annual support for the library of not less than ten percent of that amount" which was later approved by the city council with a resolution that passed on April 18, 1902.
Notable residents
- Logan Bartholomew (born February 9, 1984) actor born in Galion, best known for his role of Willie LaHaye in the Love Comes Softly series
- Julius H. Block, Minnesota State Treasurer, was born in Galion
- William Montgomery Brown, Episcopal clergyman and author, lived in Galion
- Florence Kling Harding, First Lady of the United States, lived in Galion with her first husband, Henry ("Pete") DeWolfe
- Henry David Lee, founder of the HD Lee Mercantile Company, inventors of Lee Jeans, lived in and operated a business in Galion
- Robert W. Morgan, radio personality, was from Galion
- Orville Nave, theologian and chaplain, was born in Galion
- Nate Reinking, professional basketball player for the British Basketball League and the Great Britain men's national basketball team; head coach in the NBA G League
- Bob Schnelker, professional football player in the National Football League
- JB Shuck, professional baseball player in Major League Baseball, raised in Galion and attended Galion High School
Images for kids
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The Adam Howard House
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The Central Hotel, Hackedorn and Zimmerman Building
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Galion road grader
See also
In Spanish: Galion (Ohio) para niños
