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LaRue, Ohio facts for kids

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LaRue, Ohio
Village
LaRue's business district
LaRue's business district
Location of LaRue, Ohio
Location of LaRue, Ohio
Location of LaRue in Marion County
Location of LaRue in Marion County
Country United States
State Ohio
County Marion
Township Montgomery
Area
 • Total 0.48 sq mi (1.24 km2)
 • Land 0.48 sq mi (1.24 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
929 ft (283 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 676
 • Density 1,414.23/sq mi (545.99/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
43332
Area code(s) 740
FIPS code 39-41902
GNIS feature ID 1058187

LaRue, sometimes written as La Rue, is a small village in Marion County, Ohio, United States. In 2020, about 676 people lived there. The village is part of the Elgin Local School District and has a public library, which is a branch of the Marion Public Library. Major William LaRue founded the town on June 3, 1851, and the village was named after him.

Where is LaRue?

LaRue is located in Ohio. The village covers a total area of about 0.48 square miles (1.24 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

How Many People Live in LaRue?

The population of LaRue has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 614
1890 948 54.4%
1900 997 5.2%
1910 772 −22.6%
1920 795 3.0%
1930 698 −12.2%
1940 714 2.3%
1950 793 11.1%
1960 842 6.2%
1970 867 3.0%
1980 861 −0.7%
1990 802 −6.9%
2000 775 −3.4%
2010 747 −3.6%
2020 676 −9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 747 people living in LaRue. There were 291 households, and 202 of them were families. The average household had about 2.57 people. The average age of people in the village was around 39.8 years old.

History of LaRue

Early Days and Founding

Long ago, in the early 1800s, a Wyandot Native American village was located in this area. Later, in the early 1850s, LaRue began to grow when a railroad line was built through the area. A post office opened in LaRue in 1853, helping the community connect with other places.

The Oorang Indians Football Team

LaRue was once home to Walter Lingo, a famous dog breeder. He owned the Oorang Dog Kennels, which were known for breeding special Airedale Terrier dogs called King Oorang Airedales.

Walter Lingo also owned a professional football team called the Oorang Indians. This team played in the National Football League (NFL) in 1922 and 1923. The team was made up entirely of Native American players. Their most famous player was Jim Thorpe, a legendary athlete.

The Oorang Indians were a "traveling team." This means they played almost all their games in other cities. Out of 20 games they played, only one was near their "home" in Marion. LaRue is still the smallest town ever to have an NFL team!

Fun Events in LaRue

The Oorang Bang Festival

For many years, LaRue held a special festival called the "Oorang Bang." This event honored the Oorang Indians football team, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Airedale dogs. The festival usually happened on the second weekend of June. It included a parade, delicious food, fun rides, and live music. This festival helped raise money for improvements to the local swimming pool and park.

Marion County Raceway

The Marion County Raceway was also located in LaRue. This was a place where people could enjoy exciting races.

Famous People from LaRue

Many interesting people have connections to LaRue:

  • Edgar Bain – A scientist who created new ways to make steel stronger.
  • Toby Harrah – A professional baseball player who played high school baseball in LaRue.
  • Walter Lingo – The owner of the Oorang Dog Kennels and the Oorang Indians football team.
  • Gladys Milligan – A talented painter.
  • Grant E. Mouser – A person who represented Ohio in the U.S. Congress.
  • Charles E. Sawyer – A doctor who practiced medicine in LaRue.
  • Richard Secord – A Major General in the military who was involved in the Iran-Contra scandal.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: La Rue (Ohio) para niños

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