Lima, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lima, Ohio
City
Downtown Lima Allen County Courthouse Allen County Museum
Flag
Nickname(s):  The Bean
Lima, Ohio Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Lima, Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Allen
Founded	1831; 194 years ago (1831)
Area
• Total	13.80 sq mi (35.75 km2)
• Land	13.62 sq mi (35.27 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation	883 ft (269 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	35,579
• Density	2,612.45/sq mi (1,008.70/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP code	45801-02, 45804-07, 45809, 45854
Area code(s)	419 567
FIPS code	39-43554
GNIS feature ID	1085694

Lima (pronounced LY-mə) is a city in Ohio, United States. It is the main city of Allen County. In 2020, about 35,579 people lived there. Lima is in northwest Ohio, along Interstate 75. It's about 72 miles (116 km) north of Dayton.

Lima was started in 1831. It is home to the Lima Army Tank Plant. This factory, built in 1941, is the only place that makes the M1 Abrams tank. Lima is the biggest city in the Lima metropolitan area. This area had about 102,000 people in 2020.

History of Lima

Early Days and Founding

After the American Revolution, the Shawnee people lived in west central Ohio. In 1817, the United States set up the Hog Creek Reservation for them. This area included part of what is now Lima.

In 1820, Allen County was officially created. In 1831, the Shawnee people moved to Kansas. This opened up all of Allen County for new settlers. The Ohio government decided that a county seat, or main town, was needed. That's how Lima was founded.

The name "Lima" was chosen to honor the capital of Peru. In the 1800s, the Peruvian capital was a big source of quinine. This medicine helped treat malaria, which was common in the nearby Great Black Swamp area.

Growing as a City

Since 1831, Lima has been the center of government for Allen County. The first courthouse was built in its first year. Life in the city quickly began to take shape.

• The first school opened in 1832.
• Doctor William McHenry, Lima's first surgeon, arrived in 1834.
• The first newspaper started in 1836.
• Lima officially became a city in 1842. Henry DeVilliers Williams was its first mayor.
• The first public school opened in 1850.
• In 1854, the first train came to Lima, which was important for its future economy.

In 1854, a sickness called cholera spread in the area. This problem was due to unclean water. It was solved in 1886 when Lima started its own city water system. Lima also became a center for industry early on. The Lima Agricultural Works started in 1869. Later, as Lima Machine Works, it built the first Shay locomotive in 1882.

Oil Discovery and Growth

In 1885, a businessman named Benjamin C. Faurot was drilling for natural gas. He was inspired by a gas boom in nearby Findlay. Instead of gas, he found oil on May 19. This discovery started Lima's oil industry. It brought John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company to the city. For about ten years, Lima's oil field was the largest in the United States.

Money from this growth helped build places for fun and art. Benjamin Faurot's Opera House opened in 1882. It was so grand that theaters in New York used it as a model. In 1907, Lima got its first movie theater.

In the early 1900s, Benjamin A. Gramm and Max Bernstein started the Gramm-Bernstein Company. They were pioneers in making motor trucks. During World War I, Gramm created the "Liberty truck". Thousands of these trucks were sent to Europe to help the Allied forces.

The 1920s and 1930s

After World War I, Lima's industries grew. In 1925, Lima Locomotive Works, Inc. built the "Lima A-1". This was a special type of steam locomotive that became a model for modern steam engines. They also started a new part of their company, the Ohio Power Shovel Company. In 1927, John E. Galvin helped start Superior Coach Company. This company became the world's largest maker of school buses and funeral coaches. By 1930, eight different railroad companies served Lima.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, Lima's population grew faster than the rest of Ohio. In 1933, Lima changed its government again. Citizens chose a "strong mayor" system. Even with hard times, people in Lima supported building a new hospital. Lima Memorial Hospital opened in 1933, named for World War I veterans.

The 1930s also saw some crime. In 1933, the famous gangster John Dillinger was held in the Allen County Jail. His friends broke him out, and the sheriff was killed. This made Dillinger one of the FBI's most wanted criminals.

The Great Depression slowed down industry. By 1934, many jobs were lost. However, in 1935, Westinghouse opened a factory in Lima to make electric motors. Many workers also joined labor unions during this time.

World War II and After

Lima's factories produced a lot during World War II. In 1941, construction began on the Lima Army Tank Plant. This plant made gun tubes and later processed vehicles for the government. It prepared tanks like the M5 light tank and the T-26 Pershing tank for Europe. At its busiest during the war, the plant employed over 5,000 people.

After the war, Lima's population grew. Hospitals and schools expanded. St. Rita's Hospital opened a new addition in 1948. New elementary schools and Lima Senior High School were built in the 1950s. During the Korean War, the tank plant started making tanks again, even more than during World War II.

Changes in the 1960s and 1970s

In the 1960s, Lima continued to grow, but also faced some challenges. A new airport was built in 1962. The city also built a new police station. The Ohio State University opened a branch campus in Lima.

There were also civil rights issues in Lima, especially about integrating the public swimming pool. Some unrest continued into the 1970s. In 1969, an oil pipeline broke, causing oil to spill into the city's sewers. This led to explosions and fires, and 7,000 people had to leave their homes. The Ohio National Guard was called in to help.

Economic Challenges

In the 1970s and 1980s, many factories in Lima closed down. This was part of a larger problem called the "Rust Belt decline" that affected many cities in Ohio. Companies like Superior Coach Company and Clark Equipment closed. By the mid-1990s, Lima had lost over 8,000 jobs. Lima's population dropped from 52,000 in the 1970s to 45,000 in 1999.

Geography and Climate

Lima covers about 13.80 square miles (35.75 km2). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The Ottawa River flows through the city. Locals sometimes call it "Hawg Creek."

Lima is located where State Route 309 (the original Lincoln Highway) and Interstate 75 meet. Interstate 75 replaced U.S. Route 25, which was part of the Dixie Highway.

Nearby Areas

	American Township	American Township and Bath Township	Bath Township
	Shawnee Township and American Township		Bath Township and Perry Township
		Lima
	Shawnee Township	Shawnee Township and Perry Township	Perry Township

Weather in Lima

Lima has a humid continental climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and generally cool to cold winters. It gets moderate rain and snow all year. Because Lima is inland, it doesn't get as much influence from Lake Erie as cities closer to the lake. This means Lima can have hotter summers and colder winters than places like Toledo.

Population Changes

Lima's People in 2010

In 2010, Lima had 38,771 people. There were 14,221 households and 8,319 families. The city had about 2,857 people per square mile (1,103 per km2).

• 67.1% of people were White.
• 26.4% were African American.
• 0.3% were Native American.
• 0.5% were Asian.
• 1.2% were from other races.
• 4.4% were from two or more races.
• 3.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 33.2% of households had children under 18. The average age in Lima was 32.9 years.

Economy and Industry

Oil Industry in Lima

Ohio historical marker outlining Lima's oil history with Faurot

When oil was found in Lima in 1885, it started the "Oil Boom of Northwest Ohio." Benjamin C. Faurot, who owned a paper mill, drilled for gas or water. On May 19, 1885, he accidentally found oil instead.

His first well produced over 200 barrels of oil in a week. Faurot quickly formed a group called the Trenton Rock Oil Company. By 1886, they had 250 wells.

When news of oil spread, Standard Oil decided to build an oil refinery in Lima. The oil from Ohio was called "sour crude" because it had a lot of sulfur and smelled bad. Standard Oil's refinery worked to solve this problem. To control the market, Standard Oil bought a lot of this oil and lowered its price.

Fourteen smaller oil producers in Lima formed their own company, the Ohio Oil Company. This company later became Marathon Oil, which is still in Findlay, Ohio.

John Van Dyke and Herman Frasch at Standard Oil found a way to remove the sulfur from the oil. This made Ohio's oil valuable. By 1901, a huge oil discovery in Texas changed the oil market.

In 1911, Standard Oil was broken up into several smaller companies. The Lima Oil Field was a major producer from 1887 to 1905. The Lima Refinery has continued to operate for over 125 years under different owners. Today, it is owned by Husky Energy.

Railroads and Trains

For a long time, Lima was known for its factories and its connection to railroads. It was a major rail hub and home to the Lima Locomotive Works.

The first locomotive came to Allen County in 1854. It was named "Lima." East-west passenger train service started in 1856. North-south service began in 1858. By the early 1900s, railroad shops in Lima employed 1,000 people.

In 1906, many trains passed through Lima every day, carrying tons of freight and many passengers. Lima also became a hub for electric interurban trains, connecting it to cities like Toledo and Cincinnati.

Lima was a stop for famous passenger trains like the Erie Limited and the Lake Cities. The Pennsylvania Railroad's trains, such as the Admiral and Manhattan Limited, also stopped in Lima.

During the Great Depression, passenger train service started to decrease. Electric interurban service stopped in 1937. After a boost during World War II, passenger service sharply declined in the 1950s. The last passenger train, the Broadway Limited, stopped in Lima on November 11, 1990.

Today, freight trains still use most of the old rail lines in Lima. Railroads like CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway run through the city.

Lima Locomotive Works

The Lima Locomotive Works, often called "the Loco," started in 1869. John Carnes and his partners bought a machine shop. At first, they made and fixed farm equipment. Then they started making steam power equipment and sawmill machines.

In 1878, the shop designed its first steam locomotive. That same year, they began working on a special geared locomotive designed by Ephraim Shay. The Shay locomotive was built for steep hills, heavy loads, and sharp turns. In 1881, Lima works got the only right to make Shay locomotives. By 1882, locomotives were their main product. Over time, the Lima Locomotive Works made 2,761 Shay locomotives. These were sent to 48 states and 24 other countries.

By 1910, the company started making direct-drive locomotives for general railroad use. In 1925, they introduced a new "super power" design. This design helped them get 20% of the national market for locomotives. The "super power" locomotive was designed by William E. Woodard. It made steam more efficient at high speeds. It became one of the most important locomotives in steam power history. Later, they built huge locomotives like the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 2-6-6-6 and the beautiful Southern Pacific "Daylights."

The locomotive works also made other things. They produced railroad cars and bought the Ohio Power Shovel Company in 1928. During World War II, the plant made 1,655 Sherman tanks. The number of workers grew from 150 in the 1890s to 4,300 in 1944. Many different groups of people worked there, including Germans, Italians, African-Americans, and women during World War II.

After the war, the plant merged with other companies to try and keep going. The last steam locomotive built there was Nickel Plate No. 779, delivered in 1949. It is now in Lima's Lincoln Park. The last diesel locomotive was delivered in 1951. After making locomotives, the plant continued to produce cranes and road building equipment. The plant was sold to Clark Equipment in 1971. Clark employed 1,500 people in 1974, but the plant closed for good in 1981. Today, the Lima Locomotive Works plant has been torn down.

Arts and Culture

Ohio Theatre

In 1953, a group of people started the Lima Symphony Orchestra. Their first performance was on May 23, 1954.

Lima has many historic buildings. Twenty-four buildings and one historic district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Allen County Courthouse and the post office.

Sports in Lima

Lima is home to the Lima Warriors, a semi-pro American football team. You can also find sports teams at the University of Northwestern Ohio and Ohio State University, Lima Campus. High schools in Lima also have many sports programs. Lima also has a summer baseball team called the Lima Locos. Since 2023, Lima is home to the Ohio Extreme, a professional indoor soccer team.

Education in Lima

Lima has several colleges:

• The private University of Northwestern Ohio.
• The public regional campus of Ohio State University at Lima.
• James A. Rhodes State College.

Secondary schools (high schools) in Lima include:

• Lima Senior High School
• Apollo Career Center
• Lima Central Catholic High School
• Lima Christian Academy
• Temple Christian School

There are also schools for students with developmental disabilities, like The Center for Autism and Dyslexia and Marimor School.

Media and News

Lima has one daily newspaper, The Lima News. It serves Lima and several nearby counties.

Lima is also served by television stations. WLIO 8 is the NBC affiliate. WOHL-CD 35.1 is the ABC affiliate, and also carries CBS. WLMA 44 is a religious and family-entertainment station. The local PBS station, WBGU-TV 27, is based out of Bowling Green.

The Lima area has 22 FM and 3 AM radio stations.

City Services

Roads and Highways

Lima is located at the intersection of Ohio State Route 309 and state routes 65, 81, and 117. Interstate 75 passes on the eastern side of Lima. U.S. Route 30 passes a few miles north of Lima.

Healthcare in Lima

Lima has been a regional medical center for a long time. Today, the city's two hospitals serve a 10-county area. St. Rita's Medical Center is a level 2 trauma center. It has nearly 4,000 employees and is Allen County's largest employer. In 2018, St. Rita's became Mercy Health St. Rita's Medical Center.

The Sisters of Mercy opened St. Rita's in December 1918, during a big flu outbreak. The hospital expanded in 1945 and 1967. It also has smaller facilities in nearby towns.

Lima Memorial Health System, also a level 2 trauma center, started in 1899 as Lima City Hospital. It was the first community hospital in northwest Ohio. During the Great Depression, the city helped fund a larger hospital, which opened in 1933. The first open-heart surgery in the region was done at Lima Memorial in 1997.

Lima also had other hospitals in the past. The Ottawa Valley Hospital, which opened in 1909, treated patients with Tuberculosis. It closed in 1973 as treatments improved.

The Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane was built between 1908 and 1915. It was a very large concrete building. Conditions at the hospital improved after 1974 due to a lawsuit. In 1982, it became a medium-security prison, the Lima Correctional Institution. This prison closed in 2004, but a smaller prison, the Allen Correctional Institution, is still there.

The Lima Rescue Mission, founded in 1906, helps people who are unhoused or in need in Lima and Allen County.

Famous People from Lima

Sister Cities

Lima has a Sister Cities Association, started in 1995. It has one official sister city.

• Harima, Hyōgo, Japan

See also

In Spanish: Lima (Ohio) para niños