Lucas, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucas, Ohio
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Village
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West Main Street in 2007
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Location of Lucas, Ohio
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Location of Lucas in Richland County
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| County | Richland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.68 sq mi (1.76 km2) |
| • Land | 0.68 sq mi (1.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,132 ft (345 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 589 |
| • Density | 870.01/sq mi (335.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
44843
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| Area code(s) | 419 |
| FIPS code | 39-45276 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399197 |
Lucas is a small village located in southeastern Richland County, Ohio, in the United States. It is part of the larger Mansfield area. In 2020, about 589 people lived there.
Contents
History of Lucas, Ohio
The story of Lucas began in 1819 when David Tucker moved to Richland County from New Hampshire. He wanted to buy land in this rural area. In 1824, he was allowed to buy land from the state for $1.25 per acre.
After buying a lot of land, David Tucker hired Mr. Steward to map it out. This was so the land could be sold to new settlers. David's brother, John, was put in charge of selling the land in 1829. They advertised the land in a local newspaper called "The Mansfield Shield and Banner." The newspaper said the land was "as good as a wheat growing country as the state can have."
Because of this, people bought land to build three big wheat mills that year. The mills were built soon after. The town also got its own post office. In 1830, the Chicago Railroad Company built train tracks and a station on the south side of town.
By 1834, Lucas was full of homes and shops. It became an important rural center for Richland County. This was partly because it was the first town in the county to get help from the government for its development. The land where Lucas is located was once a camp for General John Brooks during the War of 1812. This made it a historical site.
How Lucas Got Its Name
There are three main ideas about how the Village of Lucas got its name:
- It might have been named after Robert Lucas, who was the 12th governor of Ohio at that time.
- It could have been named after Governor Lucas's brother, who owned a lot of land in the town.
- The town might have been named after the Tucker brothers' mother's maiden name, which was Lucas.
No matter how it got its name, the town of Lucas officially became a village in 1836.
Geography of Lucas
Lucas is located southeast of Mansfield. It is just a few miles from Interstate 71 on State Route 39. The village is surrounded by the Rocky Fork and Black Fork rivers. Charles Mill Lake is to the east, and Pleasant Hill Lake is to the south.
Lucas has many hills and forests. It is part of the Mohican Valley area. Other towns in this area include Loudonville, Perrysville, Butler, and Bellville. The village covers about 0.69 square miles (1.76 square kilometers) of land.
Population of Lucas
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 312 | — | |
| 1880 | 381 | 22.1% | |
| 1890 | 347 | −8.9% | |
| 1900 | 306 | −11.8% | |
| 1910 | 272 | −11.1% | |
| 1920 | 337 | 23.9% | |
| 1930 | 369 | 9.5% | |
| 1940 | 484 | 31.2% | |
| 1950 | 573 | 18.4% | |
| 1960 | 719 | 25.5% | |
| 1970 | 771 | 7.2% | |
| 1980 | 753 | −2.3% | |
| 1990 | 730 | −3.1% | |
| 2000 | 620 | −15.1% | |
| 2010 | 615 | −0.8% | |
| 2020 | 589 | −4.2% | |
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In 2010, there were 615 people living in Lucas. There were 237 households, and 176 of these were families. About 42% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.59 people.
The average age of people in the village was 34.9 years. About 29% of residents were under 18. About 11.7% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males and females.
Education and Sports
Lucas is part of the Lucas Local School District. This school district has 584 students. It includes three public schools: Lucas Elementary School, Lucas Heritage Middle School, and Lucas High School.
The sports teams are called the Lucas "Cubs." They are part of the Mid-Buckeye Conference. Students can play sports like baseball, football, basketball, track, cross country, girls volleyball, and girls softball.
Lucas also has a public library. It is a branch of the Mansfield–Richland County Public Library.
Famous People from Lucas
Some notable people have connections to Lucas, Ohio:
- Louis Bromfield: A writer who won a Pulitzer Prize. He was also famous for his work in conservation.
- John Chapman: Also known as Johnny Appleseed, he was an American pioneer who planted apple trees.
- Tim Seder: A professional football player who was a placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars.
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