Oakwood, Montgomery County, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oakwood, Ohio
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Hawthorn Hill, home of Orville Wright
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Location in Montgomery County and the state of Ohio.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Ohio | ||
| County | Montgomery | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.19 sq mi (5.68 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.19 sq mi (5.68 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,572 | ||
| • Density | 4,360.82/sq mi (1,684.04/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
45409, 45419
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| Area code(s) | 937, 326 | ||
| FIPS code | 39-57764 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1086677 | ||
| Website | www.ci.oakwood.oh.us | ||
Oakwood is a city located in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. In 2020, about 9,572 people lived there. It's a suburb of Dayton and is part of the larger Dayton metropolitan area. Oakwood became an official city in 1908. John Henry Patterson, who started the National Cash Register Corporation, is often called the "Father of Oakwood."
Oakwood is completely surrounded by the cities of Dayton and Kettering. It has a small, compact area. This helps its unique Department of Public Safety. All officers in this department are trained as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services (EMS) officers. Oakwood is one of the few cities in the U.S. that uses this combined safety approach. These officers work 24-hour shifts, changing their roles every eight hours.
Contents
History of Oakwood
At the start of the 1900s, Oakwood was mostly farmland. It sat on a hill just south of Dayton. In 1913, a huge flood hit downtown Dayton. This event was called the Great Dayton Flood. After the flood, people started advertising Oakwood properties. They highlighted that Oakwood was "275 feet higher than the intersection of Third and Main Streets" in Dayton. This meant it was safe from floods.
Because of its higher ground and closeness to Dayton, Oakwood grew a lot. By 1930, its population was over 6,000 people. Oakwood officially became a city in 1908. In 1932, it adopted a Council/Manager form of government, which it still uses today.
One famous early resident was Orville Wright, who invented the airplane with his brother. His home, Hawthorn Hill, is still standing in Oakwood. John H. Patterson, who founded the National Cash Register Company (NCR), also lived here. Today, Oakwood is known as a quiet residential area with many tree-lined streets.
During World War II, a building in Oakwood called the Runnymede Playhouse was important. It was part of the Dayton Project. This project was a secret part of the Manhattan Project. Scientists there worked on making polonium. Polonium was used to create the triggers for the first atomic weapons.
Geography and Landscape
Oakwood is located in the Miami Valley area of southwestern Ohio. It shares borders with Dayton to the north and east. To its south and west is Kettering. The University of Dayton campus is right next to Oakwood on the northeast side.
The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 2.19 square miles (5.68 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
The city is unofficially split into two parts: east and west. This split is made by State Route 48, also known as Far Hills Avenue. This major road runs north and south. It connects Dayton with Oakwood and other suburbs like Kettering further south. The land on the western side of Oakwood has many hills. The eastern side is mostly flat or gently sloping.
Oakwood's Architecture and Design
Oakwood has many different styles of buildings. Because the city is quite old, many houses were built before World War II. They have older designs. Houses in Oakwood come in many sizes and styles. You can see Tudor, Swiss chalets, Colonial Revival, and Gothic Revival homes. The western part of the city has many large properties and historic houses. One example is Hawthorn Hill, the home of Orville Wright. These houses often sit on private plots of land, surrounded by many trees.
People in Oakwood care a lot about keeping the city beautiful. They generally don't like houses that look run-down or lawns that are not cared for. Most lawns are very well maintained. The city even gives "Beautification Awards" to the most beautiful houses. This helps keep the city looking nice. Oakwood has strict zoning laws. These rules limit big changes to houses. They also require city approval for any new additions to buildings. For example, the city does not allow chain-link fences that can be seen from the street. Also, outdoor utility units, like air conditioning units, must be hidden from street view.
The public buildings in Oakwood are also a source of pride. City buildings are designed to match the traditional architectural styles of the houses. Oakwood High School has a very detailed outside design. The elementary schools, Edwin D. Smith and Harman, also have this fancy style. Smith Elementary looks like the High School with its Tudor style. Harman Elementary is in the Colonial revival style. The newest school, the Julian and Marjorie Lange School, has a Spanish revival look. The Oakwood Board of Education building is a gray stucco house with a red tile roof. The Wright Memorial Library has a similar beautiful look. Even the police and fire department building looks like a French château.
Population Information
Oakwood's population has grown over the years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 358 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,473 | 311.5% | |
| 1930 | 6,494 | 340.9% | |
| 1940 | 7,652 | 17.8% | |
| 1950 | 9,691 | 26.6% | |
| 1960 | 10,493 | 8.3% | |
| 1970 | 10,095 | −3.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,372 | −7.2% | |
| 1990 | 8,957 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 9,215 | 2.9% | |
| 2010 | 9,202 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 9,572 | 4.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 9,471 | 2.9% | |
| Sources: | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 9,202 people living in Oakwood. There were 3,543 households and 2,521 families. The city had about 4,202 people per square mile (1,622 per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Oakwood were White (95.3%). Other groups included African American (0.9%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (1.4%). About 1.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 41.3% of households had children under 18. Most households (58.0%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.58 people, and the average family had 3.15 people.
The average age in the city was 40.5 years. About 30.6% of residents were under 18 years old. About 11.9% were 65 years or older. The city's population was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
The average income for a household in Oakwood was $94,731. For families, it was $116,719. The average income per person was $50,258. A large number of Oakwood residents (70.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Education System
The Lange School is where all kindergarten students in Oakwood go. Before 1999, kindergarten classes were held in each elementary school. Harman Elementary School and Edwin D. Smith Elementary School teach children from first through sixth grades.
All Oakwood students from seventh through twelfth grades attend one combined junior and senior high school. This is Oakwood High School. The first senior class graduated in 1924. They started the tradition of a Baccalaureate ceremony at Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Dayton. Oakwood students finish their school journey with Senior Awards, Baccalaureate, and Commencement ceremonies. The high school's yearbook is called The Acorn, and its newspaper is The Dome.
Oakwood's schools strongly encourage students to go to college. Oakwood High School is known as a national school of excellence. In the 2016–17 school year, Oakwood High School had the highest test scores of any high school in Ohio. Its score was 92.0 out of 100, which was higher than any other high school in the state. Oakwood High School offers strong courses in English, math, science, and foreign languages. It also has many performing arts opportunities for students. Many top students from Oakwood get accepted into very selective universities around the world. However, most graduates choose to attend schools within 300 miles, with many staying in Ohio. Oakwood High School is always ranked as one of the top 10 academic schools in Ohio and one of the top 400 in the United States.
City Infrastructure
Oakwood was known for having route 5 of Dayton's historic trolleybus network. This network is the second oldest of only four trolleybus systems still running in the U.S. The others are in San Francisco, Seattle, and Philadelphia. In 2023, the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (GDRTA) decided their trolley system was outdated. They said it cost too much to maintain and they wanted to invest in newer technology. The trolley lines along Far Hills Avenue in Oakwood and Kettering had not been used since 2016. In 2024, GDRTA, the City of Oakwood, and the city of Kettering agreed to remove the trolley lines along Far Hills Avenue by 2025.
Sister Cities
Oakwood has special partnerships with cities in other countries:
Le Vésinet, France
Outremont, Quebec, Canada
Unterhaching, Germany (a friendship pact)
