Ottawa, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ottawa, Ohio
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Village
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Ottawa Village Hall
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 Ottawa, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Ottawa, Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Putnam |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.61 sq mi (11.95 km2) |
| • Land | 4.55 sq mi (11.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) 1.47% |
| Elevation | 732 ft (141.7 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,456 |
| • Density | 979.99/sq mi (378.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
45875
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| Area code(s) | 419 |
| FIPS code | 39-58982 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399596 |
| Website | http://www.ottawaohio.us |
Ottawa is a friendly village in Putnam County, Ohio, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, for Putnam County. This means many important county offices are located here. Ottawa is about 51 miles southwest of Toledo. According to the 2020 census, about 4,456 people call Ottawa home.
Contents
Exploring Ottawa's Past: A Journey Through Time
Long ago, the land where Ottawa now stands was home to Native American tribes. The Wyandot and Ottawa peoples lived along the Blanchard River. They spoke different languages, but both groups had deep connections to this land.
In 1792, President George Washington sent a peace mission to these tribes. Sadly, Major Alexander Truman and his servant William Lynch lost their lives during this mission. This happened at Lower Tawa Town, an Ottawa village. Today, the Ottawa County Courthouse stands on this historic spot. The tribes were trying to protect their lands from new settlers.
During the War of 1812, many tribes joined forces with the British. They hoped this would help them keep their territories. However, the pressure from new settlers continued. In 1817, the tribes gave up a large area of land in Northwestern Ohio to the United States. A special area called Blanchard's Fork Reserve was created for them.
Later, in 1831, during a time known as Indian Removal, the tribes gave up this Reserve. They moved to new lands in what is now Kansas in 1832. The village of Ottawa, Ohio, grew from one of these original Ottawa villages.
Early Settlers and Village Life
One of the first European-American settlers in the Ottawa area was Henry Kohls. He arrived in 1835 with his family. They settled in a nearby village called Glandorf. Years later, his grandsons, Charles and Frank Kohls, became important leaders. They both served as Putnam County treasurer in the early 1900s.
Ottawa officially became a village in 1861. This was during the first year of the American Civil War.
Ottawa's Location and Landscape
Ottawa covers a total area of about 4.77 square miles (12.35 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.70 square miles (12.17 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.07 square miles (0.18 square kilometers), is water.
Who Lives in Ottawa: A Look at the Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 104 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,129 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,293 | 14.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,717 | 32.8% | |
| 1900 | 2,322 | 35.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,182 | −6.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,167 | −0.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,169 | 0.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,342 | 8.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,962 | 26.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,870 | 30.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,622 | −6.4% | |
| 1980 | 3,874 | 7.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,999 | 3.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,367 | 9.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,460 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,456 | −0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Ottawa had a population of 4,456 people. The average age of residents was 42.4 years. About 23.7% of the people were under 18 years old. Also, 21.5% were 65 years or older. Most residents, about 95.5%, lived in urban areas.
The community is made up of people from various backgrounds. In 2020, about 86.9% of residents identified as White. About 1.1% were Black or African American, and 0.5% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up about 13.7% of the population.
Learning in Ottawa: Schools and Library
Students in Ottawa attend Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools. The village is home to Ottawa-Glandorf High School.
Ottawa also has a public library. It is a branch of the Putnam County District Library. This library offers many books and resources for everyone.
Famous Faces from Ottawa
Many interesting people have connections to Ottawa:
- Tanner Buchanan: A well-known actor.
- Larry Cox: A baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and later a coach.
- Edward Settle Godfrey: A Brigadier General in the United States Army.
- Charles N. Haskell: A politician and oilman who became the first governor of Oklahoma. He lived and practiced law in Ottawa for many years.
- Frances Horwich: A famous television performer known for her show Ding Dong School. A monument honoring her was placed in Ottawa in 2006.
Local Media in Ottawa
- WJTA: A local media outlet serving the community.
See also
In Spanish: Ottawa (Ohio) para niños
