Put-in-Bay, Ohio facts for kids

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Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Village

View of the village from atop the observation deck of the Perry Memorial

Flag

Location of South Bass Island, Ohio

Location of Put-in-Bay in Ottawa County

Country

United States

Put-in-Bay

Incorporated

1877

Area

• Total

0.62 sq mi (1.61 km²)

• Land

0.44 sq mi (1.14 km²)

• Water

0.18 sq mi (0.48 km²)

Elevation

584 ft (178 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

154

• Density

350.80/sq mi (135.29/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (EST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP code

43456

Area code(s)

419

FIPS code

39-65032

GNIS feature ID

1060971

Website

http://villageofpib.com/

Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay is a small, fun village located on South Bass Island in Ohio, United States. It's a very popular place for summer vacations and outdoor activities. Only 154 people lived there in 2020, but many more visit each year!

You can reach Put-in-Bay by ferry boat or even by plane. It connects to other nearby islands and towns like Port Clinton. This village played a super important role in the War of 1812. A famous naval battle happened right near the island!

Exploring Put-in-Bay
A Look at Put-in-Bay's Past
Perry's Victory Memorial
Who Lives in Put-in-Bay?
Learning and Schools
Getting Around Put-in-Bay
- Roads and Routes
- Airports
Fun Things to Do in Put-in-Bay
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay is about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Sandusky. The village itself is quite small. It covers about 0.63 square miles (1.63 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but some is water.

A Look at Put-in-Bay's Past

Early Island Life

Long ago, different Native American tribes used this island. These included the Ottawas, Miamis, and Shawnee. The island was a safe spot when they crossed Lake Erie. Sometimes, old remains are found when the land is plowed.

In 1679, a French explorer named Robert LaSalle sailed a large ship called the Griffon on the Great Lakes. He and his crew stopped at Middle Bass Island. They found many beautiful, new flowers there. Because of these flowers, they named the island "Isle des Fleurs," which means "Island of Flowers." This name was used for 200 years!

Put-in-Bay and the War of 1812

Put-in-Bay was a key spot during the War of 1812. The U.S. Navy fleet, led by Oliver Hazard Perry, used it as their base. Perry and his ships arrived in August 1813. They trained here and watched the British forces nearby.

The war had been tough for the Americans. But on September 10, 1813, a lookout spotted the British ships. Perry's fleet hid behind the islands. They waited for the British to sail right into their path.

The battle started around 11:45 AM, about eight miles from Put-in-Bay. The British were surprised! By 3:00 PM, Perry and his fleet had won. They took control of Lake Erie and captured all six British ships. This victory was a huge turning point in the war.

Two famous American Navy sayings came from this battle: "Don't Give Up The Ship" and "We have met the enemy and they are ours."

Island Development

For a while, the island was part of Huron County, Ohio. Later, it joined Ottawa County, Ohio. The village of Put-in-Bay was officially started in 1877. Before that, not many people lived there. One of the first known white residents was Alexander Ewen in 1810. He had many hogs roaming the island!

Interestingly, John Jr., the son of the famous abolitionist John Brown, lived in Put-in-Bay. He grew grapes for sale from 1862 until he passed away in 1895. His brother Owen also lived there for some time.

Perry's Victory Memorial

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Put-in-Bay is home to the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. This huge monument honors Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's naval victory in the War of 1812. It also celebrates the lasting peace between the British and Americans.

Building the monument began in 1912. It opened to visitors on June 13, 1915. It stands 352 feet (107 meters) tall. It's made from 78 layers of pink granite. At the very top is a giant bronze urn weighing 11 tons (10 metric tons).

This monument has the highest open-air observation deck run by the U.S. National Park Service. Inside, under the floor, are the remains of six naval officers. Three were British, and three were American. It's a place of peace and remembrance.

Who Lives in Put-in-Bay?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	381	—
1890	282	−26.0%
1900	317	12.4%
1910	259	−18.3%
1920	216	−16.6%
1930	226	4.6%
1940	202	−10.6%
1950	191	−5.4%
1960	357	86.9%
1970	135	−62.2%
1980	146	8.1%
1990	141	−3.4%
2000	128	−9.2%
2010	138	7.8%
2020	154	11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 138 people living in Put-in-Bay. There were 70 households, and 43 of them were families. The village is mostly made up of white residents.

About 17% of households had children under 18. Many households (52.9%) were married couples. The average age of people in the village was 54.7 years. About 15% of residents were under 18, and 29% were 65 or older.

Learning and Schools

Put-in-Bay has its own school, Put-in-Bay High School. It teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. This school also serves students from other nearby Lake Erie islands. These include Middle Bass and North Bass islands.

Students from other islands travel to school by plane or boat. In winter, if the lake freezes, they might even use an ATV!

Getting Around Put-in-Bay

Roads and Routes

The main road on the island is Ohio State Route 357.

Airports

Put-in-Bay has an airport called Put-in-Bay Airport. It has one paved runway that is 2,870 feet (875 meters) long. There's also a helipad for helicopters.

Another airport, North Bass Island Airport, is on North Bass Island. It has a paved airstrip that is 1,804 feet (549.9 meters) long.

Fun Things to Do in Put-in-Bay

Toledo Mayor Samuel M. Jones on holiday in Put-In-Bay with his wife Helen, 1901

Tourism has always been the main industry here. The busy tourist season runs from April to October. Most visitors arrive by ferry, small plane, or their own private boats.

Historic Places to Visit

Stonehenge Estate: This estate has buildings from the 1800s. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Perry's Cave: Native Americans first found this cave. During the War of 1812, Perry sent his men here. They got clean drinking water from an underground lake. This helped them get healthy and win the battle!
Heineman's Winery and Crystal Cave: This is home to the world's largest geode. A geode is a rock with crystals inside!
Lake Erie Islands Historical Society: This museum is 6,000 square feet (560 square meters). It holds old items, memories, and family history from the Lake Erie Islands.

Island Life in Winter

Fewer than 150 people live on South Bass Island all year. Most stay through the winter. During these cold months, supplies, mail, and even bank employees are flown to the island. The island's only bank is open just one day a week in winter.

The island has one grocery store, one hardware store, and a post office. There's also one lending library branch inside the school. You'll find one gas station and two cemeteries. There's a seasonal Subway restaurant, but no movie theater.

If someone gets very sick, the island has an Emergency Medical Service. They can use a Life Flight helicopter to take patients to hospitals on the mainland.

Racing and Scouting

From 1952 to 1959, and again in 1963, the island hosted road races. Cars raced around a 3-mile (5 km) course. In 2011, the Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion returned. Now, real vintage sports car racing happens at the Put-in-Bay Airport.

The Boy Scouts of America also hold an annual campout here. It takes place at the base of Perry's Monument.