Rio Grande, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rio Grande, Ohio
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Village
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Bob Evans Farm Hall on the university campus
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Location of Rio Grande, Ohio
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Location of Rio Grande in Gallia County
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Ohio | |
| County | Gallia | |
| Township | Raccoon | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.39 sq mi (3.59 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.38 sq mi (3.56 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) | |
| Elevation | 650 ft (200 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 724 | |
| • Density | 526.55/sq mi (203.31/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
45674
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| Area code(s) | 740 | |
| FIPS code | 39-67258 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399078 | |
Rio Grande is a small village in Gallia County, Ohio, United States. In 2020, about 724 people lived there. Even though it shares a name with the famous river in the southern U.S., its name is said differently: "Rye-O Grand."
Rio Grande is special because it's home to the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. It's also where the popular Bob Evans Restaurants chain first started. The very first Bob Evans restaurant was a small diner for truck drivers in Rio Grande.
Contents
History of Rio Grande
Rio Grande was officially started on July 6, 1874. Its name was chosen to remember the Mexican–American War.
Even though Gallia County was named after its first French settlers, many people from Wales started moving to the area in 1818. Between the 1830s and 1840s, over 3,000 more Welsh people arrived. They came from places like Pennant, Tregaron, and Llangeitho in Ceredigion (which was called Cardiganshire back then). The first Welsh settlers, known as the "1818 Welsh," wrote letters home. These letters convinced many others to come to Gallia and Jackson counties. Rio Grande's Welsh background is even shown on its village flag. The flag looks just like the Flag of Wales, but with the village's name and founding year added.
Geography and Location
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village covers about 1.37 square miles (3.55 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Rio Grande is located very close to Raccoon Creek. This creek flows into the Ohio River.
People of Rio Grande
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 204 | — | |
| 1950 | 388 | 90.2% | |
| 1960 | 333 | −14.2% | |
| 1970 | 814 | 144.4% | |
| 1980 | 864 | 6.1% | |
| 1990 | 995 | 15.2% | |
| 2000 | 915 | −8.0% | |
| 2010 | 830 | −9.3% | |
| 2020 | 724 | −12.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 830 people living in Rio Grande. There were 223 households, and 142 of them were families. The village had about 610 people per square mile (235 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people living in the village were White (87.2%). Other groups included African American (8.8%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (0.6%). About 1.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in the village was 21.9 years old. Many young people live here because of the university. About 16% of residents were under 18, and 47% were between 18 and 24 years old.
Economy and Local Businesses
The very first Bob Evans restaurant was opened in Rio Grande. The famous Bob Evans Farm is also located here. The original restaurant building was replaced with a new one in the early 2000s.
The Bob Evans Farm has become a fun place for visitors. It has a pretty windmill in a large field and offers tours. Every October, the farm hosts the annual Bob Evans Farm Festival. This event brings thousands of visitors to the village.
Education in Rio Grande
Public schools in Rio Grande are part of the Gallipolis City School District. Students attend Rio Grande Elementary School, Gallia Academy Middle School, and Gallia Academy High School.
The University of Rio Grande is a private university in the village. It offers higher education programs to students.
See also
In Spanish: Río Grande (Ohio) para niños
