Bluffton, Ohio

Bluffton, Ohio
Village
Main Street in downtown
Motto: "150 Years Of Progress"
Location in the state of Ohio
Location of Bluffton in Allen County
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Counties	Allen, Hancock
Townships	Richland, Orange
Government
• Mayor	Judy Augsburger
Area
• Total	3.62 sq mi (9.38 km2)
• Land	3.55 sq mi (9.19 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation	833 ft (254 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	4,125
• Estimate (2012)	4,027
• Density	1,162.0/sq mi (448.7/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC−5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC−4)
ZIP code	45817
Area code	419, 567
FIPS code	39-07426
GNIS feature ID	1064461
Website	www.bluffton-ohio.com

Bluffton, originally known as Shannon, is a village in Allen and Hancock counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 4,125 at the 2010 census. Bluffton is home to Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Bluffton is served by the Bluffton general aviation airport. Bluffton participates in the Tree City USA program.

The Allen County portion of Bluffton is part of the Lima Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Hancock County portion is part of the Findlay Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Bluffton is located at (40.893881, -83.891605).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.62 square miles (9.38 km²), of which 3.55 square miles (9.19 km²) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) is water.

Riley Creek flows through Bluffton.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	489		—
1880	1,290		163.8%
1890	1,290		0.0%
1900	1,783		38.2%
1910	1,953		9.5%
1920	1,950		−0.2%
1930	2,035		4.4%
1940	2,077		2.1%
1950	2,423		16.7%
1960	2,591		6.9%
1970	2,935		13.3%
1980	3,310		12.8%
1990	3,367		1.7%
2000	3,896		15.7%
2010	4,125		5.9%
Est. 2014	4,202		1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,125 people, 1,428 households, and 913 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,162.0 inhabitants per square mile (448.7/km²). There were 1,522 housing units at an average density of 428.7 per square mile (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.3% White, 1.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 1,428 households of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the village was 34 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 21.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 20% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,896 people, 1,329 households, and 851 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,170.2 people per square mile (451.7/km²). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 428.6 per square mile (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.77% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 1,329 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the village the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 22.3% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 76.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $43,208, and the median income for a family was $54,948. Males had a median income of $40,208 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,711. About 4.9% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

The village was founded in 1831 by Swiss Mennonites, German Reformists and Irish Catholics. It was originally named 'Crogan's Corners' after the postmaster. When the citizens chose to incorporate as a village, the Irish suggested the name 'Shannon' because of the green fields around the area. As there was already a village named Shannon in the state, the Swiss Mennonites suggested 'Bluffton', after the similar community in Indiana.

Bank robber John Dillinger robbed the Bluffton Bank (now known as Citizens National Bank of Bluffton) of $6,000 on August 14, 1933.

In 2011, Bluffton celebrated its 150th birthday with a series of town-wide events.

Education

Elementary and secondary

Bluffton High School sports participate in the Northwest Conference, an athletic body sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) which includes the Ada Bulldogs, Allen East Mustangs, Bluffton Pirates, Columbus Grove Bulldogs, Convoy Crestview Knights, Delphos Jefferson Wildcats, Lincolnview Lancers, Paulding Panthers, and Spencerville Bearcats.

Higher education

Bluffton is home to Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA.

On March 2, 2007, five Bluffton University baseball players, as well as their bus driver and his wife, were killed in a chartered motorcoach crash on Interstate 75 near downtown Atlanta, Georgia while en route to a tournament in Sarasota, Florida. (See Bluffton University bus accident).

Economy

Located halfway between Lima and Findlay, two larger cities in northwest Ohio, Bluffton is a convenient location along Interstate 75 for businesses and travelers.

Bluffton is home to companies with regional, national, and international presences. One of the oldest is the Bluffton Slaw Cutter Company, which has been making a unique food grater/cutter designed in 1915. The company makes several variations of the product using equipment of the same vintage as the design.

Modern manufacturing in Bluffton includes the international firm DTR, a cooperative venture between Duramax and Tokai Rubber of Japan, that makes rubber components for the auto industry.[1] GROB Systems, a division of the German company GROB Group, produces machining and automation systems at its plant in Bluffton. Diamond Manufacturing of Bluffton produces metalwork and leases warehousing space.

With a 2-minute drive to Main Street, visitors find a variety of businesses, many of which are family-owned. The downtown area is anchored by the fully renovated 19th century town hall. Bluffton’s small town charm includes a lively local farmers market on Saturday mornings from May through October. With an average of 20 vendors, shoppers can choose from local foods and produce, as well as potted herbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

Local restaurants include Bluffton Dari Freeze, China Wok, Jeanne's Kitchen, Luke's Bar and Grill, LuLu’s Diner and Mustard Seed Cafe. For carryout pizza, there is Padrone's Pizza and East of Chicago. Common Grounds coffee shop not only features house-roasted coffee, you can watch the world go by from its Main Street window and sidewalk seating. There are several fast food chains at exit 142, including Arby's, Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy's.

Shopping opportunities in Bluffton are diverse. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade retailer that was born in Bluffton. Like its counterparts in larger cities, the shop sells products made by artisans in developing countries. Two shops help fund the world-wide relief work of the Mennonite Central Committee: the Et Cetera Shop thrift store and Book ReViews Et Cetera. The Black Lab Trading Co.—which says it sells "a little bit of everything”—is located in a former opera house building. For grocery shopping, the village has a Community Markets store, The Dough Hook bakery and meat market, and The Food Store, a health and natural foods store.

The Shannon Theatre draws visitors to Bluffton because it shows today's films at yesterday's prices: $4 for 2D, $6 for 3D. Right next door is the original Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn, a franchise born in Bluffton after folks came to the theater just to buy popcorn. Other leisure opportunities are the Bluffton University nature preserve, an extensive bike and pedestrian pathway, and Southgate Lanes.

A Collage of Bluffton, Ohio

Notable people

• Tommy Boutwell, American football player
• John Travis: Doctor and pioneer in the Wellness movement was born in Bluffton.
• Science fiction writer Tobias Buckell lives in Bluffton.
• Veteran broadcaster Hugh Downs was a student at Bluffton University and later began his broadcasting career at WLOK, the predecessor of the present-day WIMA (AM) in nearby Lima.
• Actress Phyllis Diller lived in Bluffton while attending Bluffton College.

Annual activities

• Blaze of Lights Festival - Saturday after Thanksgiving
• Freedom Fest - sponsored by the Bluffton/Pandora Rotary Club, Saturday prior to July 4
• Festival of Wheels Car Show
• Special Places, Outdoor Spaces Spring Festival & Craft Show - Third Saturday in May
• Trout Derby - sponsored by the Bluffton Community Sportsmen's Club, first Sunday in May

External links

• Bluffton Icon
• The Bluffton News