Fort Loramie, Ohio

Fort Loramie, Ohio
Village
St. Michael's Catholic Church, a community landmark St. Michael's Catholic Church, a community landmark
Location of Fort Loramie, Ohio Location of Fort Loramie, Ohio
Location of Fort Loramie in Shelby County Location of Fort Loramie in Shelby County
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Shelby
Founded	1837
Government
• Mayor	Phil Eilerman
Area
• Total	0.96 sq mi (2.49 km2)
• Land	0.96 sq mi (2.49 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	953 ft (289 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,478
• Estimate (2012)	1,492
• Density	1,539.6/sq mi (594.4/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	45845
Area code(s)	937
FIPS code	39-27832
GNIS feature ID	1064665
Website	http://www.fortloramie.com/

Fort Loramie is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States, along Loramie Creek. The population was 1,478 at the 2010 census. The village was founded in 1837.

History

In 1769 Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian fur trader built a trading post just north of the present-day village of Fort Loramie. Loramie traded in furs with the Wyandotte and Shawnee Indian tribes. During the 1782 campaign of General George Rogers Clark, Col. Benjamin Logan led an attack on the trading post, and it was burned to the ground.

In 1794, Anthony Wayne ordered the construction of Fort Loramie. It was located at the portage between St. Mary's River and modern-day Loramie's Creek. Wayne initially intended Fort Loramie to be an actual stockade, but after defeating the natives at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August 1794, he determined a blockhouse and several storage buildings were more important. He now intended Fort Loramie to be a supply depot for American fortifications, including Fort Wayne, Fort Adams, and Fort Defiance, in modern-day northern Ohio. In December 1795, the American military finally completed construction of the buildings. During the War of 1812, Fort Loramie served as a supply depot for forts in northern Ohio as well as for military forces sent against the British in Michigan and Canada. In 1815, the United States sold Fort Loramie to James Furrow, who created a tavern and post office out of the buildings. In 1820, Furrow gave up the business. Despite this, a village had begun to form. Many people had moved from eastern Ohio, seeking better land and increased opportunity. Most of the early migrants were of German descent.

After the War of 1812, settlement began in the Fort Loramie area, and a town was laid out and surveyed by Jonathan Counts. Lots were sold at auction, and the name Berlin was given to the town. When work started on the Miami-Erie Canal in 1836, German immigration began in earnest. The immigrants came mainly as laborers on the canal and soon purchased land and became permanent settlers. The canal was opened in 1841, bringing finished goods, groceries, clothing and machinery to the area, and taking wood products, grain, pork and other farm items back to the cities.

The first flour mill was built in 1858, and the first general store, Willman's, was established the same year. Other early establishments included Quinlin's pharmacy and two taverns, Bruckens and Vogelsang's Café, both of which are still in operation. The first church, St. Michael's Catholic Church, was completed in 1851. The one-room school house for the grade school (grades 1-8) was built in 1874 just east of St. Michael's Church. In 1883 the Fort Loramie Community Fire Co. was established.

By 1909, the canal was almost a thing of the past as a result of the network of railroads that were expanding in all directions. The canal area, which ran through the center of town, fell into disrepair, but was cleaned up, landscaped, and turned into a community park. The canal area north of town is part of a 40-mile (64 km) Miami and Erie Canal Towpath Hiking Trail. The most important feature remaining from the early canal days is Lake Loramie, the reservoir that kept the canal filled with water. It is now a state park and a haven for fishermen, boaters, campers, and vacationers.

Geography

Fort Loramie is located at (40.348043, -84.370600).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.49 km²), all land. The village is at an elevation of 953 feet (290 m) above sea level.

Government

• Phil Eilerman - Mayor
• Tony Schmitmeyer
• Village Council
  • Don Gusching
  • Steve Barhorst
  • Rick Meyer
  • Matt Hoying
  • Adam Schmeising
  • Tim Boerger
• Dan Holland - Superintendent of Schools

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	457		—
1900	444		−2.8%
1910	489		10.1%
1920	472		−3.5%
1930	427		−9.5%
1940	507		18.7%
1950	508		0.2%
1960	687		35.2%
1970	744		8.3%
1980	977		31.3%
1990	1,042		6.7%
2000	1,344		29.0%
2010	1,478		10.0%
Est. 2014	1,490		0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,344 people, 480 households, and 358 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,848.7 people per square mile (710.9/km²). There were 494 housing units at an average density of 679.5 per square mile (261.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.70% White, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 480 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $54,750, and the median income for a family was $65,089. Males had a median income of $39,934 versus $27,039 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,602. About 0.9% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,478 people, 530 households, and 396 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,539.6 inhabitants per square mile (594.4/km²). There were 564 housing units at an average density of 587.5 per square mile (226.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.7% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Asian, and 0.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 530 households of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.32.

The median age in the village was 35 years. 31.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

Major events

Fort Loramie is known for its annual three-day-long festival in the summer, the Country Concert, which attracts thousands of people from around the United States and Canada. Its singers include such popular country stars as Luke Bryan and Lady Antebellum. The yearly concert fest is located at Hickory Hill Lake located south of the village near the neighboring rural community of Newport.

The town is also home to well known cover band, Kevin and The Others.

Education

Fort Loramie has one public high school, Fort Loramie High School, and one public grade school, Fort Loramie Elementary.

The school is also allows students to enroll into Upper Valley Career Center, a trade school in Piqua, Ohio.

Media

Fort Loramie is served by local daily newspaper, the Sidney Daily News, along with a few weekly newspapers.

External links

• FortLoramieChamber.com
• Fort Loramie Local School District
• Wilderness Trail Museum
• FortLoramie.com