Editing Gilboa, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Gilboa, Ohio
| settlement_type    = [[Village (United States)|Village]]

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      =
| imagesize          = 225px
| image_caption      = The welcome sign, with the town's bull statue in the background
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| nickname           = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = OHMap-doton-Gilboa.png
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Gilboa, Ohio
| image_map1         = Map of Putnam County Ohio Highlighting Gilboa Village.png
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = Location of Gilboa in Putnam County

<!-- Location -->| coordinates        = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ohio]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Putnam County, Ohio|Putnam]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 1848
| government_type    = Village Council

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 0.34
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.13
| area_land_km2      = 0.34
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.13
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 745

<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 168
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 166
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="2023 est">{{cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-POP-39.xlsx |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=28 June 2024}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 494.36
| population_density_sq_mi = 1282.44

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4

<!-- Area/postal codes & others -->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 45875
| area_code          = [[Area code 419|419]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 39-30114<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2398962<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2398962}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Gilboa''' is a [[village (United States)#Ohio|village]] in [[Blanchard Township, Putnam County, Ohio|Blanchard Township]], [[Putnam County, Ohio|Putnam County]], [[Ohio]], United States. The village is named after [[Mount Gilboa]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n136 137]}}</ref> The population was 168 at the [[United States Census 2020|2020 census]].  The town's most popular landmark is a 16-foot-tall fiberglass statue of a [[bull]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=KILLEA |first1=FRANCES |title=The Gilboa Bull |url=https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/giant-bull |access-date=16 May 2024 |work=Ohio Magazine |publisher=Great Lakes Publishing |date=August 2015}}</ref>

==History==
Gilboa was laid out in 1837.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofputnamc01kind#page/207/mode/2up | title=History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions | publisher=B.F. Bowen | author=Kinder, George D. | year=1915 | pages=117}}</ref> The village was incorporated in 1848.<ref>{{cite book|title=Acts of the State of Ohio|url=https://archive.org/details/actsstateohio69statgoog|year=1848|publisher=N. Willis, printer to the state|page=[https://archive.org/details/actsstateohio69statgoog/page/n322 167]}}</ref> A post office was established at Gilboa in 1843, and remained in operation until 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=OH&county=Putnam |title=Putnam County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |accessdate=December 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104922/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=OH&county=Putnam |archivedate=December 22, 2015 }}</ref>

On August 6, 1852, a [[cholera]] [[epidemic]] struck Gilboa. The start of the epidemic was traced to a large damp cellar that had been used to store trash and decomposing waste.<ref name="Cholera">{{cite book|title=Transactions of the American Medical Association Volume 7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qPBXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA349|year=1854|publisher=Association|page=349}}</ref> The epidemic lasted until August 21 and killed 13 Gilboa residents<ref name="Cholera"/> including one of the two doctors that had not fled. Out of the estimated 600 population, all but 40 fled including four of Gilboa's six doctors.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

Artist and muralist [[Oscar Velasquez]] (1944-2021) was a long time Gilboa resident.<ref>{{cite news |title=Artist working on new mural in Pandora |url=https://www.hometownstations.com/news/artist-working-on-new-mural-in-pandora/article_b6df5431-df25-5dda-8e94-c146031d28fa.html |access-date=23 December 2024 |publisher=WLIO |date=24 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Oscar Velasquez |url=https://thecourier.com/news/343844/oscar-velasquez/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=The Courier |publisher=The Courier |date=20 September 2021}}</ref> He painted more than 50 murals nationally and internationally.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Erica |title=Historic mural is first step toward revitalizing downtown Independence |url=https://www.scriptype.com/2019/06/19/historic-mural-is-first-step-toward-revitalizing-downtown-independence/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Indepepdence Today |publisher=ScripType Publishing Inc. |date=19 June 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
Gilboa is located at {{coord|41|1|2|N|83|55|16|W|type:city}} (41.017329, -83.921143).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|0.15|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left|1850= 378
|1860= 315
|1870= 315
|1880= 287
|1890= 264
|1900= 346
|1910= 345
|1920= 235
|1930= 201
|1940= 209
|1950= 181
|1960= 207
|1970= 212
|1980= 212
|1990= 208
|2000= 170
|2010= 184
|2020= 168
|estyear=2023
|estimate=166
|estref=<ref name="2023 est"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 6, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 184 people, 71 households, and 50 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1|abbr=}}. There were 76 housing units at an average density of {{convert|506.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 94.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.2% of the population.

There were 71 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.18.

The median age in the village was 34 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 170 people, 72 households, and 43 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|1,139.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 78 housing units at an average density of {{convert|522.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 98.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.59% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.18% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 72 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $29,844, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $22,045 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $15,535. None of the families and 5.2% of the population were living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and 11.5% of those over 64.

==Government==
===Mayors===
*1909 - D. R. Oren<ref name="Officers">[https://books.google.com/books?id=4VcLAQAAIAAJ&dq=gilboa+ohio&pg=RA1-PA62 Ohio Township & Municipal Officers 1909], pg. 410, retrieved September 14, 2011.</ref> (term expired 1910)
*2019 - Michelle Clymer - first female mayor of Gilboa<ref>{{cite news |title=Putnam mayors share plans |url=https://www.limaohio.com/top-stories/2019/12/14/putnam-mayors-share-plans/ |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=The Lima News |date=December 14, 2019}}</ref>
*2023 - Peter Diller<ref>{{cite news |title=Putnam County election results for November 2023 |url=https://www.limaohio.com/top-stories/2023/11/07/putnam-county-election-results-for-november-2023/ |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=The Lima News |date=November 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Culture==
===The Gilboa Bull===
[[File:Fiberglass bull landmark at Gilboa, Ohio.jpg|thumb|A side view of the bull, visible from [[U.S. Route 224|State Route 224]] looking east]]
Also referred to as "Big beef cow" in popular culture, the 16-foot fiberglass bull statue was placed at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 224|State Route 224]] and Pearl Street by Gilboa resident Peter Diller in the 1970s.<ref name=":0" />

At the time the bull was installed, Gilboa was looking for a revival of the town by welcoming visitors into its shops and restaurants. When Diller's father was driving in [[Toledo, Ohio]] one day, he spotted the bull outside of a bar. He stopped at the bar, and asked if they could sell the bull to him, to which the bar complied. According to Diller, the bull was difficult to transport back to Gilboa, due to its large size. “Its head was so high that we had to jockey around every stoplight,” recalled Diller. “The first stoplight … we hit it right on its forehead.” The bull was put into place and has since been regarded as a symbol of Gilboa's resilience as a town. “We wanted something that represented the strength of the community,” said Diller, “and what does that more than a big, strong bull?”<ref name=":0" />

The statue has since been a landmark for people passing by Gilboa on State Route 224.

=== The Gilboa Quarry ===

The Gilboa Quarry was originally a [[limestone]] [[quarry]] that opened in the 1890s.  It operated as the Ottawa Stone Company until it closed in the early 1980s.  In 1990 it was flooded and reopened as a destination for [[SCUBA diver]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Gilboa quarry & Adventure Center |url=https://gilboaquarry.com/about/ |website=gilboaquarry.com |publisher=Full Tank LLC |access-date=30 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gilboa Quarry |url=https://www.padi.com/dive-site/united-states-of-america-usa/gilboa-quarry/#overview |website=padi.com |publisher=PADI |access-date=30 December 2024}}</ref>  The water depth varies from 15 to 130&nbsp;ft, providing ideal conditions for a wide range of divers.

==Education==
[[Pandora-Gilboa]] is the school district many students from Gilboa attend, although some attend [[Ottawa-Glandorf]].

==Notable people==
*[[Edward S. Matthias]], longest serving [[Ohio Supreme Court]] justice
*[[Baldemar Velasquez]], labor union activist
*[[Oscar Velasquez]], artist and muralist

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Putnam County, Ohio}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Putnam County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Villages in Ohio]]