Editing Norwalk, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Norwalk, Ohio
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = The Maple City<ref>[http://www.norwalkoh.com/ City of Norwalk]</ref>
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Norwalk total eclipse.jpg
| image_caption      = Downtown Norwalk during the [[Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024|2024 Total Eclipse]]
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_flag         = Flag of Norwalk, Ohio.svg
| image_seal         = 
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Norwalk, Ohio.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo

<!-- Maps -->| image_map          = Map of Huron County Ohio Highlighting Norwalk City.png
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Norwalk in Huron County
| pushpin_map        = Ohio#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = Norwalk

<!-- Location -->| 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  = [[Huron County, Ohio|Huron]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = David W. Light<ref name='Norwalk-Ohio'>{{cite web |url=https://www.norwalkoh.com/mayors-office |title=Mayor David W. Light |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=City of Norwalk (Ohio) |access-date=3 November 2020 }}</ref>
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1817

<!-- 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_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 23.69
| area_land_km2      = 22.96
| area_water_km2     = 0.73
| area_total_sq_mi   = 9.15
| area_land_sq_mi    = 8.87
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.28

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 17068
| population_density_km2 = 743.36
| population_density_sq_mi = 1925.32

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 715
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|14|40|N|82|36|32|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 44857
| area_code          = [[Area code 419|419]], [[Area code 567|567]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 39-57302<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1086352<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1086352}}</ref>
| website            = http://www.norwalkoh.com/
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Norwalk''' is a city in [[Huron County, Ohio]], United States, and its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 17,068 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The city is the center of the [[Norwalk, OH μSA|Norwalk micropolitan area]] and part of the [[Greater Cleveland|Cleveland–Akron–Canton combined statistical area]]. Norwalk is located approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of [[Lake Erie]], {{convert|51|mi|km}} west/southwest of [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]], {{convert|59|mi|km}} southeast of [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]], and {{convert|58|mi|km}} west/northwest of [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]].

==History==
[[File:Ohio - Huron Cnty Courthouse.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Huron County Courthouse and Jail]] in downtown Norwalk]]
On July 11, 1779, [[Norwalk, Connecticut]], was burned by [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|British Loyalists]] under Lieutenant-general [[William Tryon]]. In 1800, the U.S. federal government gave an area in the [[Connecticut Western Reserve]] as compensation; and in 1806, 13 men arrived to make the first survey of what would be called the [[Firelands]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.firelandsmuseum.org/history |title=Firelands History – Firelands Museum.org |access-date=2014-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009044617/http://www.firelandsmuseum.org/History/ |archive-date=2016-10-09 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Between 1806 and 1810, many families made the trip to look over land they had purchased in the Firelands. During the [[War of 1812]], because of the fear of British and Indian raids, settlement of the Huron County area came almost to a standstill. However, in 1815, Platt Benedict of [[Danbury, Connecticut]], visited and examined the present site of Norwalk. He returned to Danbury and purchased {{convert|1300|acre|km2}} of land with an eye toward establishing a town.

In July 1817, Benedict returned to Norwalk with his family and immediately built a house. This was the first permanent residence established within the limits of Norwalk.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} In May 1818, the county seat was successfully removed from [[Avery, Ohio]], to Norwalk.

Benedict was the first white permanent settler in Norwalk,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Platt_Benedict|title = Platt Benedict - Ohio History Central}}</ref> when he came with his wife, Sarah DeForest, and their children. His descendants remained prominent in the area. On January 19, 1936, the [[Sandusky Register|Sandusky Daily Register]] published the obituary of [[John L. Severance]], the multi-millionaire businessman and [[Standard Oil]] founding member.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/severance-louis-henry|title=Severance, Louis Henry|date=31 May 2019}}</ref> In the obituary, he is listed as "a great grandson of Platt Benedict, one of the founders of [Norwalk, Ohio]".

Among the earliest settlers of Norwalk were other men of wealth and education. They brought with them not only the customs, but also the architecture of [[New England]]. Many of their homes are still standing today. In 1881, Norwalk's population reached the required minimum to incorporate as a [[city]], and the City of Norwalk dates from April 12, 1881.<ref>[http://www.norwalkoh.com/products.htm History of Norwalk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502022228/http://www.norwalkoh.com/products.htm |date=2009-05-02 }}</ref>

The [[gastroenteritis]]-causing virus [[norovirus]] is named after the city. It was initially named the "Norwalk Agent". The virus was discovered via electron microscopy of a stool sample from the town in 1972.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dance|first=Amber|date=2017-11-09|title=Norovirus: The Perfect Pathogen|url=https://www.knowablemagazine.org/article/health-disease/2017/norovirus-perfect-pathogen|journal=Knowable Magazine|doi=10.1146/knowable-111017-093400|issn=2575-4459|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Geography==
Norwalk is located at the center of the [[Firelands]], a subregion of the [[Connecticut Western Reserve]]. The subregion's name recalls the founding of the area as one for settlers from cities in [[Connecticut]] that were largely destroyed by fire during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. Several locations in the Firelands were named in honor of those cities, including [[Danbury Township, Ottawa County, Ohio|Danbury]], [[Greenwich, Ohio|Greenwich]], [[Groton Township, Erie County, Ohio|Groton]], [[New Haven, Huron County, Ohio|New Haven]], [[New London, Ohio|New London]], Norwalk, [[Norwich Township, Huron County, Ohio|Norwich]], and [[Ridgefield Township, Huron County, Ohio|Ridgefield]].  Other locations were named for the settlers, including [[Clarksfield Township, Huron County, Ohio|Clarksfield]], [[Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio|Perkins]], and [[Sherman Township, Huron County, Ohio|Sherman]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.firelandsmuseum.org/History/ |title=Firelands Historical Society |access-date=2010-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219084227/http://www.firelandsmuseum.org/History/ |archive-date=2010-02-19 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.15|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|8.87|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.28|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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]]|access-date=2013-01-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref> The city of Norwalk is bound by Norwalk Township in each direction and a small portion of the west side is bound by Ridgefield Township. The city is located approximately {{convert|12|mi|km}} south of Lake Erie.

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Norwalk, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894&ndash;present

|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 75
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 73

|Jan avg record high F = 58.4
|Feb avg record high F = 60.0
|Mar avg record high F = 69.6
|Apr avg record high F = 80.7
|May avg record high F = 86.7
|Jun avg record high F = 92.9
|Jul avg record high F = 93.2
|Aug avg record high F = 91.7
|Sep avg record high F = 89.6
|Oct avg record high F = 81.9
|Nov avg record high F = 69.5
|Dec avg record high F = 60.1
|year avg record high F = 94.6

<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =33.4
| Feb high F  =36.2
| Mar high F  =45.5
| Apr high F  =58.7
| May high F  =70.2
| Jun high F  =79.3
| Jul high F  =83.0
| Aug high F  =81.3
| Sep high F  =75.5
| Oct high F  =63.3
| Nov high F  =49.7
| Dec high F  =38.5
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =26.2
| Feb mean F  =28.3
| Mar mean F  =36.7
| Apr mean F  =48.4
| May mean F  =60.1
| Jun mean F  =69.5
| Jul mean F  =73.3
| Aug mean F  =71.4
| Sep mean F  =65.0
| Oct mean F  =53.3
| Nov mean F  =41.7
| Dec mean F  =31.8
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =19.0
| Feb low F  =20.4
| Mar low F  =27.9
| Apr low F  =38.1
| May low F  =49.9
| Jun low F  =59.8
| Jul low F  =63.6
| Aug low F  =61.6
| Sep low F  =54.5
| Oct low F  =43.3
| Nov low F  =33.7
| Dec low F  =25.1

|Jan avg record low F = -1.2
|Feb avg record low F = 3.2
|Mar avg record low F = 11.2
|Apr avg record low F = 24.9
|May avg record low F = 35.4
|Jun avg record low F = 45.1
|Jul avg record low F = 52.4
|Aug avg record low F = 50.5
|Sep avg record low F = 41.2
|Oct avg record low F = 30.2
|Nov avg record low F = 19.7
|Dec avg record low F = 7.7
|year avg record low F = -4.0

|Jan record low F = -23
|Feb record low F = -25
|Mar record low F = -15
|Apr record low F = 7
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 29
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 35
|Sep record low F = 23
|Oct record low F = 12
|Nov record low F = -2
|Dec record low F = -17

<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =2.68
| Feb precipitation inch  =2.31
| Mar precipitation inch  =2.90
| Apr precipitation inch  =3.95
| May precipitation inch  =3.91
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.31
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.19
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.54
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.55
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.34
| Nov precipitation inch  =2.83
| Dec precipitation inch  =2.57

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 13.7
|Feb precipitation days = 11.6
|Mar precipitation days = 11.9
|Apr precipitation days = 13.2
|May precipitation days = 13.0
|Jun precipitation days = 11.5
|Jul precipitation days = 10.2
|Aug precipitation days = 9.9
|Sep precipitation days = 9.4
|Oct precipitation days = 10.8
|Nov precipitation days = 10.4
|Dec precipitation days = 11.9

<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =9.7
| Feb snow inch  =8.2
| Mar snow inch  =5.1
| Apr snow inch  =1.6
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =1.5
| Dec snow inch  =6.6

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 7.8
|Feb snow days = 6.6
|Mar snow days = 3.6
|Apr snow days = 0.9
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 1.3
|Dec snow days = 4.9

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00336118&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Norwalk WWTP, OH
|access-date = March 5, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=cle
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Cleveland
|access-date = March 5, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 179
|1830= 310
|1840= 1113
|1850= 1437
|1860= 2839
|1870= 4498
|1880= 5704
|1890= 7195
|1900= 7074
|1910= 7858
|1920= 7379
|1930= 7776
|1940= 8211
|1950= 9775
|1960= 12900
|1970= 13386
|1980= 14348
|1990= 14731
|2000= 16238
|2010= 17012
|2020= 17068
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</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]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 17,012 people, 6,764 households, and 4,385 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1917.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 7,446 housing units at an average density of {{convert|839.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.2% of the population.

There were 6,764 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 37 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

===2000 census===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,950.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of {{convert|803.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.53% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.95% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.32% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.86% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.13% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.82% of the population.

There were 6,377 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.5% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.

Age distribution was 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The [[median household income]] was $37,778, and the median family income was $45,789. Males had a median income of $36,582 versus $22,165 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,519. About 6.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:NorwalkLibr.JPG|thumb|Norwalk Public Library]]
Due to city annexations and previously determined school district boundaries, Norwalk is served by four public school districts. The majority of the city is served by the [[Norwalk City School District]]. Outlying portions of the city are also served by the [[Edison Local School District (Erie County)|Edison Local]], [[Monroeville Local School District, Huron County, Ohio|Monroeville Local]] and [[Western Reserve Local School District, Huron County, Ohio|Western Reserve Local]] School Districts.

Norwalk is also home to multiple religious schools, including [[Norwalk Catholic Schools, Huron County, Ohio|Norwalk Catholic Schools]] / [[St. Paul High School (Ohio)|Saint Paul High School]] (Roman Catholic), and [[Trinity Christian Academy (Ohio)|Trinity Christian Academy]].

==Transportation==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2013}}
Interstates [[Interstate 80|80]] and [[Interstate 90|90]], also known as the [[Ohio Turnpike]], are approximately {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} north of Norwalk's city limits with an interchange at [[U.S. Route 250]]. The U.S. highways that run through Norwalk include [[U.S. Route 20]] and [[U.S. Route 250]]. State highways that run through Norwalk include [[Ohio State Route 13]], [[Ohio State Route 18|State Route 18]], and [[Ohio State Route 61|State Route 61]]. Furthermore, [[Ohio State Route 601|State Route 601]] is an alternate two-lane highway that acts as a de facto eastern bypass of Norwalk and US 250, running from [[Ohio State Route 113|State Route 113]] at [[Milan, Ohio|Milan]] to State Route 18 southeast of Norwalk.

Norwalk's general aviation needs are met by Huron County Airport.

One active freight railroad line runs through Norwalk, the [[Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (1990)|Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad]].

==Notable people==
* [[Fred Baker (physician)|Fred Baker]] — founder of [[Scripps Institution of Oceanography]]
* [[Alice Rufie Jordan Blake]] — first female law graduate at Yale
* [[Paul Brown]] — Hall of Fame [[American football]] coach
* [[Ray Gandolf]] — sportscaster 
* [[Lefty Grove]] — Hall of Fame baseball pitcher
* [[Ron Hackenberger]] — car collector, with 700 vehicles in Norwalk
* [[Frank Avery Hutchins]] — librarian
* [[Ban Johnson]] — first president of baseball's [[American League]]
* [[George Kennan (explorer)|George Kennan]] — journalist and critic of the Russian exile system
* [[Vahdah Olcott-Bickford]] — classical guitarist
* [[Dennis A. Reed]] — member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]
* [[Stephen M. Young]] — Ohio [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] and [[United States House of Representatives|House member]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{NIE Poster|year=1905|Norwalk (Ohio)|Norwalk, Ohio}}
* [http://www.norwalkoh.com/ City website]
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Norwalk (Ohio)|Norwalk}}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Norwalk (Ohio)|display=Norwalk, a town and county-seat of Huron co., O.}}
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Norwalk (Ohio)|display=Norwalk, a town and the capital of Huron co., Ohio}}

{{Huron County, Ohio}}
{{Ohio county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Norwalk, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Huron County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1817]]
[[Category:County seats in Ohio]]