Editing Van Wert, Ohio

{{needs more sources|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Van Wert, Ohio
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Main Street, Van Wert - panoramio.jpg
|image_caption            = Downtown Van Wert
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 

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

<!-- 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        = [[Van Wert County, Ohio|Van Wert]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Ohio|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Pleasant]], [[Ridge Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Ridge]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Ken Markward <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanwert.org/mayor.html|title=Mayor|website=Van Wert, Ohio|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title1       = Incorporated (town)
|established_date1        = 1848
|established_title2       = Incorporated (city)
|established_date2        = 1903<ref name="EB1911"/>

<!-- 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           = 20.23
|area_land_km2            = 19.50
|area_water_km2           = 0.73
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.81
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.53
|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         = 11092
|population_density_km2   = 568.74
|population_density_sq_mi = 1473.04

<!-- 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             = 778
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|52|04|N|84|35|50|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 45891
|area_code                = [[Area code 419|419]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 39-79562<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              = 2397117<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397117}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.vanwert.org/ www.vanwert.org]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Van Wert''' is a city in [[Van Wert 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> It is located in northwestern Ohio approximately {{convert|77|mi}} southwest of [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] and {{convert|34|mi}} southeast of [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]. The population was 11,092 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. It is the principal city of the [[Micropolitan statistical area|Van Wert micropolitan area]], which is included in the [[Lima-Van Wert-Wapakoneta, OH Combined Statistical Area|Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta combined statistical area]].

Van Wert is [[List of Ohio county name etymologies|named]] for [[Isaac Van Wart]], one of the captors of Major [[John André]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mangus|first1=Michael|last2=Herman|first2=Jennifer L.|title=Ohio Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bndxn4Qlt4EC&pg=PA562|year=2008|publisher=North American Book Dist LLC|isbn=978-1-878592-68-2|page=562}}</ref> A center of [[peony]] cultivation, Van Wert has hosted the annual Van Wert Peony Festival on and off since 1902. Van Wert is home to the first county library in the United States, the [[Brumback Library]].

==History==
[[Image:Van-wert-ohio-courthouse2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Van Wert County Courthouse]] (built 1874–1876) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.]]
Van Wert was surveyed in 1824 by Captain [[James Riley (captain)|James Riley]], who was contracted by the government to survey lands purchased from Native Americans under a treaty in 1818.<ref>Newspaper article, "Van Wert Centennial", Ohio.</ref> It was incorporated as a town in 1848 and was chartered as a city in 1903.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Van Wert|volume=27|page=897}}</ref>

The town is located in an area originally known as the [[Great Black Swamp|Black Swamp]]. Early pioneers had to deal with swampy ground, mud, and [[malaria]].  They persevered, draining the swamp for agriculture and eventually reclaiming enough dry land to establish the town. Van Wert was the birthplace of aviation pioneer [[Walter Hinton]] and the famous [[baritone]] [[Charles W. Clark]].

At one point, Van Wert was the only place in the world producing [[Liederkranz cheese]]. Beginning in 1926, this pungent dairy product was manufactured at the now-closed [[Borden (company)|Borden]] plant. At the time of the closure, Liederkranz cheese was selling for $8 per pound.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The nation&#039;s only Liederkranz cheese plant, shut down by... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/02/17/The-nations-only-Liederkranz-cheese-plant-shut-down-by/9277382770000/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Liederkranz Cheese |url=https://www.cooksinfo.com/liederkranz-cheese |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=CooksInfo |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Liederkranz Cheese |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/liederkranz-cheese |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/3000 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.ohiomemory.org}}</ref> The people of Van Wert (400 of which called themselves "Cheesemakers") contributed to the town of [[Vimoutiers]], [[Orne]], [[Lower Normandy]], France with help in the costs of reconstruction and reparation of the town after it was mistakenly bombed by the [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] during [[World War II]]. They volunteered to pay for the replacement of [[Marie Harel]]'s statue in 1953. This is recorded by a plaque in the market square of Vimoutiers.<ref>{{Citation |last= |title=English:  Marie Harel (born Marie Catherine Fontaine; April 28, 1761 – November 9, 1844) was a French cheesemaker, who, according to local legend, invented Camembert cheese |date=2006-09-12 |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vimoutiers_-_Marie_Harel_Bought_Back_To_Life_In_1953_By_a_Group_Of_American_Farmers.jpg |access-date=2024-11-06}}</ref> Vimoutiers is a centre for local making of [[Camembert]], [[Livarot]] and [[Pont-l'Évêque cheese]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Knirim, Marie Harel and camembert cheese, the genuine one |url=http://vimoutiers.net/vimus/1926_joseph_knirimeng.htm |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=vimoutiers.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Visit the museum |url=https://www.maisonducamembert.com/en/visit-the-museum/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Maison du Camembert |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Camembert |url=https://www.isigny-ste-mere.com/en/products/our-cheeses/camembert/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Isigny Sainte-Mère |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/a-weekend-on-the-normandy-cheese-route/</ref>

On November 10, 2002, [[2002 Van Wert–Roselms tornado|an F4 tornado]] struck the town, killing two people.<ref>[http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/events/2002/11_10_02_tornadoes/timeline.php Timeline of the events of November 10, 2002.] [[National Weather Service]]. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.</ref> This was one of many tornado touchdowns during the [[2002 Veterans Day Weekend tornado outbreak]]. Van Wert's emergency warning system is credited with saving many lives after several cars were thrown into a movie theatre that had been packed with people just minutes earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION: THE SURVIVORS; Alert Theater Manager Sent Moviegoers to Safety |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/12/us/trail-destruction-survivors-alert-theater-manager-sent-moviegoers-safety.html |access-date=2024-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-11-14 |title=Blown away: Remembering the 2002 Van Wert tornado |url=https://www.limaohio.com/top-stories/2022/11/13/blown-away-remembering-the-2002-van-wert-tornado/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=LimaOhio.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>https://thevwindependent.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Tornado-Retrospective-layout.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Van Wert Cinemas in Van Wert, OH - Cinema Treasures |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/61948 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=cinematreasures.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilkes |first=Jen Narramore-Nick |date=2019-11-10 |title=Van Wert, OH F4 Tornado – November 10, 2002 – Tornado Talk |url=https://www.tornadotalk.com/van-wert-oh-f4-tornado-november-10-2002/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.33|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/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Van Wert, Ohio (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–1903, 1924–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 71
 | Feb record high F  = 74
 | Mar record high F  = 86
 | Apr record high F  = 90
 | May record high F  = 100
 | Jun record high F  = 104
 | Jul record high F  = 110
 | Aug record high F  = 103
 | Sep record high F  = 105
 | Oct record high F  = 93
 | Nov record high F  = 79
 | Dec record high F  = 71
 | year record high F = 

|Jan avg record high F = 55.3
|Feb avg record high F = 58.7
|Mar avg record high F = 69.8
|Apr avg record high F = 80.2
|May avg record high F = 88.3
|Jun avg record high F = 93.6
|Jul avg record high F = 93.7
|Aug avg record high F = 92.4
|Sep avg record high F = 90.3
|Oct avg record high F = 82.9
|Nov avg record high F = 68.7
|Dec avg record high F = 58.5
|year avg record high F = 95.5

 | Jan high F = 32.5
 | Feb high F = 36.1
 | Mar high F = 46.9
 | Apr high F = 60.3
 | May high F = 71.8
 | Jun high F = 80.9
 | Jul high F = 84.5
 | Aug high F = 82.6
 | Sep high F = 76.8
 | Oct high F = 63.9
 | Nov high F = 49.5
 | Dec high F = 37.4
 | year high F = 60.3
 | Jan mean F = 25.3
 | Feb mean F = 28.3
 | Mar mean F = 37.9
 | Apr mean F = 49.8
 | May mean F = 61.6
 | Jun mean F = 71.0
 | Jul mean F = 74.5
 | Aug mean F = 72.4
 | Sep mean F = 65.8
 | Oct mean F = 53.7
 | Nov mean F = 41.3
 | Dec mean F = 30.8
 | year mean F = 51.0
 | Jan low F = 18.2
 | Feb low F = 20.5
 | Mar low F = 28.9
 | Apr low F = 39.3
 | May low F = 51.4
 | Jun low F = 61.1
 | Jul low F = 64.4
 | Aug low F = 62.3
 | Sep low F = 54.7
 | Oct low F = 43.4
 | Nov low F = 33.0
 | Dec low F = 24.1
 | year low F = 41.8

|Jan avg record low F = -2.8
|Feb avg record low F = 1.7
|Mar avg record low F = 11.5
|Apr avg record low F = 24.7
|May avg record low F = 36.6
|Jun avg record low F = 47.4
|Jul avg record low F = 53.5
|Aug avg record low F = 51.5
|Sep avg record low F = 41.2
|Oct avg record low F = 29.9
|Nov avg record low F = 18.6
|Dec avg record low F = 6.5
|year avg record low F = -5.8

 | Jan record low F  = -24
 | Feb record low F  = -18
 | Mar record low F  = -15
 | Apr record low F  = 9
 | May record low F  = 22
 | Jun record low F  = 35
 | Jul record low F  = 41
 | Aug record low F  = 37
 | Sep record low F  = 25
 | Oct record low F  = 12
 | Nov record low F  = -2
 | Dec record low F  = -18
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.57
 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.05
 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.52
 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.59
 | May precipitation inch = 4.76
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.59
 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.66
 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.95
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.15
 | Oct precipitation inch = 2.99
 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.94
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.59
 | year precipitation inch = 40.36
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 9.1
 | Feb precipitation days  = 7.8
 | Mar precipitation days  = 8.6
 | Apr precipitation days  = 10.6
 | May precipitation days  = 11.0
 | Jun precipitation days  = 10.0
 | Jul precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Aug precipitation days  = 7.2
 | Sep precipitation days  = 7.2
 | Oct precipitation days  = 8.6
 | Nov precipitation days  = 8.7
 | Dec precipitation days  = 8.8
 | year precipitation days = 105.7
 | Jan snow inch = 6.2
 | Feb snow inch = 4.5
 | Mar snow inch = 2.5
 | Apr snow inch = 0.4
 | 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 = 0.6
 | Dec snow inch = 2.9
 | year snow inch = 17.1
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 3.1
 | Feb snow days  = 2.8
 | Mar snow days  = 1.1
 | Apr snow days  = 0.2
 | 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  = 0.1
 | Nov snow days  = 0.3
 | Dec snow days  = 2.0
 | year snow days = 9.6
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=iwx
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00338609&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 18, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 268
|1860= 1615
|1870= 2625
|1880= 4079
|1890= 5512
|1900= 6422
|1910= 7157
|1920= 8100
|1930= 8472
|1940= 9227
|1950= 10354
|1960= 11323
|1970= 11320
|1980= 11022
|1990= 10891
|2000= 10690
|2010= 10846
|2020= 11092
|estyear=2021
|estimate=11039
|estref=
|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><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/vanwertcityohio,US/PST045221|title=Van Wert city, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=July 7, 2022}}</ref>
}}
[[Image:Van-wert-ohio-municipal-building.jpg|thumb|Van Wert Municipal Building]]

===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 10,846 people, 4,536 households, and 2,812 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1479.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,111 housing units at an average density of {{convert|697.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.0% of the population.

There were 4,536 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 10,690 people, 4,556 households, and 2,947 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,803.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,927 housing units at an average density of {{convert|831.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.07% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.50% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.35% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.09% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.89% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 4,556 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% 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 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,205, and the median income for a family was $41,711. Males had a median income of $31,441 versus $23,143 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,413. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:Van Wert County Library.jpg|thumb|alt=Library building shaped like a small castle.|[[Brumback Library]], established in 1901]]
[[Van Wert City School District|Van Wert City Schools]] enrolls 2,027 students in public [[primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education|secondary]] schools.<ref>{{cite web |last=Great Schools.com |url=http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/oh/district_profile/737 |title=Van Wert City School District Profile |access-date=2008-04-03 }}</ref> The district operates 5 public schools including the Early Childhood Center (Pre-school-Kindergarten), Van Wert Elementary School (1st-5th grades), Van Wert Middle School (6th-8th grades), [[Van Wert High School]] (9th-12th grades), and [[Vantage Career Center]] (11th-12th grades), along with the Goedde Building as the Central Administrative Offices. [[Van Wert High School]] sports participate in the [[Western Buckeye League]], an athletic body sanctioned by the [[Ohio High School Athletic Association]] (OHSAA). Van Wert recently built a new high school and middle school complex in 2007, and just opened a new elementary school next to the high school and middle school complex so all students are now in one area. Along with the new high school/middle school complex, a new performing arts center was built, The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, thanks to the private donation of Van Wert High School Alumnus, Scott Niswonger. Every year since 2005, Van Wert Middle School has received the "National Schools to Watch" award.

Van Wert has the main branch of the [[Brumback Library]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.brumbacklib.com/library-hours | title=Library hours | publisher=Brumback Library | access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[WERT]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://vanwert.org/ City of Van Wert]
* [http://vimoutiers.net/vimus/mh2eng.htm  The story of Marie Harel's 2nd statue offered by the cheesemakers of Van Wert]

{{Van Wert County, Ohio}}
{{Ohio county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Van Wert, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Van Wert County, Ohio]]
[[Category:County seats in Ohio]]
[[Category:1848 establishments in Ohio]]