Bowling Green is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Ohio, United States, located southwest of Toledo. The population was 30,028 at the 2010 census. It is part of the

Toledo Metropolitan Area The Toledo Metropolitan Area, or Greater Toledo, or Northwest Ohio is a metropolitan area centered on the United States, American city of Toledo, Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the four-county metropolitan statistical ar ...

and a member of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. Bowling Green is the home of

Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research facilities in the ...

History

Settlement

Bowling Green was first settled in 1832, was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became a city in 1901. The village was named after

Bowling Green, Kentucky Bowling Green is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Warren County, Kentucky, United States. Founded by pioneers in 1798, Bowling Green was the provisional capital of Confederate Kentucky during the American Civil War. As of the ...

, by a retired postal worker who had once delivered mail there.

Growth and Oil boom

In 1868 Bowling Green became the county seat. With the discovery of oil in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bowling Green experienced a boom to its economy. The wealth can still be seen in the downtown storefronts, and along Wooster Street, where many of the oldest and largest homes were built. A new county courthouse was also constructed in the 1890s, and a Neoclassical post office was erected in 1913.

Industrialization

This period was followed by an expansion of the

automobile industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue (from 16 % such ...

. In late 1922 or early 1923, Coats Steam Car moved to the area, but eventually went out of business. Bank Robbers

Pretty Boy Floyd Charles Arthur Floyd (February 3, 1904 – October 22, 1934), nicknamed Pretty Boy Floyd, was an American bank robber. He operated in the West and Central states, and his criminal exploits gained widespread press coverage in the 1930s. He was s ...

and Billy the Killer encountered police in Bowling Green in April 1931, resulting in the death of Billy the Killer. In World War II Italian and German prisoners of war were used to staff the

Heinz Tomato Ketchup Heinz Tomato Ketchup is a brand of ketchup manufactured by the H. J. Heinz Company, a division of the Kraft Heinz Company. History It was first marketed as "catsup" in 1876 In 1907, manufacturing reached 12 million bottles and it was exp ...

factory in town. The ketchup factory closed in 1975. The

CSX 8888 incident The CSX 8888 incident, also known as the Crazy Eights incident, was a runaway train event involving a CSX Transportation freight train in the U.S. state of Ohio on May 15, 2001. Locomotive #8888, an, was pulling a train of 47 cars, including some ...

passed through Bowling Green in 2001.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Bowling Green is within an area of land that was once the

Great Black Swamp The Great Black Swamp (also known simply as the Black Swamp) was a glacially fed wetland in northwest Ohio, sections of lower Michigan, and extreme northeast Indiana, United States, that existed from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation until t ...

which was drained and settled in the 19th century. The nutrient-rich soil makes for highly productive farm land. Bowling Green, Ohio is in the North Western hemisphere at approximately 41.376132°N, -83.623897°W.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 30,028 people, 11,288 households, and 4,675 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 12,301 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 6.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.4% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.8% of the population. There were 11,288 households, of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 58.6% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age in the city was 23.2 years. 12.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 43.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 15.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 29,636 people, 10,266 households, and 4,434 families living in the city. The

was . There were 10,667 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.84% White, 2.82% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.02%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 1.81% from

, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.48% of the population. There were 10,266 households, out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were people living alone, including 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.84. In the city, the population was spread out, with 13.1% under the age of 18, 46.6% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,599, and the median income for a family was $51,804. Males had a median income of $33,619 versus $25,364 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $15,032. About 8.0% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Black Swamp Arts Festival

Every September, the Black Swamp Arts Festival takes place in Bowling Green. Started in 1993, the festival has grown in size and prestige. The name Black Swamp was chosen for the festival because it is a common term for this area of the state. The

, which was drained near the end of the 1800s to make farming possible, extended from

Lake Erie Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also h ...

to Indiana. It was the last area of Ohio to be settled. Bowling Green is the largest city now in the remnants of this vast wetland. Main Street is closed to traffic for the festival, and artists from around the country display and sell a variety of artwork. There are also musical performances, children's activities, and food. The festival has grown to include over 100 juried artists, 50 local/invitational artists, four live music stages, youth arts, acts of art, and concessions. Numerous types of music, including blues, jazz, and rock, are heard from the main stage. The Festival has a reputation for booking a diverse and entertaining musical line up. The Main Stage features national and international touring bands of all genres. The Black Swamp Arts Festival attracts 40,000 art and music fans to Bowling Green.

National Tractor Pulling championships

Bowling Green has hosted the National

Tractor Pulling Truck and tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a form of a motorsport competition in which antique or modified tractors pull a heavy drag or sled along an , track, with the winner being the tractor that pulls the drag the farthe ...

Championships since 1967. This annual event, one of the largest in the nation, is held at the Wood County Fairgrounds and draws an estimated 60,000 people. The Fairgrounds is located along Poe Road between Haskins Road (State Route 64) and Brim Road.

Wood County Fair

Every year Bowling Green hosts the Wood County Fair, a week-long festival that begins shortly before or after the end of July. The fairgrounds are located off Poe Road between Haskins and Brim roads. Main Events include: Tractor Pull, Altered Farm stock Tractor Pull, Antique Tractor Pull, Mule Pull, Semi-Truck Pull, Youth Parade, Demolition/Combine Derby, Catch-a-pig, Cheerleading Competition, Harness Racing, and the annual Country Music Concert. Another special event is quilt day. Special Days like Senior Citizen day or DARE day allow discounted tickets. Country singers who have performed at the Wood County Fair: * Boxcar Willie (1982) *

Phil Vassar Phillip George Vassar Jr. (born May 28, 1962) is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw ("For a Little While", ...

and

Miranda Lambert Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country singer and guitarist. Born in Longview, Texas, she started out in early 2001 when she released her self-titled debut album independently. In 2003, she finished in third place o ...

(2006) *

Tracy Lawrence Tracy Lee Lawrence (born January 27, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born in Atlanta, Texas, and raised in Foreman, Arkansas, Lawrence began performing at age 15 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in ...

and

Josh Turner Joshua Otis Turner (born November 20, 1977) is an American country and gospel singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to MCA Nashville Records. That same year, his debut album's title track, "Long Black Train", was his breakthrough single ...

(2007) *

Jason Michael Carroll Jason Michael Carroll (born June 13, 1978) is an American country music artist. After being discovered at a local talent competition in 2004, Carroll was signed to the Arista Nashville label in 2006, releasing his debut album '' Waitin' in the ...

and

Billy Currington William Matthew Currington (born November 19, 1973) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Mercury Records Nashville in 2003, he has released seven studio albums for the label: his self-titled debut (2003), '' Doin' Someth ...

(2008) *

Little Big Town Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group from Homewood, Alabama. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its founding: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman (née Roads), Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbr ...

(2009) * Kenny Rogers (2010) * Gretchen Wilson (2012) * Oak Ridge Boys and

Night Ranger Night Ranger is an American hard rock band from San Francisco formed in 1979 that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. Guitarist Brad Gillis and drummer Kelly Keagy have been the band's only constant members, ...

(2015)

Winterfest

Similar to other winter cities, Bowling Green hosts an annual event for three days in February to celebrate winter, snow, and cold weather activities. Winterfest in Bowling Green centers around the rich

ice skating Ice skating is the self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. Ice skating may be per ...

and

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

traditions of the town. Winterfest events are held all over Bowling Green, and on and off the campus of

. Notable events include curling, carriage rides, ice sculptures, and live entertainment, plus BGSU Athletic events such as hockey and basketball games and figure skating exhibition with local stars such as Scott Hamilton.

Education

Primary education

Public elementary schools of the Bowling Green City School District include Kenwood Elementary, Conneaut Elementary and Crim Elementary. Ridge Elementary was closed in 2013 and Milton Elementary was closed in 2011. Two private primary schools, Bowling Green Christian Academy and the Montessori School of Bowling Green, and one parochial, St. Aloysius, also call Bowling Green home. The Bowling Green Early Childhood Learning Center (Montessori) offers kindergarten and Plan, Do and Talk goes up to grade three.

Secondary education

* Bowling Green Middle School * Bowling Green Senior High School

Post-secondary education

is located on the northeast side of the city, along and north of Wooster Street (

Ohio State Route 64 State Route 64 (SR 64) is a long north–south state highway in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. The southern terminus of SR 64 is at an interchange with Interstate 75 (I-75) in Bowling Green which al ...

Ohio State Route 105 State Route 105 (SR 105) is an east–west state highway in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its western terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 75 in Bowling Green that doubles as the southern terminus of State Rou ...

). As of September 2020 it has 20,232 students.

Public library

*Bowling Green has the main branch of the Wood County District Public Library.

Media

Newspapers

''Sentinel Tribune''
* '' The BG News''
''BG Independent Media''

Radio stations

* WBGU 88.1 FM * WFAL Falcon Radio * WRQN * WJYM 730 AM * WWOC-LP 97.7 FM

Television station

* WBGU-PBS

Transportation

*A public demand response bus service is operated by the city through B.G. Transit. *

offers shuttle services via its own buses with routes throughout campus and the downtown area. *Bowling Green is linked to North Baltimore via a rail trail called the Slippery Elm Trail, with East Broadway Street in North Baltimore on the south end and Sand Ridge Road in Bowling Green on the north end. * A CSX line runs through town.

Energy policy

Ohio's first utility-sized wind farm is located along U.S. Route 6 just west of the city limits. There are four turbines that are each tall. These turbines generate up to 7.2 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply electricity for some 3,000 residents. Located about from the city, the turbines can be seen for miles and have become a

local attraction While compass surveying, the magnetic needle is sometimes disturbed from its normal position under the influence of external attractive forces. Such a disturbing influence is called as ''local attraction''. The external forces are produced by sourc ...

. At the site of the turbines, a solar-powered kiosk provides information for visitors, including current information on wind speeds and the amount of energy being produced by the turbines. Through the city's Municipal Utilities office, residents can request that their power come from

green energy Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...

. As of March 1, 2014, the current power cost premium is $.007 per KWH. However, Bowling Green's green credentials were damaged in 2008, when the city signed a power contract with AMP-Ohio to help build a 960-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Meigs County, Ohio. Several large environmental groups, including Sierra Club, the

Natural Resources Defense Council The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a United States-based 501(c)(3) non-profit international environmental advocacy group, with its headquarters in New York City and offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Bo ...

, and the Ohio Environmental Council, opposed the building of a coal-fired power plant due to the pollution it would cause. In late 2009, AMP canceled the project, citing an estimated 37% increase in cost to more than $3 billion. In January 2017 a new 165 acre, 20 megawatt solar plant began operation on the edge of the city. The plant experienced a slight disruption from the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.

Economy

LifeFormations, a

mechatronics Mechatronics engineering also called mechatronics, is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the integration of mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering systems, and also includes a combination of robotics, electronics, ...

company, is based in Bowling Green. They have made animatronics based on licensed properties such as

Shrek ''Shrek'' is a 2001 American computer-animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 book of the same name by William Steig. It is the first installment in the ''Shrek'' franchise. The film was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jen ...

for theme parks such as

Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...

. Lubrizol maintains a soap and surfactant production plant in Bowling Green. The Bowling Green plant opened in 1994 and was expanded in 2013. Aliquantum International maintains a sales office in Bowling Green. The company licences characters from the Japanese company San-X for local markets, such as Rilakkuma. Poggemeyer Design Group, an architecture and engineering firm, maintains its headquarters in Bowling Green.

Notable people

John Barnes John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE (born 7 November 1963) is a former professional football player and manager. He currently works as an author, commentator and pundit for ESPN and SuperSport. Initially a quick, skilful left winger, he moved to ce ...

, science-fiction writer"Foreword," in Barnes, John. Apostrophes and Apocalypses. NYC:Tor 1998 p. 9 * Theresa Gavarone, Ohio Senator *

Alissa Czisny Alissa Czisny (born June 25, 1987) is an American former competitive figure skater. She is the 2010 Grand Prix Final champion, a two-time Skate Canada champion (2005, 2010), the 2011 Skate America champion, and a two-time U.S. national champion ( ...

, figure skater, 2009 and 2011 U.S. champion *

William Easterly William Russell Easterly (born September 7, 1957) is an American economist, specializing in economic development. He is a professor of economics at New York University, joint with Africa House, and co-director of NYU’s Development Research Inst ...

, economist / professor at NYU * Randy Gardner, Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education * Scott Hamilton, figure skater, 1984 Olympic champion; television commentator * Chris Hoiles, retired Major League Baseball player * Doug Mallory, NFL assistant coach * Mike Mallory, NFL assistant coach * Paul Pope, alternative comic book writer/artist * Andy Tracy, first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, alumnus of Bowling Green High School and

* Dave Wottle, runner, 1972 Olympic gold medalist * Cara Zavaleta, reality TV personality and model * Anthony De La Torre, actor

References

External links

*
Bowling Green Convention & Visitors Bureau Website

Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control Cities in Wood County, Ohio County seats in Ohio Populated places established in 1901 Cities in Ohio