Bucyrus, Ohio

Bucyrus ( )
is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Crawford County, located in northern Ohio approximately 28 miles (45 km) west of Mansfield and southeast of Toledo. The population was 11,684 at the 2020 census. The city is the largest in Crawford County, and the center of the Bucyrus Micropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003).

History

The origin of the name Bucyrus is not certain. It was given by Col. James Kilbourne, who laid out the town in 1821. One theory is that the name Bucyrus is derived from "beautiful" coupled with the name of Cyrus the Great, founder of the First Persian Empire. An alternate theory is that the city was named after Busiris, a city of ancient Egypt.

The Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Company, a predecessor to Bucyrus International, Inc. was founded in Bucyrus in 1880. The company moved to Wisconsin in 1893.

Bucyrus was once home to the Dostal Brothers Brewery. Founded in 1902, the brewery was run by John M. and George A. Dostal.

The Lincoln Highway, later US Route 30, was routed through the city along Mansfield Street in 1913. In 1971 a modern, limited-access bypass was built to the north, but the associated freeway links to the east and west of Bucyrus, replacing the old two-lane Lincoln Highway route, were not completed until 2005, nearly 35 years after they were first proposed.

Ohio Central Traction Company, an interurban line that connected the two communities of Bucyrus and Galion, develope
Seccaium Park
at the end of the nineteenth century.

There was a notable landmark of an Elephant with a “B” atop the Geiger Clothing store (since demolished) on Washington Square. This was to promote Geiger's motto which was, “Buy your clothing here, for it will last like the hide of an elephant.”

On March 10, 2007, Bucyrus was featured as the town of the week on the nationally syndicated Public Radio International program, ''Whad'Ya Know?''.

Geography

Bucyrus is located at (40.806014, -82.973169), along the Sandusky River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,362 people, 5,320 households, and 3,219 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,983 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 5,320 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.5% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,224 people, 5,559 households, and 3,552 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.0 people per square mile (699.4/km²). There were 5,955 housing units at an average density of 816.0 per square mile (315.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.38% White, 0.78% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 5,559 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% 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 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,394, and the median income for a family was $40,120. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $20,795 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,027. About 8.9% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Business and industry

The largest sectors in Bucyrus are Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Healthcare. Industries located in Bucyrus include tapered roller bearings, highly engineered plow blades, wing shoes, and moldboard shoes; rubber hoses; and fluorescent lightings. Bucyrus is also the home of ESCO Bucyrus, and D. Picking and Company, a family operated manufacturer of copper kettles and timpani drums, employing the same techniques since its establishment in 1874 by its founder Daniel Picking. Some of the largest employers in Bucyrus include Avita Health System, Hord Family Farms, and Ohio Mutual Insurance Group.

Eagle Crusher

Eagle Crusher Company Incorporated is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of a complete line of heavy-duty impact crushers, portable crushing and screening plants, jaw crushers, and conveyors for the concrete, asphalt, aggregate, and recycle markets.

Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works Ltd.

For the past 140 years, ownership of the company moved through four generations of the founder's (Daniel Picking) family until the death of the family matriarch (Helen Picking Neff) in July 2015 at age 99. Thereafter, the company continued operations to fulfill existing orders and then, in accordance with her wishes as the last of her family line, closed the original business and retired the family name.
Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works Ltd. began operations shortly thereafter under the leadership of Steve Schifer, a coppersmith with 39 years of experience at the South Walnut Street location. Steve is proud to be a part of, and to continue, this unique tradition.
As has been the case throughout the 141 year tradition of coppersmithing at 119 South Walnut Street, interested parties may visit the shop. Pre-arrangements are necessary for these visits. It is important to the coppersmiths at Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works, Ltd. that visitors can see the rich variety of products made by hand in a tradition that continues in this shop since shortly after the Civil War.

Crossroads Original Designs

Crossroads Original Designs is a family-owned and -operated manufacturer of scented candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, framed art and home decor accessories. Since its founding in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 2003, the company has continually reported notable growth, even during troubling economic times, something the company's leaders attribute as much to their customer-centric business philosophy as their product line.

Bucyrus Railcar Repair

Bucyrus Railcar Repair, LLC is a leading rail services provider, specializing in mechanical operations and railcar repair. BRR operates from one large flagship repair shop, three light repair shops, and over a dozen customer and interchange locations as running repair agent.

Advance Fiber Technology

Advanced Fiber Technology was formed in 1988 to initially design and provide equipment to the fiber processing industry and subsequently added recycled fiber processing in 2001 in a 22,500 square foot building. This has expanded to a 61,500 square foot building and complements a dedicated 30,000 square foot warehouse on an adjacent property. Our logistics capability includes service throughout the US.

Swan Rubber Company

The Swan Rubber Company was once the largest industry in Bucyrus, locally employing 1500 men and women, and having the largest payroll of any industry in Bucyrus. The Swan Rubber and Tire Company originated in Toledo on September 27, 1927. In 1929 the name is changed to Swan Rubber Company as tire production declined. In 1940 the company bought 30 acres along Beal Ave., the current site of the Bucyrus operations, until the facilities closed in the early part of this century. In 1950 the company began recycling and reclaiming rubber products, and by 1993 Swan became the largest recycling site in the state of Ohio. In 2001 Swan became part of the Tekni-Plex family of companies, making them the largest manufacturer of garden hose in the world. The company is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an office in Marion, Ohio.

The Sommer Car Company

The Sommer Company was located on the east end of Bucyrus in the 1920s. The company manufactured automobile engines sold to Zimmerman, Sears and Roebuck and the Fort Wayne Truck Company. The company was purchased by the Allen Motorcar Company and manufactured their automobiles.

Parks and recreation

Bucyrus, which calls itself "the Bratwurst Capital of America", is home to the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival, held annually during the third weekend in August. It includes musical performances and a beauty pageant.

Bucyrus also has three murals by famed muralist Eric Grohe, including "Liberty Remembers", "Great American Crossroad" and the Schines Art Park mural completed in 2017.

Other recreation includes the Golf Club of Bucyrus, the Bucyrus Little Theatre, the Crawford Park District, the Crawford County Fair, and the Graffiti Cruise Custom Classic Car Show.

Bucyrus is home to numerous parks within the city limits on nearby. Aumiller Park, the largest within the city limits, was created through a land donation of the Aumiller Family. The amenities include a swimming pool, 5 ball diamonds, 18 hole disc golf course, basketball, pickleball, tennis courts, Kids Kingdom playground, dozens of picnic shelters, hiking and bike trails and the John Q. Shunk Memorial Carillon.
Unger Park one of the many operated by the Crawford Park District is adjacent to Aumiller.
Harmon Park also home of the Bucyrus Area Youth Soccer Club.
Lions Park home of the city's skate park and two softball fields.
Public fishing is available at the Crossroads Industrial Park pond or one of the city's four reservoirs with water capacity of over a billion gallons.
The Outhwaite named for the former mayor is the largest it is above ground with a boat accessibility.
The Riley
The Neff and Pines

Education

Most of Bucyrus is served by the Bucyrus City School District, which currently includes one elementary school (preschool through 5th grade), and one junior/senior high (6th through 12th). The western edges of the city limits are served by the Wynford Local School District located just west of the city, and the far eastern portion of the city is in the Colonel Crawford Local School District, headquartered in nearby North Robinson.

Bucyrus is home to Crawford County's first institution of higher education, the Crawford Success Center, a satellite branch of North Central State College

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