Bowling Green is a city in, and the county seat of, Wood County, Ohio, United States. The population was 30,808 at the 2020 census. Located southwest of Toledo, it is part of the Toledo metropolitan area and a member of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University.
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, by a retired postal worker who had once delivered mail there.
Growth and oil boom
In 1868 Bowling Green was designated as the county seat, succeeding Perrysburg.
With the discovery of oil in the area in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bowling Green enjoyed a boom to its economy. The results of wealth generated at the time 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. The Neoclassical US post office was erected in 1913.
Industrialization
This period was followed by an expansion of the automobile industry. In late 1922 or early 1923, Coats Steam Car moved to the area and hired numerous workers. It eventually went out of business as the industry became centralized in Detroit, Michigan.
Bank robbers Pretty Boy Floyd and Billy the Killer encountered police in Bowling Green in April 1931. Their armed confrontation resulted in the death of Billy the Killer.
During World War II Italian and German prisoners of war were held nearby. They were used to staff the Heinz Tomato Ketchup factory in town. The ketchup factory closed in 1975.
A runaway freight train carrying hazardous liquids passed through Bowling Green in 2001, in what is known as the known as the CSX 8888 incident. It traveled more than 65 miles south of Toledo before being stopped by a veteran railroad worker near Kenton; he jumped into the train while it was moving. No one was hurt and there was no property damage in the incident.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, 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 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
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Bowling Green had a population of 30,808. The median age was 24.0 years, 13.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.2 males age 18 and over.
99.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 11,847 households in Bowling Green, of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.3% were married-couple households, 27.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 25,592 || 83.1%
|-
| Black or African American || 1,702 || 5.5%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 80 || 0.3%
|-
| Asian || 752 || 2.4%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 6 || <0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 614 || 2.0%
|-
| Two or more races || 2,062 || 6.7%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 2,176 || 7.1%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 30,028 people, 11,288 households, and 4,675 families living in the city. The population density 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, 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 census The Bowling Green plant opened in 1994 and was expanded in 2013.
Energy policy
thumb|A wind turbine outside of Bowling Green, Ohio.
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. 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.
Culture
The Black Swamp Arts Festival is a free arts and live music festival held the first full weekend after Labor Day. Its mission is to "connect art and the community by presenting an annual arts festival and by promoting the arts in the Bowling Green community."
Education
Primary and secondary
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.
Library
thumb|The Wood County Public Library
Bowling Green has the main branch of the Wood County District Public Library.
Media
Newspapers
- Sentinel Tribune (AIM Media Midwest, LLC)
- The BG News
- BG Independent Media
Radio
- WBGU 88.1 FM
- WFAL Falcon Radio
- WRQN
- WJYM 730 AM
- WWOC-LP 97.7 FM
Television
- WBGU-PBS
Transportation
thumb|A university shuttle
A public demand response bus service is operated by the city through B.G. Transit. Bowling Green State University 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.
Notable people
- John Barnes, science-fiction writer
- Alissa Czisny, figure skater, 2009 and 2011 U.S. champion
- Anthony De La Torre, actor
- William Easterly, economist / professor at NYU
- Randy Gardner, Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education
- Theresa Gavarone, Ohio Senator
- Scott Hamilton, figure skater, 1984 Olympic champion; television commentator
- Chris Hoiles, retired Major League Baseball player
- Bob Latta, U.S. representative; former Ohio state senator, Ohio state representative, and Wood County Commissioner
- Doug Mallory, NFL assistant coach
- Mike Mallory, NFL assistant coach
- Howard McCord poet, novelist, writing professor
- Paul Pope, alternative comic book writer/artist
- Andy Tracy, first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Dave Wottle, runner, 1972 Olympic gold medalist in the 800m
- Cara Zavaleta, reality TV personality and model