Gilboa is a village in Blanchard Township, Putnam County, Ohio, United States. The village is named after Mount Gilboa. The population was 168 at the 2020 census. The town's most popular landmark is a 16-foot-tall fiberglass statue of a bull.
History
Gilboa was laid out in 1837. The village was incorporated in 1848. A post office was established at Gilboa in 1843, and remained in operation until 1985.
On August 6, 1852, a cholera epidemic struck Gilboa. The start of the epidemic was traced to a large damp cellar that had been used to store trash and decomposing waste. The epidemic lasted until August 21 and killed 13 Gilboa residents He painted more than 50 murals nationally and internationally.
Geography
Gilboa is located at (41.017329, -83.921143).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 184 people, 71 households, and 50 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 76 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 94.6% White, 0.5% Asian, 3.8% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.2% of the population.
There were 71 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.18.
The median age in the village was 34 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.
2000 census
As of the census (term expired 1910)
- 2019 - Michelle Clymer - first female mayor of Gilboa
- 2023 - Peter Diller
Culture
The Gilboa Bull
thumb|A side view of the bull, visible from U.S. Route 224 looking east
<!-- "big beef cow" nickname is not notable, see talk page -->A fiberglass bull statue was placed at the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and Pearl Street by Gilboa then-resident (now mayor) The water depth varies from 15 to 130 ft, providing ideal conditions for a wide range of divers.
Education
Pandora-Gilboa is the school district many students from Gilboa attend, although some attend Ottawa-Glandorf.
Notable people
- Edward S. Matthias, longest serving Ohio Supreme Court justice
- Baldemar Velasquez, labor union activist
- Oscar Velasquez, artist and muralist