Maumee ( ) is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. Located along the Maumee River, it is a suburb about southwest of Toledo. The population was 13,896 at the 2020 census. Maumee was declared an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2006.
History
thumb|left|A.B. Coffins City Livery and Sale Stable, c. 1890
In pre-colonial times, Native Americans (notably the Ottawa) began using the rich resources at the present site of Maumee, Ohio, in the Maumee River valley. Throughout much of the eighteenth century, French, British and American forces struggled for control of the lower Maumee River as a major transportation artery linking East and West through Lake Erie.
Following the American Revolutionary War, Native Americans of the region, including the Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomie, and Shawnee, made alliances in what became called the Northwest Territory by the United States, which claimed it from the British after gaining independence. The Northwest Indian War was a series of conflicts from 1785 through 1795 between these nations and the US; it ended with a decisive American victory over the British and their Native American allies at the Battle of Fallen Timbers at Maumee in 1794. Maumee is the site of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne's final fort, Fort Deposit, built in Aug. 1794 on his way to the battle of Fallen Timbers. Together with the conclusion of the War of 1812, which preserved most US territory, the end of warfare and defeat of the Native Americans opened the way for American expansion in present-day Ohio. Promoters arrived who were eager to make a fortune in selling and developing western lands.
thumb|left|The Miami and Erie Canal as seen from a bridge at Ford Street in Maumee around 1900
In 1817, a town plat was laid out at the Foot of the Rapids of the Maumee River, and within a decade, the settlement was gaining recognition as a major trans-shipment point connecting Lake Erie and the land to the west. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 in New York State stimulated migration to Ohio, as it connected Great Lakes communities to the Hudson River and port of New York City. Completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal in 1840 further stimulated the economy. Jessup Scott, a noted town promoter, predicted that Maumee would become the "great city of the West," surpassing all rivals. By mid-century Maumee was a flourishing center of river trade, commerce and shipbuilding. Nearly twenty mercantile companies crowded the three miles (5 km) of ship docks and competed for the retail and wholesale trade.
In 1840, Maumee was designated as the county seat; lawyers came from miles around to practice in the imposing Greek Revival Lucas County Courthouse erected by private subscription. Court days were a time of trade and commerce, as well. The federal custom house and post office also were located in Maumee.
thumb|C & O Toledo Terminal in Maumee
Dreams of greatness began to fade in the 1850s, when ships too large to navigate the river were introduced for use in the Great Lakes. In addition, the railroad provided faster and cheaper means of transportation than river traffic and drew off business. As the population expanded westward, Maumee lost the county seat in 1854.
thumb|[[Hull–Wolcott House]]
Nearly a century later, in the 1970s, Maumee developed an economic renaissance. Today the city is one of the largest business centers in Northwest Ohio. Together, Arrowhead Business Park and Maumee's historic business community contribute to the 30,000 plus jobs in the community. Maumee has expanded its original boundaries, and the population is now more than 13,700 residents, representing a continuing downturn from the 15,000+ high of the early 1970s. Maumee's neighborhoods retain their small town flavor; in addition, many historic homes and buildings of the early residents still stand along the tree-lined streets of the architectural districts.
Geography
Maumee is located about 11 miles upriver of Toledo, which is at the mouth of the Maumee River on Maumee Bay. This is a roughly triangle-shaped city. Its borders are formed by Interstate 80/90 to the north, to the west by Interstate 475/U.S. Route 23, and to the southeast by the Maumee River. It is just downriver from Waterville.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Maumee had a population of 13,896. The median age was 41.0 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males.
There were 6,145 households in Maumee, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.3% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 12,409 || 89.3%
|-
| Black or African American || 314 || 2.3%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 28 || 0.2%
|-
| Asian || 171 || 1.2%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 2 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 140 || 1.0%
|-
| Two or more races || 832 || 6.0%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 659 || 4.7%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 14,286 people, 6,037 households, and 3,854 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 6,435 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 1.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.
There were 6,037 households, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median age in the city was 39.7 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
2000 census
As of the census the top employers in the city are:
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! No.
! Employer
! No. of employees
|-
|1
|United Parcel Service
|2,865
|-
|2
|Dana Corporation
|1,011
|-
|3
|Maumee Board of Education
|626
|-
|4
|Spartan Chemical Co.
|276
|-
|5
|Promedica Health System
|250
|-
|6
|The Andersons
|218
|-
|7
|Therma Tru Corp.
|189
|-
|8
|The Toledo Clinic
|179
|-
|9
|Matrix Technologies Inc.
|153
|-
|10
|Clifton Larson Allan LLP
|144
|}
St. Luke's Hospital closed in May, 2023.
Education
Maumee's public education system is run by the Maumee City School District, which received an "Effective" rating from the state of Ohio for the 2008–09 school year, the third highest of six possible ratings. This school district is the oldest chartered district in the state of Ohio. The school district is broken into four different categories: Elementary (K–3), which include Fairfield and Fort Miami Elementaries. The next level is Maumee Intermediate School, which includes all students in the district in grades 4–5. Next, Maumee Middle School, includes all students in the district in grades 6–8. There is only one high school in Maumee, Maumee High School (Ohio), which serves grades 9–12.
There are also several private elementary and high schools in the area, including Maumee Valley Country Day School (South Toledo), St. John's Jesuit High School (South Toledo), Toledo Christian Schools (South Toledo), St. Joseph Catholic School & Preparatory (Maumee), and St. Patrick of Heatherdowns School (South Toledo).
Maumee has a public library, a branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
Notable people
- James W. Forsyth, U.S. Army general
- Richard Kazmaier, 1951 Heisman Trophy winner; donated his Heisman Trophy to Maumee High School
- Robert Knepper, actor, played Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell in Prison Break
- Henry Ware Lawton, U.S. Army officer who served in the Civil War, Apache Wars, Spanish–American War
- Larry Nuber, auto racing announcer on ESPN
- Dane Sanzenbacher, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL
- Harold Anderson, founder of The Andersons
References
External links
- Official Website
- Maumee, Ohio information from Toledo.com
- Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor