Napoleon is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Ohio, United States, along the Maumee River southwest of Toledo. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 8,862.

History

thumb|left|Napoleon, 1887

The area around the town was once known as "the Great Black Swamp". This area was opened to European settlement following the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, which took place about 26 miles to the east.

The City of Napoleon was founded in 1832 and named for French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The Miami and Erie Canal was finished in 1843, bringing German immigrants to the area. By the 1880s, the town had more than 3,000 residents; the population growth due in part to the town's location on the Miami and Erie Canal and two separate railroad lines. At the time, most employment existed through businesses which made products for farmers in the surrounding countryside.

Four buildings in Napoleon are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the county courthouse, the sheriff's house and jail, First Presbyterian Church, and St. Augustine's Catholic Church.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Climate

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Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Napoleon had a population of 8,862. The median age was 41.1 years, with 22.4% of residents under the age of 18 and 20.6% 65 years of age or older.

For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.9 males age 18 and over.

There were 3,835 households in Napoleon, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.5% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 7,863 || 88.7%

|-

| Black or African American || 97 || 1.1%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 42 || 0.5%

|-

| Asian || 72 || 0.8%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 333 || 3.8%

|-

| Two or more races || 454 || 5.1%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 954 || 10.8%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,749 people, 3,640 households, and 2,325 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,063 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.7% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.0% of the population.

There were 3,640 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 39.2 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census located on the southeastern end of the city; also Tenneco owns one of their largest Elastomer Plants there.

Clear Channel Communications owns the local radio station licensed to Napoleon, WNDH 103.1 FM "The One", which features a classic hits music format.

Education

The Napoleon Area City School District operates one public elementary school (preschool through 6th grade), one public middle school (7th and 8th grades), and one high school, Napoleon High School. Napoleon is also home to St. Paul Lutheran school, St. John Lutheran School, and St. Augustine Catholic school, which provide grades preschool through eighth (8th) grade.

The city has the main branch of the Napoleon Public Library.

Notable people

  • A. James Barnes (born 1942), deputy administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Wayne K. Clymer (1917–2013), bishop for the United Methodist Church
  • Dennis D. Donovan (1859–1941), U.S. representative for Ohio
  • Josephine R. Hilgard (1906–1989), developmental psychologist, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyist
  • Jim Hoops (born 1959), member of the Ohio House of Representatives
  • Ralph E. Hudson (1843–1901), hymnwriter
  • Kidd Kraddick (1959–2013), radio and television personality
  • Jared Marks (born 1994), stock car racer
  • Erik Palmer-Brown (born 1997), soccer player who represented the United States national team
  • Norman O. Tietjens (1903–1983), United States Tax Court judge
  • Lynn Wachtmann (born 1954), member of the Ohio General Assembly
  • Sonny Winters (1900–1945), American football player

References

  • City of Napoleon
  • City Charter and Codified Ordinances
  • City of Napoleon Police Department
  • Napoleon Police Officers Association Page