Wadsworth, Ohio
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| Wadsworth, Ohio | |
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| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 41°1′40″N 81°43′47″W / 41.02778°N 81.72972°WCoordinates: 41°1′40″N 81°43′47″W / 41.02778°N 81.72972°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Medina |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Robin L. Laubaugh |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.5 sq mi (24.6 km2) |
| • Land | 9.5 sq mi (24.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation[1] | 1,168 ft (356 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 18,437 |
| • Density | 1,940.5/sq mi (749.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 44281-44282 |
| Area code(s) | 330 |
| FIPS code | 39-80304[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1065441[1] |
Wadsworth is a city in Medina County, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1814, it was named after General Elijah Wadsworth, a Revolutionary War hero.[3] The population was 18,437 at the 2000 census.
The Wadsworth City School District is known in the area for its successes in athletics, and also in the arts and academics.
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[edit] Geography
Wadsworth is located at 41°1′40″N 81°43′47″W / 41.02778°N 81.72972°W (41.027867, -81.729768).[4]
The city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (25 km2), all of it land.
Nearby cities include Cleveland and Akron.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 949 |
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| 1880 | 1,219 | 28.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,574 | 29.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,764 | 12.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,073 | 74.2% | |
| 1920 | 4,742 | 54.3% | |
| 1930 | 5,920 | 24.8% | |
| 1940 | 6,495 | 9.7% | |
| 1950 | 7,966 | 22.6% | |
| 1960 | 10,635 | 33.5% | |
| 1970 | 13,142 | 23.6% | |
| 1980 | 15,187 | 15.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,718 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 18,437 | 17.3% | |
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 18,437 people, 7,276 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,940.5 people per square mile (749.3/km²). There were 7,613 housing units at an average density of 801.3/sq mi (309.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.85% White, 0.39% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There ware 7,276 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.7% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,605, and the median income for a family was $58,850. Males had a median income of $41,626 versus $25,805 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,859. 5.4% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.6% of those 65 and older.
[edit] Education
Wadsworth City Schools is the single largest employer in the city.[citation needed] The district has benefited from the support of the community, which passed six of the last seven levies put before the voters.[citation needed]In addition, the district voters supported the recent Medina County Sales Tax (the first in Ohio), at a rate of 74% for the levy.[citation needed]According to school district Treasurer Doug Beeman, revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, exceeded expenditures as the school system continues to manage the resources provided by the community.[citation needed]
Wadsworth High School and Wadsworth Middle School are members of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.[citation needed] The high school and middle school mascot is the Grizzly.[citation needed]
Wadsworth City School district operates eight schools.[citation needed] There are 5 elementary schools (kindergarten through grade 4), 1 intermediate school (grades 5 and 6), 1 middle school (grades 7 and 8), and 1 high school (grades 9 through 12).[citation needed] The total enrollment is approximately 4,849 students.[citation needed]
Wadsworth City Schools continue to excel in a variety of areas including achieving a rating of “Excellent” from the Ohio Department of Education the last five years.[5] This rating is based on the State Report Card, measuring student achievement tests, student attendance rate, and graduation rate.[6]
The district offers a variety of extracurricular activities in which students can participate, including sports, vocal and instrumental music, Drama Club, Academic Challenge, N.F.L., Speech and Debate, Chess Club, and Student Council.[citation needed] The district is referred to as “AAA”[citation needed] because students excel[citation needed] in “academics,” “athletics,” and the “arts.”[citation needed]There is also a before- and after-school child care program called Bear Cub Academy.[citation needed]Bear Cub is an affordable[citation needed] program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade; it includes homework help, enrichment, tutoring, games and activities for kids.[citation needed]
Parents are very active in the district[citation needed], supporting numerous booster clubs for academics, sports, and band.[citation needed] W.H.Y.S. (Wadsworth Home Youth School) is the Parent-Teacher volunteer organization that supports the Wadsworth City School System by fostering a closer relation between home and school.[citation needed]
[edit] Blue Tip Festival
The Blue Tip Festival is a five-day celebration of the Wadsworth community. It starts with a parade and the lighting of a 20-foot-high, blue-tip match, which lights downtown Wadsworth during the festival's duration. The festival offers amusement rides, festival foods, midway games, contests, a local merchant's tent, and other entertainment. Additional events, such as the Wadsworth Running Club's "Matchstick 4 Mile" foot race and the "Blue Tip Idol" singing contest challenge area athletes and performers. Special events have included passenger train rides on the Blue Tip Express, Community Challenges between local organizations, big top circus performances, paint ball shooting ranges, pony rides, bingo tents, and assorted musical performances. The year 2009 will mark the 37th annual Blue Tip Festival.
The Blue Tip Festival is named after the historic strike-anywhere blue tip matches which were once manufactured in Wadsworth. While match manufacturing left Wadsworth in the 1980s, the Blue Tip Festival uses the name and giant match to affirm the community's past and celebrate the modern American city. Today, the Festival is run by a non-profit organization, staffed entirely by volunteers, referred to as the Blue Tip Festival Committee. Revenues from the festival are donated to Wadsworth area non-profit groups.[7]
[edit] Notable natives and residents
- Steven Sweet, drummer of band Warrant (American band)
- Andy Sonnanstine, Tampa Bay Rays Major League pitcher[citation needed]
- Michael Foreman, American astronaut[citation needed]
- Scott Fletcher, Texas Rangers Major League second baseman
- Bob Jones, New York Giants National Football League longsnapper[citation needed]
- Laura Spelman Rockefeller, John D.Rockefeller's wife
- Ashley Jensen, adult film star
- Me
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Schapiro, Elanor Iler (1964). Wadsworth Heritage. Wadsworth News-Banner.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Wadsworth City Schools :: Administrative Department". http://www.wadsworth.k12.oh.us/administrativeDepartment.aspx?aid=20.
- ^ "District Local Report Card Information". https://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/DistrictRatings/Districts.aspx.
- ^ "Blue Tip Festival History". http://www.bluetipfestival.com/BT8%20History.htm. Retrieved 2]008-10-29.
[edit] External links
- History of Wadsworth
- Downtown Wadsworth
- The Medina County Community Advocate
- The Official City of Wadsworth Web Site
- Wadsworth City Schools
- Local Business Directory
- Wadsworth Chamber of Commerce
- Blue Tip Festival Official Home Page
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