Toledo, Ohio

Toledo is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States, and it is the main city of the county. It is located at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. Toledo is the fourth-largest city in Ohio and the 86th-largest city in the U.S. The city has about 270,871 people, based on the 2020 census.

The city was founded in 1833 and was part of the Michigan Territory. It became part of Ohio in 1837 after the Toledo War. The building of the Miami and Erie Canal in 1845 helped the city grow quickly. Toledo also became important for trains traveling between New York City and Chicago.

Many glass makers started businesses there in the 1880s, which gave Toledo the nickname "The Glass City." Today, Downtown Toledo has new entertainment places, and the city is home to the University of Toledo. Toledo is also a major trade center with a very busy port on the Great Lakes.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Toledo, Ohio.

The area was home to the historic Wyandot and people of the Council of Three Fires (Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa). The French set up trading posts here by 1680, using the fur trade. The Odawa moved from Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula to live near the Maumee River.

When Toledo was getting ready to pave its streets, they found "two prehistoric semicircular earthworks, likely for stockades." One was at the intersection of Clayton and Oliver Streets, and the other was at Fassett and Fort Streets.

19th century

Fort Industry was built at the mouth of Swan Creek around 1805. The United States brought more settlers to the area after treaties with local tribes. In 1807, tribes gave up land that later became part of Toledo through the Treaty of Detroit.

More settlers came after 1818 when a group bought land and named it Port Lawrence, which became part of downtown Toledo. Another group founded Vistula nearby. These towns merged in 1833.

The Ohio state legislature approved building the Miami and Erie Canal in 1824. The canal aimed to connect Cincinnati to Lake Erie for better trade. Towns along the Maumee River wanted to be the canal’s end point. Port Lawrence and Vistula merged to compete better. The people chose the name Toledo, though no one knows exactly why.

The canal’s final end was a bit north of Toledo. Toledo grew slowly at first but began to boom after the canal was finished in 1843. Railroads started replacing canals later in the century, and Toledo became a center for many industries.

20th century

In the 1920s, Toledo grew quickly with many new factories. The Great Depression hurt the city because it relied on factories. Projects helped create jobs in the 1930s.

After World War II, many people moved to Toledo for factory jobs. Some areas changed a lot, but later job losses hurt the city again.

21st century

People in Toledo have worked to improve their city with gardens and art. Old buildings have been turned into new homes and shops.

In 2014, a warning was issued not to use Toledo’s water because of harmful algae near the water pipe in Lake Erie. The Ohio National Guard helped bring water to people.

In 2018, a big company invested in a new factory in Toledo, planning to create many jobs. The factory was finished in 2020.

Geography

Toledo is located at 41°39′10″N 83°32′16″W / 41.65278°N 83.53778°W / 41.65278; -83.53778 (41.6525, −83.5375). The city covers 84.12 square miles (217.87 km²), with 3.43 square miles (8.88 km²) of that area being water.

The city is along the Maumee River where it meets the southern end of Maumee Bay, the westernmost part of Lake Erie. Toledo lies north of what used to be the Great Black Swamp, which gave the city another nickname, Frog Town. The area around Toledo is part of a sandy oak savanna called the Oak Openings Region, an important ecological site.

Toledo is within 250 miles (400 km) by road from seven big cities: Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Chicago. It is also within 300 miles (480 km) west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Toledo, Ohio

Neighborhoods and suburbs

Main article: Neighborhoods in Toledo, Ohio

The Old West End is a historic neighborhood with Victorian and other old houses. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Some of Toledo's neighborhoods and suburbs include Downtown, Harvard Terrace, Library Village, Old Orchard, Old West End, Point Place, Warehouse District, and Westmoreland, among others.

On January 15, 1936, Toledo built the first structure completely covered in glass. This was a building for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company and showed a new style of architectural design that was becoming popular in the US.

The Toledo metropolitan area covers three Ohio counties. Some suburbs near Toledo in Ohio include Bowling Green, Holland, Lake Township, Maumee, Millbury, Monclova Township, Northwood, Oregon, Ottawa Hills, Perrysburg, Rossford, Springfield Township, Sylvania, Walbridge, Waterville, Whitehouse, and Washington Township. Bedford Township, Michigan, including Lambertville, Temperance, and Erie Township, has Toledo's Michigan suburbs.

Climate

Toledo has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with four different seasons. Lake Erie helps control the climate a bit, especially in spring and fall. However, the lake usually freezes in winter, so it does not help as much then.

Summers are warm and humid, with July averaging 75.4 °F (24.1 °C). Winters are cold and can be snowy, with January averaging 27.5 °F (−2.5 °C). Spring is usually the wettest time of year. About 37 inches (94 cm) of snow falls each year. The temperature in Toledo has ranged from −20 °F (−29 °C) on January 21, 1984, to 105 °F (41 °C) on July 14, 1936.

Algae blooms

Harmful blooms of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, were very bad in Lake Erie in the 1960s. Rules to clean the water helped the lake recover, but these blooms have returned since the late 1990s. These blooms can harm nature and sometimes make the water look strange or smell bad. They can also hurt jobs like tourism and fishing.

Demographics

In 1870, most people in Toledo who were born in other countries came from Germany and Ireland.

2020 census

In the 2020 census, 270,871 people lived in Toledo. There were 116,257 households, with about 2.3 people in each home. The city has many different groups of people: 60.6% were White, 28.1% were African American, and smaller numbers of other groups. About 8.8% of people were Hispanic or Latino.

Many people in Toledo are young. About 23% were under 18 years old, and 14.5% were 65 or older. Most people lived in the same house for a year or more, and some families spoke languages other than English at home.

2010 census

In 2010, 287,208 people lived in Toledo. The city had many different groups of people: 64.8% were White, 27.2% were African American, and smaller numbers of other groups. About 7.4% of people were Hispanic or Latino.

Families in Toledo had different setups. Some had children under 18, some were couples living together, and others were single parents or lived alone.

2000 census

In 2000, 313,619 people lived in Toledo. The city had many different groups of people: 70.2% were White, 23.5% were African American, and smaller numbers of other groups. About 5.5% of people were Hispanic or Latino.

Families in Toledo had different setups. Some had children under 18, some were couples living together, and others were single parents or lived alone.

Crime

In the early 2010s, Toledo saw an increase in serious crimes such as burglaries, robberies, and assaults. The number of these crimes changed each year during this time.

Starting in 2020, the city saw a large rise in the number of homicides. This trend continued into 2021.

Economy

Before the Industrial Revolution, Toledo was an important port city on the Great Lakes. With the rise of automobiles, the city became known for making cars. Big companies like General Motors and Chrysler had factories there, and making cars was a big part of the city’s work for much of the 1900s. Jeep was the biggest employer in Toledo for many years.

Today, the University of Toledo helps make healthcare a major job area in the city. Toledo is also called the Glass City because it has a long history of making glass things like windows, bottles, and art. Even though many factory jobs have decreased, Toledo has started growing in new areas like solar energy and farming inside buildings.

Arts and culture

Toledo has many places for music, theater, and art. You can enjoy classical music with groups like the Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and Toledo Jazz Orchestra. There are also beautiful theaters such as the Stranahan Theater and the historic Valentine Theatre.

The Toledo Museum of Art is in a grand old building and has special spaces for art shows. The city also has many public art pieces you can see while walking around. Toledo has a long history with jazz music and has been home to many famous musicians.

There are interesting museums too, like the National Museum of the Great Lakes where you can learn about ships and the lake, and the Imagination Station, a hands-on science museum perfect for kids. You can also visit Tony Packo's Cafe to see hot dog buns signed by famous people.

Sports

Toledo has many fun sports teams and events. The Toledo Mud Hens play baseball at Fifth Third Field, and the Toledo Rockets football team plays at the Glass Bowl.

There are also women's football teams like the Toledo Reign and the Toledo Crush. Toledo Speedway has exciting car races and concerts. The Inverness Club is a famous golf course that has hosted important tournaments. The city has also been a place for international wrestling competitions.

Parks and recreation

The Toledo Metroparks system covers more than 12,000 acres. It includes the University/Parks Bicycle Trail and the Toledo Botanical Garden.

The Toledo Zoo was the first zoo to have a special exhibit like a hippoquarium. In 2014, it was named the best zoo in the country by USA Today. The R. A. Stranahan Arboretum is a beautiful garden cared for by the University of Toledo.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Toledo, Ohio

The city is led by the Toledo City Council and a mayor. Wade Kapszukiewicz has been the mayor since 2018. Important courts, like the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals and part of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, are in Toledo.

Education

The University of Toledo is a public research university in the Ottawa neighborhood. It is the largest college in the city. Other colleges include Tiffin University, Owens Community College, Davis College, and the Toledo Professional Skills Institute. There are also schools focused on health sciences, such as the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and Mercy College of Ohio.

Public schools in Toledo are managed by the Toledo City School District and Washington Local School District. The district serves many students and includes several high schools. There are also many charter, private, and religious schools in the area, such as Maumee Valley Country Day School and Central Catholic High School. The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is one of the biggest-spending libraries in the United States.

Media

Main article: Media in Toledo, Ohio

Toledo has many places to get news and entertainment. One of the main newspapers is The Blade, which has been around since 1835. There are also other newspapers like Toledo City Paper and Toledo Journal.

Toledo has several television stations, including WTOL, WTVG, WNWO, WBGU, WGTE, WUPW, and WLMB. There are also many radio stations, playing different kinds of music and news. Some of these include WPOS, WSPD, and WGTE-FM.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Major highways

Three major interstate highways go through Toledo. Interstate 75 (I-75) goes north–south and leads to Detroit and Cincinnati. The Ohio Turnpike carries traffic east–west on I-(/wiki/Interstate_80)/(/wiki/Interstate_90). It connects Toledo to Chicago to the west and Cleveland to the east.

There are also two smaller interstate highways nearby. Interstate 475 is a bypass road that starts in Perrysburg and ends in west Toledo. Interstate 280 links the Ohio Turnpike to I-75 through east and central Toledo. The Veterans' Glass City Skyway is part of this route. The Anthony Wayne Bridge, a big bridge over the Maumee River, has been part of Toledo's view for over 80 years.

Mass transit

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority runs local buses, called TARTA. There are also services for people who cannot use regular buses. Greyhound Lines and Barons Bus Lines provide buses between cities. Their station is at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza. Barons Bus Lines goes to Ann Arbor, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Toledo has many taxi companies.

Airports

Toledo Express Airport is the main airport for the city. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is also close by. Toledo Executive Airport and Toledo Suburban Airport are smaller airports used for private planes.

Railroads at present

Amtrak trains stop at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza in Toledo. There are also many freight trains in the area.

Railroads in the past

In the past, Toledo was an important place for railroads. Many different railroads came together here to move goods.

Interurbans

Toledo used to have streetcars and special trains called interurbans that went to nearby towns, but they are no longer used.

Healthcare

ProMedica, started in Toledo, is a big health care system. It has many hospitals in the area, including ProMedica Toledo Hospital.

Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center is Toledo's first hospital. It helps treat mothers and babies, and is a place for serious injuries.

There are also many smaller health centers in Toledo.

Water

The city cleans and supplies water for over 500,000 people from Lake Erie. The water system serves many homes and fire hydrants and has many miles of water pipes.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Toledo, Ohio

Toledo, Ohio, has been home to many famous people. These people have done important things in sports, entertainment, and other areas. The city has a long history of people who have made their mark in the world.

In popular culture

The phrase "Holy Toledo" is often used. It comes from the many beautiful churches in the city. These churches are built in styles like Gothic, Renaissance, and Spanish Mission.

The city has appeared in many songs and TV shows. Singer John Denver wrote a song called "Saturday Night In Toledo, Ohio" after finding the city quiet at night. He later performed it there again. The TV character Corporal Maxwell Klinger from the show MASH* was from Toledo. Country singer Kenny Rogers’ hit song "Lucille" was inspired by a trip to Toledo. The band Yes mentioned Toledo in their song "Our Song." Toledo has also been featured in TV shows like Supernatural, Melissa & Joey, A.P. Bio, and the upcoming sitcom The Paper.

Sister cities

Toledo, Ohio, formed its first sister city relationship with Toledo, Spain, in 1931. This was the very first sister city pair in the United States.

Toledo has many sister cities around the world, including:

• Beqaa Valley, Lebanon
• Coburg, Germany
• Coimbatore, India
• Delmenhorst, Germany
• Ferrara, Italy
• Hyderabad, Pakistan
• Londrina, Brazil
• Nanchong, China
• Poznań, Poland
• Qinhuangdao, China
• Szeged, Hungary
• Tanga, Tanzania
• Toledo, Spain
• Toyohashi, Japan