Bluffton, Ohio

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Bluffton, Ohio
settlement_type = Village
nickname =
website =

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imagesize = 300px
image_caption = A view down Main Street in Bluffton


image_



mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Ohio


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Ohio
subdivision_name2 = Allen, Hancock
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Fred Rodabaugh
area_footnotes =
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_km2 = 8.7
area_land_km2 = 8.6
area_water_km2 = 0.1
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3,896
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 451.7
timezone = EST
utc_offset = −5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = −4
latitude = 40°53'38" N
longitude = 83°53'30" W
latd = 40 |latm = 53 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 53 |longs = 30 |longEW = W
area_total_sq_mi = 3.4
area_land_sq_mi = 3.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 254
elevation_ft = 833
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 45817
area_code = 419
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 39-07426GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1064461GR|3
website = http://www.bluffton-ohio.com/
footnotes =

Bluffton is a village in Allen and Hancock counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It had a population of 3,896 at the 2000 census. Bluffton is included in the Lima-Van Wert-Wapakoneta, OH Combined Statistical Area. Bluffton is home to Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Bluffton is served by the Bluffton general aviation airport.

Geography

Bluffton is located at coor dms|40|53|38|N|83|53|30|W|city (40.893881, -83.891605).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.89%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,896 people, 1,329 households, and 851 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,170.2 people per square mile (451.7/km²). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 428.6/sq mi (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.77% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 1,329 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the village the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 22.3% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 76.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $43,208, and the median income for a family was $54,948. Males had a median income of $40,208 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,711. About 4.9% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Elementary and secondary

Bluffton High School sports participate in the Northwest Conference, an athletic body sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) which includes the Ada Bulldogs, Allen East Mustangs, Bluffton Pirates, Columbus Grove Bulldogs, Convoy Crestview Knights, Delphos Jefferson Wildcats, Lima Central Catholic T-Birds, Lincolnview Lancers, Paulding Panthers, and Spencerville Bearcats.

Higher education

Bluffton is home to Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution affiliated with Mennonite Church USA.

On March 2, 2007, 5 Bluffton University baseball players and the bus driver and his wife were killed in a chartered motorcoach crash on I-75 near downtown Atlanta, Georgia while en route to a tournament in Sarasota, Florida. (See Bluffton University bus accident).

Industry

Mid Bus, founded in 1982 in Lima by former employees of the Superior Coach Company after the major school bus body company closed in 1981. Specializing in smaller models, primarily based upon van and cutaway van chassis, Mid Bus grew and became one of the larger manufacturers of customized school buses in the United states. After outgrowing several smaller facilities, in 1995, Mid Bus relocated to a much larger manufacturing and assembly facility in Bluffton. The company was acquired by Collins Industries in 1998. On September 19, 2007, Collins announced plans to close the Mid Bus plant in Ohio and consolidate all manufacturing at the Collins facility in Kansas. http://www.collinsbus.com/pdf_files/091807.pdf]

Notable people

* Science fiction writer Tobias Buckell lives in Bluffton.

Annual activities

* Blaze of Lights Festival - Saturday after Thanksgiving
* Freedom Fest - sponsored by the Bluffton/Pandora Rotary Club, held the Saturday prior to July 4
* Festival of Wheels Car Show
* Special Places, Outdoor Spaces Spring Festival & Craft Show - Third Saturday in May

References

External links