Galion, Ohio
Galion is a city in Crawford, Morrow, and Richland counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 10,453 at the 2020 census. Galion is the second-largest city in Crawford County after Bucyrus.
The Crawford County portion of Galion is part of the Bucyrus micropolitan statistical area. The small portion of the city that is located in Richland County is part of the Mansfield metropolitan area, while the portion extending into Morrow County is considered part of the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area.
History
The region was first inhabited by Native American tribes up until the first settlers, Benjamin Leveridge and his two sons, arrived in 1817. In 1820, William Hosford and his two sons, Asa and Horace, settled on land outside of the area. It was not until Colonel James Kilbourne decided to "lay out a town half way between Columbus and the Lakes" that the crossroads of Portland and Main street were settled by the Hosford family. This crossing was known by various names including: Moccasin, Horseshoe, Hard Scrabble, Spang Town, Hosfords and Goshen. Galion was laid out in 1831. However, in 1824 the town petitioned for a post office using the name Goshen and later changed to Galion by the postmaster general, John McLean, due to a town already being named Goshen in Ohio. The etymology of the name Galion is uncertain. A post office called Galion has been in operation since 1825.Asa Hosford is considered the "Father of Galion" due to his work as a state legislator in which he did work to get a rail line through the area that was completed in 1851.
1882 lynching
On April 30, 1882, in Galion, Ohio, a mob of around 2,000 people took Frank Fisher, an African American man accused of raping a white woman, from the town jail and lynched him. The mob hanged Fisher in broad daylight despite efforts by local authorities to intervene. The event was widely covered in newspapers at the time and is recognized as a tragic episode in Galion's history.<2005 financial scandal
In 2005, Galion, Ohio, faced a major financial scandal when its former finance director, William Bauer, confessed to embezzling at least $87,000 from the city. Bauer’s mismanagement left the town $11 million in debt, resulting in significant cuts to city services. Programs such as the D.A.R.E. antidrug initiative were eliminated, police cruisers and computers were sold, and road projects were scrapped. Residents faced higher taxes and utility costs, while volunteers stepped in to clean parks and fund community events.Bauer, who had been finance director since 1985, admitted to stealing money due to a gambling addiction and credit card problems. He attempted suicide before being sentenced and was blinded in the attempt. Bauer later pleaded guilty to five counts of embezzlement, avoiding a trial that would have revealed more details of his crimes. Despite his confession, questions about where the stolen funds went remained unanswered.
The State Auditor placed Galion in fiscal emergency, appointing a board to help the city recover financially, which was expected to take five years. City officials, who trusted Bauer due to his longstanding reputation, implemented new financial safeguards to prevent future fraud.
Geography
Galion is located in the southeastern corner of Crawford County.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Galion lies just south of a continental divide. The Olentangy River begins near and runs through Galion, and then winds southward toward Columbus and eventually empties into the Scioto River, a tributary of the Ohio and thus of the Mississippi. However, Lake Galion, which lies just north of town, is part of the Sandusky River watershed, which drains via Lakes Erie and Ontario into the Saint Lawrence River.
Demographics
2020 census
The 2020 United States census reported Galion's population as being 10,453, a slight decrease in the city's population since 2010.2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 10,512 people, 4,484 households, and 2,797 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 5,192 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.There were 4,484 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size as 2.89.
The median age in the city was 39.7 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,341 people, 4,791 households, and 3,090 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 5,150 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 98.28% White, 0.22% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.There were 4,791 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,513, and the median income for a family was $38,554. Males had a median income of $32,517 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,113. About 11.9% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The Galion brand of heavy equipment, such as road graders, road rollers, and earthmovers, was manufactured by Galion Iron Works, later purchased by Dresser Industries and then by Komatsu.Galion was once the home of Peabody Galion, a manufacturer of sanitation equipment, primarily dump bodies, as well as front loading, side-loading and rear loading garbage trucks; rivaling the Heil Company for numbers of units sold throughout the world. For a short time, in the early 1970s, Peabody Galion maintained a manufacturing plant in Durant, Oklahoma, known as "Peabody Galion, Durant Division".
Galion was also once home to North Electric Company, a prime supplier of telephone switching systems for government and international markets. It was also producer of the Ericofon, the first ever one-piece telephone designed by Ralph Lysell and Hugo Blomberg. Founded in 1884 by Charles N. North, the company became part of Ericsson in 1951. It was purchased by ITT in the mid-1970s and operated as ITT PowerSystems until the late 1980s, when it was sold to a private consortium and renamed PECO II. Peco II purchased the telecommunications product line and associated assets from ITT in 1988. In 2010, PECO II was acquired by Lineage Power of Plano, Texas and has since closed the plant.
Arts and culture
Community organizations
The Galion Community Theatre, founded in 1972, has been a cultural cornerstone of the city, offering a platform for both local talent and a broad range of theatrical performances. Located in downtown Galion, the theater operates out of a historic building that adds to the town’s charm and cultural landscape. The GCT presents a variety of productions throughout the year, including musicals, plays, and children’s theater, catering to diverse audiences.In addition to its mainstage productions, GCT serves as an educational space, hosting workshops and classes that foster community engagement with the performing arts. These programs provide creative outlets for aspiring actors, directors, and technicians of all ages. The theater is particularly known for its role in nurturing young talent through youth programs, giving children and teens a chance to participate in live theater, both on stage and behind the scenes. The Galion Community Theatre’s impact extends beyond entertainment. It strengthens community bonds by offering residents a venue for socializing, volunteering, and participating in cultural events. Local participation is encouraged through open auditions and the involvement of volunteers in various capacities, from set design to production support. This has made the theater a vital part of Galion’s social and cultural identity. Additionally, the theater collaborates with local businesses and organizations, further embedding itself in the community by hosting special events, fundraisers, and themed performances that resonate with local traditions and causes.
The Galion History Center is a historical institution located in Galion, Ohio, dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the city and its surrounding areas. Housed in several historic buildings, including the Brownella Cottage and the Galion Historical Museum, the center offers visitors a glimpse into the community’s cultural and architectural heritage. The centerpiece, Brownella Cottage, is a Victorian-era home built in 1887 for Bishop William Montgomery Brown, a notable figure in Galion’s history. The cottage is built in the Gothic architectural style, and the center offers guided tours about Bishop Brown. The center also features exhibits, archives, and collections that document the industrial, social, and cultural evolution of Galion. It also hosts educational programs, special events, and community engagement activities.