Antwerp, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Antwerp is a village in Paulding County
, Ohio
, United States
, along the Maumee River
. The population was 1,740 at the 2000 census.
Antwerp is the nearest village to the Six Mile Reservoir, the site of the Reservoir War
in 1887. Antwerp is the birthplace of Asa Long
, the English draughts
player. The place is named after the Flemish
city of Antwerp.
. The area was avoided by the early settlers due to its thick forestation and extensive swamps and marshes. After the area had been drained, small industries developed here, and the construction of the canals along the Maumee River in the 1840s and the land reclamation project that followed helped convert the former swamplands into fertile farmlands, leading to the growth of a farming community in Antwerp.
In the late 19th century, Antwerp was the largest village in Paulding County; its economy was driven by a lucrative local logging
industry. Accordingly, when the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway
decided to erect a train station
in the village, it was built larger than stations in most other communities in the region. After the train station closed in 1976, it was purchased by the local historical society; today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as the "Antwerp Norfolk and Western Depot
".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,740 people, 739 households, and 487 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,500.1 people per square mile (579.2/km²). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 675.9 per square mile (261.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.69% from other races
, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 739 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,139, and the median income for a family was $40,441. Males had a median income of $33,684 versus $23,158 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $18,785. About 5.6% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Paulding County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,293 people, 7,773 households, and 5,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 8,478 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along the Maumee River
Maumee River
The Maumee River is a river in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana in the United States. It is formed at Fort Wayne, Indiana by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers, and meanders northeastwardly for through an agricultural region of glacial moraines before flowing into the...
. The population was 1,740 at the 2000 census.
Antwerp is the nearest village to the Six Mile Reservoir, the site of the Reservoir War
Reservoir war
The Reservoir War was a minor insurrection in Paulding County, Ohio, United States in 1887.Just east of Antwerp, Ohio was the Six Mile Reservoir of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The reservoir, about 2000 acres in size, had been built in 1840 by damming and diking a creek...
in 1887. Antwerp is the birthplace of Asa Long
Asa Long
Asa Long was an important figure in English draughts generally called checkers in his native USA.- Checkers champion :Asa A. Long was born in Antwerp, Ohio in 1904. As a child he learned the game of checkers when the family moved to Toledo, Ohio. At 16 he won the state tournament and at 18 he...
, the English draughts
English draughts
English draughts or checkers , also called American checkers or straight checkers or in Israel damka, is a form of draughts board game. Unlike international draughts, it is played on an eight by eight squared board with twelve pieces on each side...
player. The place is named after the Flemish
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
city of Antwerp.
History
Antwerp is located in the former wetland region known until the 19th century as the Great Black SwampGreat Black Swamp
The Great Black Swamp, or simply Black Swamp, was a glacially caused wetland in northwest Ohio, United States, extending into extreme northeastern Indiana, that existed from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation until the late 19th century...
. The area was avoided by the early settlers due to its thick forestation and extensive swamps and marshes. After the area had been drained, small industries developed here, and the construction of the canals along the Maumee River in the 1840s and the land reclamation project that followed helped convert the former swamplands into fertile farmlands, leading to the growth of a farming community in Antwerp.
In the late 19th century, Antwerp was the largest village in Paulding County; its economy was driven by a lucrative local logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
industry. Accordingly, when the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway
Wabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
decided to erect a train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in the village, it was built larger than stations in most other communities in the region. After the train station closed in 1976, it was purchased by the local historical society; today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the "Antwerp Norfolk and Western Depot
Antwerp Norfolk and Western Depot
The Antwerp Norfolk and Western Depot is a historic former train station in the village of Antwerp in the far western portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Built in 1880 by the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway, it is a primarily wooden structure with weatherboarded walls...
".
Geography
Antwerp is located at 41°10′48"N 84°44′21"W (41.180112, -84.739086).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,740 people, 739 households, and 487 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,500.1 people per square mile (579.2/km²). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 675.9 per square mile (261.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.69% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 739 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,139, and the median income for a family was $40,441. Males had a median income of $33,684 versus $23,158 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $18,785. About 5.6% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Community website of Antwerp
- Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor, local history