Fremont, Ohio

File:Fremont, Ohio.jpg

Fremont is located on the former site of Junquindundeh, a historic Wyandot village on the west bank of the lower Sandusky River, near the falls and about {{convert|15|mi}} upstream from its mouth at Sandusky Bay. French merchants established a trading post there in the 1750s, but British forces took over the trading post and rest of the area after their victory in the French and Indian War.

In 1787, the newly independent United States created the Northwest Territory to include all land west of the Ohio River. In 1803 the southeastern portion of the Northwest Territory was admitted to the Union as the new state of Ohio. Under the terms of Ohio's statehood, the area of Lower Sandusky was defined as Indian Territory. American settlers who entered the area were in violation of the 1795 Treaty of Greenville, which was meant to preserve at least some land for the Native Americans. During the War of 1812 the United States Army considered removing by force the white settlers who were violating the Treaty of Greenville, but they did not carry out the threat.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Fremont,_Ohio|title=Fremont, Ohio|work=Ohio History Central|access-date=27 December 2013}}

Tensions with Great Britain increased in the early 1800s, and the United States government declared a boycott on all trade with the British, including those in Canada. The U.S. Army built Fort Sandusky near the river to protect an important supply depot. The post's name was changed to Fort Stephenson during the War of 1812. In August 1813, British forces attacked and the Battle of Fort Stephenson took place.{{cite book|last=Gilpin|first=Alec R.|title=The War of 1812 in the Old Northwest|url=https://archive.org/details/warof1812inol00gilp|url-access=registration|publisher=The Michigan State University Press|location=East Lansing, MI|date=1958|edition=1968 reprint|page=[https://archive.org/details/warof1812inol00gilp/page/207 207]}} Major George Croghan and his U.S. Army garrison successfully fought off the invaders.

With the return of peace, a settlement grew up around the fort and became known as Lower Sandusky, since it was located on the lower part of the Sandusky River. In 1821 Lower Sandusky was designated as the county seat of Sandusky County. The town gradually increased in size, with the primary occupations being shipbuilding, fishing, and agricultural processing. Sandusky Bay leads to Lake Erie, and there was good fishing for walleye in the river, which return annually to spawn upriver. By the 1830s, the population included more white settlers, despite the area being a declared reserve only for Native Americans. Numerous Wyandot people still lived in the area, and some runaway African American slaves had made it their home after reaching safety in the free state of Ohio. The city had grain and sawmills, and the first sugar mill in Ohio.

In 1849 the residents changed the name of Lower Sandusky to Fremont, to honor John C. Frémont, who helped acquire California during the Mexican–American War.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |author=Gannett, Henry |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n131 132]}}

In 1873, a few years before gaining national office, future president Rutherford B. Hayes moved into a family mansion in Fremont called Spiegel Grove, which was built by his late maternal uncle. That year Hayes announced his uncle Sardis Birchard's bequest in his will, donating property in his estate worth $50,000 to the City Council in order to establish a public library. It opened the following year on Front Street. A few years later, a new building was constructed for it in 1878 on the grounds of the Fort Stephenson State Park, per his bequest. It is now known as the Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County. Spiegel Grove was incorporated into the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, founded in 1916 as the first presidential library in the United States.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Fremont became a major center for the production of cutlery, with several manufacturing plants, as well as other industries. The cutlery industry has declined, but the city still has a large Heinz plant for producing ketchup. In 1999, the ketchup factory saw a $40 million expansion.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|254187212}} |title=OHIO; FREMONT TO BE KETCHUP CAPITAL |newspaper=Dayton Daily News |date=21 May 1999 |page=8B }}

The city set aside Fort Stephenson Park to preserve and commemorate the site of the fort that had a role in the War of 1812. Only its stone foundations are still visible. In 1885 the Sandusky County Soldiers Monument was installed in the park near Croghan Street, which was named after the commanding major of the fort. (He was promoted to colonel afterward for his success.) Former president Rutherford B. Hayes attended the ceremony.

In 1906 Colonel Croghan's remains were brought from his hometown in Kentucky to Fremont and reinterred under the Soldiers Monument. In the same ceremony, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) unveiled a plaque to the Soldiers Monument to commemorate Croghan and his garrison in their victory in the Battle of Fort Stephenson.

What is now the main building of the Birchard Public Library, which serves the entire county, was constructed in 1878 in Fort Stephenson Park, by the terms of the bequest from Sardis Birchard, who bequeathed $50,000 in assets to endow a public library in 1873. The first facility opened in 1874 in a building on Front Street.[http://www.birchard.lib.oh.us/missionHistory.htm "Birchard Library"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804170108/http://www.birchard.lib.oh.us/missionHistory.htm |date=2018-08-04 }}, Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County website, Ohio, 2018

Fremont is located on both sides of the Sandusky River.

The city has a total area of {{convert|8.57|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|8.35|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.22|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2013-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}

{{Weather box

| single line = Y

| location = Fremont, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present

|Jan record high F = 73

|Feb record high F = 75

|Mar record high F = 86

|Apr record high F = 93

|May record high F = 96

|Jun record high F = 107

|Jul record high F = 110

|Aug record high F = 105

|Sep record high F = 105

|Oct record high F = 93

|Nov record high F = 80

|Dec record high F = 72

|Jan avg record high F = 56.2

|Feb avg record high F = 58.8

|Mar avg record high F = 69.9

|Apr avg record high F = 80.9

|May avg record high F = 88.3

|Jun avg record high F = 93.6

|Jul avg record high F = 94.6

|Aug avg record high F = 93.8

|Sep avg record high F = 91.3

|Oct avg record high F = 83.3

|Nov avg record high F = 69.2

|Dec avg record high F = 59.9

|year avg record high F = 96.2

| Jan high F =33.7

| Feb high F =36.6

| Mar high F =46.7

| Apr high F =59.9

| May high F =71.5

| Jun high F =81.1

| Jul high F =85.0

| Aug high F =82.9

| Sep high F =76.8

| Oct high F =64.1

| Nov high F =50.3

| Dec high F =38.8

| Jan mean F =26.1

| Feb mean F =28.3

| Mar mean F =37.3

| Apr mean F =48.9

| May mean F =60.4

| Jun mean F =70.4

| Jul mean F =74.0

| Aug mean F =72.0

| Sep mean F =65.2

| Oct mean F =53.2

| Nov mean F =41.5

| Dec mean F =31.6

| Jan low F =18.5

| Feb low F =20.0

| Mar low F =27.8

| Apr low F =38.0

| May low F =49.5

| Jun low F =59.7

| Jul low F =63.1

| Aug low F =61.0

| Sep low F =53.6

| Oct low F =42.4

| Nov low F =32.8

| Dec low F =24.5

|Jan avg record low F = -2.1

|Feb avg record low F = 2.5

|Mar avg record low F = 11.6

|Apr avg record low F = 24.9

|May avg record low F = 34.9

|Jun avg record low F = 45.8

|Jul avg record low F = 52.2

|Aug avg record low F = 49.9

|Sep avg record low F = 40.4

|Oct avg record low F = 29.2

|Nov avg record low F = 19.0

|Dec avg record low F = 8.1

|year avg record low F = -4.5

|Jan record low F = -20

|Feb record low F = -17

|Mar record low F = -5

|Apr record low F = 6

|May record low F = 27

|Jun record low F = 38

|Jul record low F = 44

|Aug record low F = 34

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 19

|Nov record low F = 0

|Dec record low F = -17

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch =2.73

| Feb precipitation inch =2.42

| Mar precipitation inch =2.81

| Apr precipitation inch =3.83

| May precipitation inch =3.80

| Jun precipitation inch =4.10

| Jul precipitation inch =3.63

| Aug precipitation inch =3.37

| Sep precipitation inch =3.23

| Oct precipitation inch =2.91

| Nov precipitation inch =2.77

| Dec precipitation inch =2.60

|year precipitation inch = 38.20

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.2

|Feb precipitation days = 10.1

|Mar precipitation days = 10.6

|Apr precipitation days = 12.6

|May precipitation days = 12.9

|Jun precipitation days = 11.2

|Jul precipitation days = 10.3

|Aug precipitation days = 8.9

|Sep precipitation days = 9.1

|Oct precipitation days = 10.1

|Nov precipitation days = 10.2

|Dec precipitation days = 10.7

| Jan snow inch =8.4

| Feb snow inch =6.9

| Mar snow inch =3.7

| Apr snow inch =1.0

| May snow inch =0.0

| Jun snow inch =0.0

| Jul snow inch =0.0

| Aug snow inch =0.0

| Sep snow inch =0.0

| Oct snow inch =0.0

| Nov snow inch =0.9

| Dec snow inch =5.3

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 6.2

|Feb snow days = 5.1

|Mar snow days = 2.3

|Apr snow days = 0.4

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.8

|Dec snow days = 3.4

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00332974&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Fremont, OH

|access-date = March 8, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=cle

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Cleveland

|access-date = March 8, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1830= 351

|1840= 1117

|1850= 1464

|1860= 3510

|1870= 5455

|1880= 8440

|1890= 7141

|1900= 8439

|1910= 9939

|1920= 12468

|1930= 13422

|1940= 14710

|1950= 16537

|1960= 18767

|1970= 18490

|1980= 17887

|1990= 17648

|2000= 17375

|2010= 16734

|2020= 15930

|estyear=2023

|estimate=15812

|estref=

|footnote=Sources:{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fremontcityohio,US/PST045221|title=Fremont city, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=June 29, 2022}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2013-01-06}} of 2010, there were 16,734 people, 6,745 households, and 4,162 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2004.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 7,541 housing units at an average density of {{convert|903.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.7% White, 8.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 5.3% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 16.1% of the population.

There were 6,745 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.3% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 35.3 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,375 people, 6,856 households, and 4,374 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,313|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,368 housing units at an average density of {{convert|980.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.24% White, 8.29% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 5.85% from other races, and 3.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.32% of the population.

There were 6,856 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,051, and the median income for a family was $39,439. Males had a median income of $32,453 versus $22,048 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,014. About 9.8% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

The world's largest ketchup plant, operated by Heinz is located in Fremont, producing 80% of the ketchup sold in the United States.{{cite web |last1=Charles |first1=Dan |title=Meet The Man Who Guards America's Ketchup |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/09/02/754316710/meet-the-man-who-guards-americas-ketchup |publisher=National Public Radio |access-date=3 September 2019 |date=September 2, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2007/04/17/Fremont-Ohio-A-visit-to-the-heart-of-Heinz/stories/200704170329|title=Fremont, Ohio: A visit to the heart of Heinz |last=Lindeman|first=Teresa|date=April 17, 2007|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=November 8, 2020}} At one time the city was home to several cutlery companies: the Christy Company, Clauss Cutlery Company, Quikut, B.A.P. Manufacturing, the Ginsu Cutlery Line, and Herbrand tools. It was also home to a Pioneer Sugar processing plant which closed in 1997, but as of 2020, remains a Michigan Sugar warehouse,{{cite web|title=Our Story - Michigan Sugar|url=https://www.michigansugar.com/|publisher=Michigan Sugar|access-date=November 8, 2020}} despite plans in 2009 to open an ethanol refinery plant on the site.{{cite web |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/business/energy/2007/06/28/Fremont-ethanol-plant-has-twist/stories/200706280081|title= Fremont Ethanol Plant Has Twist|last=Brickey|first=Homer|date=June 28, 2007|publisher=The Blade|access-date=November 8, 2020}}

Image:Fremont Ohio Municipal Building.JPG

Image:Sandusky County Ohio Courthouse.JPG

{{unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}

Image:Spiegel Grove (Rutherford B. Hayes Summer Home).jpg

• Birchard Public Library (built in a park at the former site of Fort Stephenson)
• H. J. Heinz Company ketchup factory (the world's largest ketchup factory)
• Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
• Sandusky County Jail and Sheriff's House
• Spiegel Grove
• Fremont Speedway
• The Strand Concert Theater
• Fremont Amphitheater

Downtown Fremont is located next to the Sandusky River on Front Street. Front Street has a pedestrian scale and is home to many small businesses in historic buildings: they include boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, and other attractions. Downtown Fremont has been the center of the city for many years.

Two long-distance US routes run through Fremont, U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 20. State Routes 12, 19, 53 and 412 also pass through or terminate in the Fremont area. SR 53 roughly parallels the path of the Sandusky River, designated as a state scenic river, to its mouth at Sandusky Bay.

None of these routes passes through Fremont but were constructed outside. They are multiplexed on a bypass of the city, most of which is 4 lanes. The bypass has both grade-level crossings and controlled-access interchanges. Prior to completion of the bypass in the late 1950s, all of these routes passed through Fremont. Their former alignments are currently signed as "City Route (number)", with the number being that of the predecessor highway.{{cite web|title=Fremont Photos|first=Sandor|last=Gulyas|work=The Ohio Regional Road Pages|date=December 8, 2003|access-date=July 1, 2013|url=http://www.roadfan.com/fremont.html}}

The Ohio Turnpike, another long-distance east–west route, passes approximately 4 miles north of the city. The Turnpike is signed as Interstates 80 and 90. Exit 91 (originally Exit 6) links the Turnpike to Fremont via State Route 53.

{{clear}}

Industry is served by the Norfolk Southern railroad. In the city, it uses parts of two defunct railroads as spurs to factories.

File:Fremont old high school.png

Public education is provided by the Fremont City School District, which enrolls 3,519 students in public primary and secondary schools.{{cite web |title=Fall Enrollment (Headcount) - October 2017 Public Districts and Buildings |url=http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Data/Frequently-Requested-Data/Enrollment-Data |publisher=Ohio Department of Education |work=Enrollment Data |access-date=May 4, 2018 |date=October 2017}} The district administers four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, Fremont Ross. The city is also home to Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers, offering career-specific college level classes, Bishop Hoffman Catholic Schools, affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo, which serves students in grades preschool through 12 and includes Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School for grades nine through 12. Another private school for grades preschool through grade 12, Temple Christian Academy, is operated by Fremont Baptist Temple.{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://tcafremont.org/ |access-date=May 4, 2018 |year=2018 |publisher=Temple Christian Academy}} The first public school was erected in 1816.Meek, B., editor. (1909) . Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/13023471/ .

Terra State Community College, a two-year community college founded in 1968, is located on a {{convert|143|acre|adj=on}} campus in the western part of the city. It has an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students, mainly from Sandusky, Seneca, and Ottawa counties.

Fremont has a public library, a branch of the Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County.{{cite web | url=http://www.birchard.lib.oh.us/branches.htm | title=Branches | publisher=Birchard Public Library | access-date=3 March 2018}}

Fremont's daily newspaper is The News-Messenger. WFRO-FM (99.1 FM) "Eagle 99" broadcasts from Fremont.

• Margret Holmes Bates (1844-1927), author
• Alycia Baumgardner, model, professional boxer in the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Organization
• Tom Beier, professional football player in the National Football League (NFL), All-American in college football
• Bob Brudzinski, professional football player in the NFL
• Clarence Childs, member of 1912 US Olympic team, bronze medalist in the hammer throw
• Mark Coleman, mixed martial artist in UFC, member of UFC Hall of Fame and 1992 US Olympic wrestling team
• Everton Conger, capturer of John Wilkes Booth
• Dana DeMuth, professional umpire in Major League Baseball
• Paul Dietzel, former head coach in college football
• Doug Gallagher, professional baseball player in Major League Baseball
• Andy Genzman, racing driver
• Robert W. Hines, national wildlife artist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Alice E. Johnson, architect
• Carla F. Kim, Associate Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School
• Robert Knepper, actor, role of "T-Bag" in the Prison Break television series
• Tony Little, television fitness personality
• Rob Lytle, professional football player in the NFL, member of College Football Hall of Fame
• Shawn McCarthy, former NFL punter for the New England Patriots
• Walter R. Nickel, dermatologist
• Myles Porter, member of 2012 US Paralympic Team, silver medalist in judo
• Gary Shilling, financial analyst and commentator
• Bob Snyder, professional football player and head coach in the NFL
• Diane Wray Williams, Minnesota state legislator, businesswoman, and teacher
• Charles Woodson, professional football player in the NFL, Heisman Trophy winner, and member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Jacob Wukie, member of the 2012 US Olympic team, silver medalist in recurve archery

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Hurt, R. Douglas. The Ohio Frontier: Crucible of the Old Northwest, 1720–1830. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1996.

{{NSRW Poster}}

• [https://www.fremontohio.org/ City website]
• [http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Fremont,_Ohio Fremont, Ohio], at Ohio History Central
• [https://www.downtownfremontohio.org Downtown Fremont] - News & Information about Downtown Fremont and the City
• [https://www.rbhayes.org/ Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums]

{{Sandusky County, Ohio}}

{{Toledo}}

{{Ohio county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Ohio

Category:Cities in Sandusky County, Ohio

Category:County seats in Ohio