Grand Rapids, Ohio

Grand Rapids was originally called Gilead, and under the latter name was platted in 1833.{{cite book|last=Leeson|first=Michael A.|title=Commemorative Historical and Biographical Record of Wood County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Early Settlement and Development |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=edoyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA272|year=1897|publisher=J.H. Beers & Company|page=272}} To meet the challenges of keeping enough water in its canals in the 1840s, the state of Ohio built a large dam across the Maumee River at Gilead in 1845. Because the dam replaced a smaller dam that had been built to provide power to a mill and thereby restricted the water power provided to the mill, the outraged citizens of Gilead destroyed the dam. Following the destruction of the dam, a side cut canal was built that connected Gilead with the main canal. This caused an economic boom in Gilead and the village was incorporated as Grand Rapids in 1855.{{cite web |url=https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/mary-jane-thurston-state-park |title=Mary Jane Thurston State Park |publisher=Ohio Department of Natural Resources |access-date=November 7, 2020}}

A post office called Gilead was established in 1837, and the name was changed to Grand Rapids in 1868.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=OH&county=Wood | title=Wood County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=January 11, 2016}} The village was incorporated in 1885.{{cite web|url=http://www.co.wood.oh.us/history/ctv.htm |title=Cities, Townships, & Villages |publisher=Wood County Government |access-date=January 11, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606014831/http://www.co.wood.oh.us/history/ctv.htm |archive-date=June 6, 2015 }}

An ice jam led to a major flood in February 1959, resulting in extensive damage and displacing 130 residents.{{cite news |title=TERRE HAUTE BRACES FOR WABASH FLOOD |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/13/archives/terre-haute-braces-for-wabash-flood.html |access-date=April 9, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=February 13, 1959}}{{cite news |title=Special Report: Extensive flooding likely on area rivers as snow melts |url=https://www.wtol.com/article/news/special-report-extensive-flooding-likely-on-area-rivers-as-snow-melts/512-fd8e3e1a-9b97-49bd-94f9-15ec0860f638 |access-date=April 9, 2022 |work=wtol.com |date=February 19, 2014}}

Image:grandrapidsohio3.jpg|The Maumee River as seen from Grand Rapids

Image:grandrapidsohio2.jpg|LaRoe's Restaurant, one of the oldest businesses in Grand Rapids

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of {{convert|0.97|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.88|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.09|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=January 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}

{{US Census population

|align=left|1880= 332

|1890= 572

|1900= 549

|1910= 574

|1920= 517

|1930= 589

|1940= 614

|1950= 657

|1960= 670

|1970= 976

|1980= 962

|1990= 955

|2000= 1002

|2010= 965

|2020= 925

|estyear=2023

|estimate=928

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

File:Grand Rapids Town Hall.jpg

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2013}} of 2010, there were 965 people living in the village. The population density was {{convert|1096.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 429 housing units at an average density of {{convert|487.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 96.5% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 385 households, of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% 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 3.00.

The median age in the village was 38.9 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

As of the census of 2000, the population density was {{convert|1,990.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 423 housing units at an average density of {{convert|840.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 97.21% White, 0.20% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.60% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.89% of the population.

There were 402 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% 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 2.98.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $42,014, and the median income for a family was $50,982. Males had a median income of $35,357 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,796. About 2.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

• Edward Byers, Medal of Honor recipient {{cite web |url=https://www.sent-trib.com/news/ghanbari-dedicates-highway-to-medal-of-honor-recipient-byers/article_f6e4df36-fda6-11ea-aaf0-77bad814db5d.html |title=Ghanbari dedicates highway to Medal of Honor Recipient Byers |newspaper=Sentinel-Tribune |location=Bowling Green, Ohio |date=September 23, 2020}}
• Dominick Labino, glass researcher and artist

• [https://grandrapidsohio.com/ Village website]
• [http://www.grandrapidsohiochamber.com/ Chamber of Commerce]
• [https://maumeevalleyheritagecorridor.org/ Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor], local history

{{Wood County, Ohio}}

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Category:Villages in Wood County, Ohio

Category:Villages in Ohio