Norwalk, Ohio
Encyclopedia
At the 2000 census
, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,950.3 per square mile (752.6/km²). There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile (309.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.53% White, 1.95% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 1.86% from other races
, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82% of the population.
There were 6,377 households of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.
Age distribution was 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median household income
was $37,778, and the median family income was $45,789. Males had a median income of $36,582 versus $22,165 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,519. About 6.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
and Interstate 90
, also known as the Ohio Turnpike
, are approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Norwalk's city limits with an interchange at U.S. Route 250
.
The U.S. highways that run through Norwalk include U.S. Route 20
(part of the Norwalk bypass south of town), which connects Fremont
to the west and Elyria
to the east; and U.S. Route 250
, which connects Sandusky
from the northwest and Ashland
from the southeast.
State highways that run through Norwalk include SR 13, which connects Mansfield
from the south and Huron
fromt the north; SR 18, which connects Tiffin
from the west and Medina
from the east; and SR 61
, which connects Shelby
from the south and Berlin Heights
as well as Lake Erie
from the northeast.
Furthermore, State Route 601
is an alternate two-lane highway that acts as a de-facto eastern bypass of Norwalk and US 250, running from SR 113 at Milan
to SR 18 southeast of Norwalk.
and Chicago
is available at the Amtrak station
in nearby Sandusky.
. Outlying portions of the city are also served by the Berlin-Milan Local
, Monroeville Local and Western Reserve Local School Districts. Residents of Norwalk who live in school districts have the option to send their children to Norwalk City Schools through open enrollment.
Norwalk is also home to multiple options for religious education including Norwalk Catholic Schools / Saint Paul High School
(Roman Catholic), and Trinity Christian Academy (Protestant, non-denominational).
Census
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...
, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. 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 1,950.3 per square mile (752.6/km²). There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile (309.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.53% White, 1.95% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 1.86% 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 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82% of the population.
There were 6,377 households of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.
Age distribution was 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $37,778, and the median family income was $45,789. Males had a median income of $36,582 versus $22,165 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 city was $18,519. About 6.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Highways
Interstate 80Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
and Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
, also known as the Ohio Turnpike
Ohio Turnpike
The Ohio Turnpike, officially the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, is a -long, limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor to Chicago and Pittsburgh...
, are approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Norwalk's city limits with an interchange at U.S. Route 250
U.S. Route 250
U.S. Route 250 is a route of the United States Numbered Highway System, and is a spur of U.S. Route 50. It currently runs for from Sandusky, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. It goes through the cities of Richmond, Virginia,...
.
The U.S. highways that run through Norwalk include U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
(part of the Norwalk bypass south of town), which connects Fremont
Fremont, Ohio
Fremont Public Schools enroll 4,450 students in public primary and secondary schools. The district administers 9 public schools including seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, Fremont Ross. In addition, the city is home to one private catholic high school, Saint Joseph...
to the west and Elyria
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
to the east; and U.S. Route 250
U.S. Route 250
U.S. Route 250 is a route of the United States Numbered Highway System, and is a spur of U.S. Route 50. It currently runs for from Sandusky, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. It goes through the cities of Richmond, Virginia,...
, which connects Sandusky
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
from the northwest and Ashland
Ashland, Ohio
Ashland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Ashland County. The population was 21,249 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Ashland Micropolitan Statistical Area...
from the southeast.
State highways that run through Norwalk include SR 13, which connects Mansfield
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
from the south and Huron
Huron, Ohio
Huron is a city in Erie County, Ohio, United States. The population was 7,958 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sandusky, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History and culture:...
fromt the north; SR 18, which connects Tiffin
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
from the west and Medina
Medina, Ohio
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males...
from the east; and SR 61
Ohio State Route 61
State Route 61 is a north–south state highway in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its southern terminus is at the U.S. Route 36/State Route 3 concurrency in Sunbury, and its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 6 east of Huron, at the southern-most point of Lake Erie...
, which connects Shelby
Shelby, Ohio
Shelby is a city in Richland County in the U.S. state of Ohio, northwest of the city of Mansfield. It is part of the Mansfield, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,821 at the 2000 census.-History:...
from the south and Berlin Heights
Berlin Heights, Ohio
Berlin Heights is a village in Erie County, Ohio, United States. The population was 685 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sandusky, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
as well as Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
from the northeast.
Furthermore, State Route 601
Ohio State Route 601
Ohio State Route 601 ' is a north–south state highway in North Central Ohio. A de facto two-lane eastern bypass of Norwalk, OH 601 has its southern terminus at OH 18 southeast of Norwalk, adjacent to Summit Motorsports Park...
is an alternate two-lane highway that acts as a de-facto eastern bypass of Norwalk and US 250, running from SR 113 at Milan
Milan, Ohio
Milan is a village in Erie and Huron counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,445 at the 2000 census.The Erie County portion of Milan is part of the Sandusky Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Huron County portion is part of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History...
to SR 18 southeast of Norwalk.
Railways
One active freight railroad line runs through Norwalk, the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad. Passenger rail service to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
is available at the Amtrak station
Sandusky (Amtrak station)
The Sandusky Amtrak station is an Amtrak station in Sandusky, Ohio. Located at 1200 North Depot Street, the station consists of an uncovered platform on the north side of the east-west tracks, a small parking lot, and two buildings...
in nearby Sandusky.
Education
Due to city annexations and previously determined school district boundaries, Norwalk is served by four public school districts. The majority of the city is served by the Norwalk City School DistrictNorwalk City School District
Norwalk City School District is a public school district serving students in the city of Norwalk, parts of Bronson Township, and Norwalk Township in Huron County, Ohio, United States...
. Outlying portions of the city are also served by the Berlin-Milan Local
Berlin-Milan Local School District
The Edison Local School District is a district in Erie County and Huron County in north central Ohio serving the municipalities of Berlin Heights, Milan, and parts of Norwalk as well as parts of the townships of Berlin, Florence, Huron, Milan, Norwalk, Oxford, Perkins, and Vermilion.Edison High...
, Monroeville Local and Western Reserve Local School Districts. Residents of Norwalk who live in school districts have the option to send their children to Norwalk City Schools through open enrollment.
Norwalk is also home to multiple options for religious education including Norwalk Catholic Schools / Saint Paul High School
St. Paul High School (Ohio)
Saint Paul High School is a private, Catholic high school located in Norwalk, Ohio. It is part of Norwalk Catholic Schools, a K-12 organization of schools and parishes in Norwalk and neighboring Milan. SPHS has a current enrollment of 237 students and is one of fourteen high schools in the Roman...
(Roman Catholic), and Trinity Christian Academy (Protestant, non-denominational).
In popular culture
- Norwalk is the birthplace of Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
coach Paul BrownPaul BrownPaul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
and American League Baseball's first president, Ban JohnsonBan JohnsonByron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson , was an American executive in professional baseball who served as the founder and first president of the American League ....
. - In 1968 an intestinal virus outbreak at a primary school led to the discovery of a new virus type, known as the Norovirus, originally called the "Norwalk virus".
- The International Hot Rod AssociationInternational Hot Rod AssociationThe International Hot Rod Association, also known as IHRA, is the 2nd largest drag racing sanctioning body after the NHRA.-The Carrier Era:The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larry Carrier. Throughout this period the organization was operated primarily in the south-eastern United...
, a drag racing sanctioning body, is headquartered in Norwalk. - Norwalk is home to Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, an NHRA-sanctioned drag racing strip.
- The Norwalk Furniture Company was founded and is headquartered in Norwalk.
- Fisher BodyFisher BodyFisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
, now part of General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, had its origin here in the late 19th century. - Norwalk Truck Lines was founded in Norwalk and at one time was one of the largest freight companies in America. The Norwalk High School football team is still called "The Truckers". The company was sold to Buckingham Transportation in the mid 1960's, which then became part of Yellow Freight. The remnants of the Norwalk Truck Lines terminal can still be seen on Woodlawn Avenue between East Water Street and East Summit Street. The buildings are now used by the city of Norwalk.