Stryker, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Stryker is a village in Williams County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 1,406 at the 2000 census
.
lawyer
and railroad capitalist John Stryker, who was the founder of the Michigan Southern Railroad Company, the town was organized on March 30, 1835 by James Guthrie, the first settler in the township and in the county. James settled there along the Tiffin River in 1827. The community continued to grow and by 1840 it was ranked as one of the leading agricultural areas in the United States.
The village of Stryker was surveyed on September 19, 1853 beside the proposed Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad (now known as Conrail) by John H. Sargent, Epaphras L. Barber and Jesse McCart. The village was officially recorded in Bryan
on January 15, 1854 with a legal description for 97 lots. The original streets were named Defiance, South, Church and Depot. The village was named for John Stryker, a lawyer and politician from the state of New York.
According to the village's website, the first store was opened in the fall of 1853 by French immigrant Frederick (Frederic) Louys, followed quickly by a hotel and then a sawmill. The first post office was established in 1855. In 1856 Stryker also became home to a hardware and gristmill. The first timetable for the railroad took effect on Monday June 8, 1857. The route ran from Toledo
to Elkhart
, stopping at 17 villages along the way. Stryker's first railroad depot was a freight depot on the south side of the tracks. In 1876, a large wooden depot was built on the north side, but in 1900 the roof caught fire and it burned. A new one was built to replace it that same year. Passenger service ceased to Stryker in 1956 and freight service was discontinued soon after. In 1985, the village obtained the depot, which was the police station until they moved into the building next to the current fire station.
In 1857 a two-story frame schoolhouse was built for $1,600. In 1869, a four-room brick schoolhouse was constructed at a cost of $11,500. That building burnt down on December 9, 1902, and a new building was erected in 1904 as an elementary school. The former high school, scheduled for demolition in late 2008, was built in 1918 and an addition was added in 1955. In 1979, the old elementary building was razed and a new building was erected on the site. A new high school and gymnasium were constructed and completed in 2008, set to open with the inception of the 2008-2009 school year.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,406 people, 542 households, and 391 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,736.2 people per square mile (670.2/km²). There were 577 housing units at an average density of 712.5 per square mile (275.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.74% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 3.56% from other races
, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.82% of the population.
There were 542 households out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $39,946, and the median income for a family was $44,453. Males had a median income of $30,643 versus $21,743 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,371. About 4.0% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
in Stryker, and the only school in the Stryker Local Schools district. The east schoolyard has now been mostly replaced by a new parking lot, and one of the new outer faces of the school can be clearly seen in what used to be the elementary playground; the high school wing is scheduled to be demolished for the construction of the new building sometime during 2008. Their various teams, all called the Stryker Panthers, are participants in the Buckeye Border Conference
.
The final basketball game was held on "The Stage" on February 15, 2008. Most of the coaches that coached the boys and girls teams on that floor were in attendance, including Bill Follis, who had also coached the first game held on the Stage in 1957.
Williams County, Ohio
Williams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 37,642. Its county seat is Bryan and is named for David Williams, one of the captors of John André in the American Revolutionary War.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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...
. The population was 1,406 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
History
Stryker is the oldest settlement in Williams County. Named for New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and railroad capitalist John Stryker, who was the founder of the Michigan Southern Railroad Company, the town was organized on March 30, 1835 by James Guthrie, the first settler in the township and in the county. James settled there along the Tiffin River in 1827. The community continued to grow and by 1840 it was ranked as one of the leading agricultural areas in the United States.
The village of Stryker was surveyed on September 19, 1853 beside the proposed Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad (now known as Conrail) by John H. Sargent, Epaphras L. Barber and Jesse McCart. The village was officially recorded in Bryan
Bryan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,528 households, and 2,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,821.7 people per square mile . There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile...
on January 15, 1854 with a legal description for 97 lots. The original streets were named Defiance, South, Church and Depot. The village was named for John Stryker, a lawyer and politician from the state of New York.
According to the village's website, the first store was opened in the fall of 1853 by French immigrant Frederick (Frederic) Louys, followed quickly by a hotel and then a sawmill. The first post office was established in 1855. In 1856 Stryker also became home to a hardware and gristmill. The first timetable for the railroad took effect on Monday June 8, 1857. The route ran from Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
to Elkhart
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
, stopping at 17 villages along the way. Stryker's first railroad depot was a freight depot on the south side of the tracks. In 1876, a large wooden depot was built on the north side, but in 1900 the roof caught fire and it burned. A new one was built to replace it that same year. Passenger service ceased to Stryker in 1956 and freight service was discontinued soon after. In 1985, the village obtained the depot, which was the police station until they moved into the building next to the current fire station.
In 1857 a two-story frame schoolhouse was built for $1,600. In 1869, a four-room brick schoolhouse was constructed at a cost of $11,500. That building burnt down on December 9, 1902, and a new building was erected in 1904 as an elementary school. The former high school, scheduled for demolition in late 2008, was built in 1918 and an addition was added in 1955. In 1979, the old elementary building was razed and a new building was erected on the site. A new high school and gymnasium were constructed and completed in 2008, set to open with the inception of the 2008-2009 school year.
Geography
Stryker is located at 41°30′10"N 84°25′2"W (41.502688, -84.417223).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 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 1,406 people, 542 households, and 391 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 1,736.2 people per square mile (670.2/km²). There were 577 housing units at an average density of 712.5 per square mile (275.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.74% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 3.56% 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 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.82% of the population.
There were 542 households out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $39,946, and the median income for a family was $44,453. Males had a median income of $30,643 versus $21,743 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 $16,371. About 4.0% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Stryker Local Schools provides K-12 education for the village and surrounding areas. Stryker High School is a public high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Stryker, and the only school in the Stryker Local Schools district. The east schoolyard has now been mostly replaced by a new parking lot, and one of the new outer faces of the school can be clearly seen in what used to be the elementary playground; the high school wing is scheduled to be demolished for the construction of the new building sometime during 2008. Their various teams, all called the Stryker Panthers, are participants in the Buckeye Border Conference
Buckeye Border Conference
The Buckeye Border Conference is a high school athletic league located in extreme northwest Ohio. The conference sponsors basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field for both boys and girls...
.
The final basketball game was held on "The Stage" on February 15, 2008. Most of the coaches that coached the boys and girls teams on that floor were in attendance, including Bill Follis, who had also coached the first game held on the Stage in 1957.