Bowling Green, Ohio

Bowling Green is a city in Wood County, Ohio, USA. The population was 29,636 at the 2000 census. It is the home of the Black Swamp Arts Festival, along with being the county seat of Wood County.

Geography

Bowling Green is located at (41.373942, -83.650873).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.4 km² (10.2 mi²). 26.3 km² (10.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.29%) is water.

History

Bowling Green was first settled in 1832, was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became a city in 1904.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,636 people, 10,266 households, and 4,434 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,127.3/km² (2,919.0/mi²). There were 10,667 housing units at an average density of 405.8/km² (1,050.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.84% White, 2.82% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.48% of the population.

There were 10,266 households out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.8% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 13.1% under the age of 18, 46.6% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,599, and the median income for a family was $51,804. Males had a median income of $33,619 versus $25,364 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,032. About 8.0% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Bowling Green is a college town, with 46.6% of the population being between the age of 18 to 24.

Alternative BG

Despite Wood County's social conservatism, since the 1960s Bowling Green has hosted a small but thriving counterculture, which includes several coffehouses, a community center that hosts Meditation classes, youth concerts and an Infoshop anarchist library. Prior the 2004 election, Reach Out, a community and college activist group, served as a local branch of many national activist groups to encourage voting. Bowling Green also has an unusually vibrant music scene for a town of its size. Noise music and Punk music both have close-knit communities in Bowling Green.

Events

Black Swamp Arts Festival

Every September the Black Swamp Arts Festival takes place in Bowling Green. Started in 1993, it is ranked 78th out of 100 in contemporary craft festivals by Sunshine Artists Magazine. Main street is closed to traffic, and artists from around the country display and sell a variety of artwork. There are also musical performances, children's activities, and food.

National Tractor Pulling Championships

Bowling Green has hosted the National Tractor Pulling Championships since 1967. This annual event, one of the largest in the nation, is held at the Wood County Fairgrounds and draws an estimated 60,000 people. The Fairgrounds is located on along Poe Road between Haskins Road (State Route 64) and Brim Road.