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Urbana, OH

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Urbana, OH

Urbana is a city in and the county seat of Champaign County, Ohio, United States, about 34 miles (55 km) northeast of Dayton and 41 miles (66 km) west of Columbus. The population was 11,115 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Urbana micropolitan area. Urbana was laid out in 1805, and for a time in 1812 was the headquarters of the Northwestern army during the War of 1812. It is the burial place of the explorer and Indian fighter Simon Kenton. The city was home to Urbana University and Curry Normal and Industrial Institute, a school for African American students.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.77 square miles (20.12 km²), of which 7.75 square miles (20.07 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²) is water.

Champaign County was formed on February 20, 1805, following the American Revolution and the Northwest Indian War. Colonel William Ward, a Virginian who had settled in the Mad River Valley with Simon Kenton in 1799, purchased 160 acres which he considered the logical and most acceptable site for Champaign's county seat. He approached the county commissioners with a proposition to locate the seat of the new county on this tract. Ward suggested that the site to divided into 212 lots and 22 out-lots, half of which, selected alternately, were to be given to the county while Ward would retain the remainder. Ward also offered two lots for a cemetery and a tract for the public square. The county commissioners approved the proposal, and Ward, with Joseph C. Vance, entered into a written agreement on October 11, 1805. Ward and Vance named the new county seat, Urbana.

The origin of the name 'Urbana' is unclear; however, it is thought that Ward and Vance used the Latin word 'urbs', which means city. Antrim provides the following theory: "It is said by some that Mr. Ward named the town from the word Urbanity, but I think it is quite likely he named it from an old Roman custom of dividing their people into different classes – one class, the Plebeians, and this again divided into two classes – Plebs Rustica and Plebs Urbana. The Plebs Rustica lived in the rural districts and were farmers, while the Plebs Urbana lived in villages and were mechanics and artisans." Others feel that Ward and Vance chose to name it from a town in Virginia, possibly Urbanna, but this seems unlikely. Urbanna means 'City of Anne' and was named for the English queen. It is more likely that two Revolutionary War veterans would turn to Latin rather than honor their former foe. A review in 1939 shows that of the 12 cities in the United States named "Urbana", the city in Ohio was the first.

When Ward delegated Vance to survey the site, there were no platted towns between Detroit and Springfield to use as a model. Nevertheless, Vance and Ward planned Urbana systematically. They provided for an ample public square and laid the streets in an orderly pattern with no deviations for bogs and swamps.

Urbana places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with several facilities and programs dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle. The Mercy Health - Urbana Hospital provides comprehensive healthcare services to residents, including primary care, specialty care, and emergency services. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Urbana Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Pulse Fitness, Long Road CrossFit, and Anytime Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Urbana, such as the Simon Kenton Trail and Cedar Bog Nature Preserve. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Urbana, OH are the Champaign Aviation Museum, Champaign County Historical Society Museum, and Johnny Appleseed Museum.

Population: 11,124 (2022). ZIP Code: 43078. Area codes: 937, 326. Elevation: 1,043 ft (318 m). Area: 7.91 sq mi (20.49 km²).

FAQs

What is the crime rate in Urbana, OH?

The crime rate in Urbana is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 22 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Urbana is 1 in 45. Based on FBI crime data, Urbana is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Ohio, Urbana has a crime rate that is higher than 87% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

What is the ethnicity of Urbana, OH?

Urbana, OH is home to a population of 11.2k people, of which 99.8% are citizens. As of 2022, 0.278% of Urbana, OH residents were born outside of the country (31 people). In 2022, there were 16.2 times more White (non-Hispanic) residents (9.84k people) in Urbana, OH than any other race or ethnicity. There were 608 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 442 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Is Urbana, OH a good place to live?

Urbana is in Champaign County. Living in Urbana offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many retirees live in Urbana and residents tend to be conservative.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Urbana

Mercy Health - Urbana Hospital

Urbana Parks and Recreation Department 

Pulse Fitness

Long Road CrossFit  

Anytime Fitness

Simon Kenton Trail 

Cedar Bog Nature Preserve

Champaign Aviation Museum

Champaign County Historical Society Museum

Johnny Appleseed Museum

Neighborhood Scout

Data USA

Niche

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