Wilmington, Ohio 2025

Wilmington is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,520 at the 2020 census.

HISTORY

The first settlement in the area was made in 1814 by a group of Quakers from Wilmington, North Carolina, who were ox-drivers and farmers. They named their settlement "Wilmington" after their former home city. They chose the area because it was fertile, gently sloping land with access to the Little Miami River, at the confluence of the Little Miami and the homeland of the Shawnee and the Miami tribes.

The city'`s early economy was based on agriculture, and the city grew slowly but steadily through the mid-19th century. In 1830, the Wilmington and Xenia Turnpike was built, connecting the city to Xenia, Ohio, 75 miles away, and providing greater access to the fertile lands in the surrounding area.

On October 19, 1870, the bank of Wilmington was robbed by the notorious James-Younger Gang, led by Frank James and Cole Younger, who had ridden into town disguised as cavalrymen just the day before. They escaped with $24,000 but were later identified and most of the gang was rounded up within a month with help from Pinkerton detectives.

The Civil War brought prosperity to Wilmington, as the city became a recruiting and training center for the Union Army. Camp Wilmington was located on a hill overlooking the city and the fertile valley of the Little Miami. The camp was established in August 1861, and division-sized units were trained at the camp throughout the war. The city provided several regiments and batteries for the Union Army, and the city became a major supplier of troops for the war effort. During World War II, the campus of Wilmington College was used as a U.S. Navy Training Center, and naval training continued there until 1946.

GEOGRAPHY

Wilmington is at 39°35`38?N 83°56`18?W., 55 miles northeast of Cincinnati.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.80 square miles, of which 13.75 square miles is land and 0.05 square miles is water.

DEMOGRAPHY

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,520 people, 5,310 households, and 3,278 families residing in the city. The population density was 911.7 people per square mile. There were 5,942 housing units at an average density of 430.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.8% White, 2.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 5,310 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,467, and the median income for a family was $50,457. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $26,385 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,414. About 9.3% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

EDUCATION

Wilmington has a public library, a branch of the Clinton-Massie Branch Library.

The city is served by the Wilmington City Schools district, which operates three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The current superintendent is Mindy Eaker. The high school, Wilmington High School, was ranked in 2005 as one of the top 40 high schools in the state, and the district as a whole received "Excellent" ratings for academics.

Cultureedit

Clinton County Fairgrounds is home to the Clinton County Fair, which takes place annually in July. The city also has a Civil War monument, a Veterans memorial, and a full-sized reproduction of the Liberty Bell in a downtown park. The city has a gazebo in a park on the southwest side that is the location of outdoor performances during the summer months, including a concert series. The city`s historic employment/industry includes Agriculture and related business, due to its fertile soil.

ANNUAL EVENTS

The following is a summary of some of the annual events that take place in Wilmington:

* Midwestern Fast Draw Weekend - Early June Weekend

* Clinton County Fair - 3rd week of July

* W.A.R.M. - (Wilmington`s Array of Revolutionary Marvels) - Sequential weekends in July and August

* Hot Air Balloon Festival- Mid-August

* Bratwurst Fest - Mid-August

* Community Block Party - Mid-August

* Christmas Parade - Mid-December

Greek Food Festival - Sequential weekends in June

* "HAIR" Festival - Mid-June

* Farmer`s Market - Weekly during the warmer months

TRADITIONS

Since 1954, the town has been home to the annual Banana Split Festival, which takes place in June.

MEDIA

The Wilmington News Journal is the local newspaper, published on Tuesdays and Fridays. Wilmington is also served by a variety of Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio TV and radio stations.

IN POPULAR CULTURE

* Wilmington was one of the filming locations for the 1994 movie Milk Money, starring Melinda Dillon and Ed Begley Jr., filmed partially at the city`s public pool.

* In the 2010 movie The Company Men, starring Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, and Tommy Lee Jones, Wilmington stood in for a declining Pittsburgh suburb.

* The Wilmington bank heist by the James-Younger Gang is an element in the 1971 movie The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, starring Cliff Robertson and Robert Duvall.

* Wilmington is mentioned in Orson Welles` 1940 movie The Stranger, as the hometown of Edward G. Robinson.

* In the TV mini-series Band of Brothers, Wilmington is where one of the characters, David Webster, is from.

* Wilmington was a filming location for an episode of the TV show Rescue 911.

* In the 2020 series Trollhunters, Wilmington is mentioned as a place where the character Enrique tries to turn himself in to the police, fearing he has committed a homicide.

* Wilmington`s local eatery, the Hitching Post, was featured on Season 2 of the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

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