Vandalia, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Vandalia is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio
, United States
, and a suburb of Dayton
. Its population was 15,246 during the 2010 census. The James M. Cox Dayton International Airport
is located in the city. In addition to being the home of the Dayton International Airport, Vandalia lies at the crossroads of I-75 and I-70, making it a major hub for business.
Vandalia is a sister city to Lichtenfels
, Germany
and Prestwick
, Scotland
. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.
on Dixie Drive (former U.S. Highway 25). It is between the Great Miami River
and the Stillwater River
. The city has been called the "Crossroads of America" due to its location on the National Road
and the Dixie Highway
. These correspond to U.S. Route 40
and the decommissioned U.S. Route 25
, which in turn, have been supplanted by two major expressways: east-west Interstate 70
and north-south Interstate 75
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²), of which 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.59%) is water.
, settled in Vandalia on his way to Vandalia, Illinois
near the intersection of U.S. Route 40
and US Route 25-A. He stopped here and named his new town after his original destination. He built his home and a small general store
as a stop and resting place for travelers heading west. The small town began to attract travelers and entrepreneurs, and on February 7, 1848 the town was incorporated as "The Village of Vandalia" with Benjamin Wilhelm as its first mayor. The village was laid out in 38 lots including a church, hotels, blacksmiths shops, a steam sawmill, meat markets, and a carriage shop. The first church was started by the United Brethren
congregation.
By 1959, Vandalia was outgrowing its "village" status, and its citizens voted to make it a council-manager form of government, effectively making the village into a municipal corporation. On January 2, 1960, Vandalia became a Charter City of the State of Ohio.
of 2000, there were 14,603 people, 6,235 households, and 4,090 families residing in the city. As of 2009 there were 27,298 citizens. The population density
was 1,236.5 people per square mile (477.4/km²). There were 6,489 housing units at an average density of 549.5 per square mile (212.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.08% White, 1.28% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 6,235 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,463, and the median income for a family was $55,270. Males had a median income of $41,938 versus $26,853 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,199. About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
St. Christopher grade school is one of the top performing private schools in the area.
University of Phoenix has an extension branch for technological research near Poe Avenue.
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology is based in Vandalia.
, the metropolitan area's main daily newspaper.
in the autumn, the Homecoming parade in the fall, and the Air Show
& Parade in the summer. They also host a firework show, The Star-Spangled Celebration. Other events include "Taste of Vandalia", a culinary event, and the Vandalia Corporate Challenge.
St. Christopher Catholic Church also hosts the Vandalia Fair every summer, one of the largest in the Miami Valley.
Montgomery County, Ohio
Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 535,153 in the 2010 Census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. The county seat is Dayton...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a suburb of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. Its population was 15,246 during the 2010 census. The James M. Cox Dayton International Airport
Dayton International Airport
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport , also referred to as simply Dayton International Airport, is a public airport located nine miles north of the central business district of Dayton, a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. The airport is situated in Vandalia and it is owned and...
is located in the city. In addition to being the home of the Dayton International Airport, Vandalia lies at the crossroads of I-75 and I-70, making it a major hub for business.
Vandalia is a sister city to Lichtenfels
Lichtenfels, Bavaria
Lichtenfels is a town in Bavaria, Germany, capital of the district of Lichtenfels. It is situated on the upper course of the river Main , approx. 15 km southeast of Coburg, and 30 km northeast of Bamberg, in an area called Gottesgarten am Obermain .Lichtenfels became as of middle of the 19...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Vandalia is about 10 miles (16.1 km) north of DaytonDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
on Dixie Drive (former U.S. Highway 25). It is between the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
and the Stillwater River
Stillwater River (Ohio)
The Stillwater River is a tributary of the Great Miami River in western Ohio in the United States. Via the Great Miami and Ohio rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed....
. The city has been called the "Crossroads of America" due to its location on the National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
and the Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
. These correspond to U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
and the decommissioned U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Brunswick, Georgia to the Ohio state line in Covington, Kentucky.-Georgia:...
, which in turn, have been supplanted by two major expressways: east-west Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and north-south Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
.
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 city has a total area of 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²), of which 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.59%) is water.
History
On August 17, 1838, Benjamin Wilhelm, a settler from PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, settled in Vandalia on his way to Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States, northeast of St. Louis, on the Kaskaskia River. From 1819 to 1839 it served as the state capital of Illinois. Vandalia was the western terminus of the National Road. Today it is the county seat of Fayette County and the home of the...
near the intersection of U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
and US Route 25-A. He stopped here and named his new town after his original destination. He built his home and a small general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
as a stop and resting place for travelers heading west. The small town began to attract travelers and entrepreneurs, and on February 7, 1848 the town was incorporated as "The Village of Vandalia" with Benjamin Wilhelm as its first mayor. The village was laid out in 38 lots including a church, hotels, blacksmiths shops, a steam sawmill, meat markets, and a carriage shop. The first church was started by the United Brethren
United Brethren
United Brethren may refer to:*Apostolic United Brethren, a Mormon fundamentalist group headquartered in Bluffdale, Utah*Church of the United Brethren in Christ, an evangelical Christian denomination based in Huntington, Indiana...
congregation.
By 1959, Vandalia was outgrowing its "village" status, and its citizens voted to make it a council-manager form of government, effectively making the village into a municipal corporation. On January 2, 1960, Vandalia became a Charter City of the State of Ohio.
Architecture
Vandalia has two specific types of architecture that are heavily present throughout the city: colonial and post-modern. Many of the city buildings have post-modern design and are mainly glass and brick. The new high school and middle school are being built this way, and the Justice and Municipal Buildings, the Recreation Center, and a new fire station have already been constructed in this manner. Clashing with this in a very unique way that many find aesthetically pleasing is Vandalia's colonial architecture. Many of the older buildings and some of the newer multi-story buildings along James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive have a very high end, colonial look. Other townhouses and condos throughout this area have used this architecture frequently, and many developments around Miller Lane have colonial styles. Some homes throughout different neighborhoods like Meeker Creek, Ashburry Farms, Park Place, and Copperfield have many colonial style homes.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 14,603 people, 6,235 households, and 4,090 families residing in the city. As of 2009 there were 27,298 citizens. 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 1,236.5 people per square mile (477.4/km²). There were 6,489 housing units at an average density of 549.5 per square mile (212.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.08% White, 1.28% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.35% 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 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 6,235 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,463, and the median income for a family was $55,270. Males had a median income of $41,938 versus $26,853 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 $24,199. About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Regional cooperation
In 2009 Vandalia and Butler Township officials announced plans to jointly staff two fire stations to improve service delivery and response times.The joint agreement marks the third time in recent past that Vandalia City officials have joined with neighboring communities for a common goal. The City of Vandalia shares a wastewater treatment facility with Tipp City and Huber Heights. The Tri-Cities Wastewater Treatment Plant has been in operation since 1985, and jointly owned by the three cities since 1991. In 2007, the Northern Area Water Authority (NAWA) began supplying drinking water to Vandaila and Tipp City. The plant is jointly owned by the two communities.Economy
Since the beginning of the new millennium, Vandalia has become a warehouse for commercial, residential, and business growth.Stonequarry Crossings, Northwoods, and York Commons
Vandalia has three main commercial districts. Stonequarry Crossings was started in 2007 and is seeing very interesting developments such as a new firestation, middle school, and high end tech/office developments. Stonequarry Crossings will also be getting a new on/off ramp for easier access to the Dayton International airport, which sits right next door. Northwoods is a development that started in 2003. It anchors several shoppes and restaurants and is also used as an industrial/ commercial office park. This area has seen increased developments in the past years and has steadily gained worth in property, despite the economic downturn. Northwoods sits directly east of I-75. York Commons is not only one of the most successful developments in Vandalia but even in the Dayton-Cincinnati Metro. York Commons, once woodland in 2004, is now home to around 2,100 rooms in hotels, around forty restaurants, and many mega shopping centers. The developer, SINGER properties, is planning a high-end urban shopping district in the future that will house high-end retail stores and possibly bring increased office developments to Vandalia.Revitalization
The city of Vandalia recently passed plans to reinvent the city's urban core around National Road and Dixe Drive. The plan is to bring many of the old shopping centers to the streetfront while placing parking spaces in the back. The first business to take part in this plan is My Favorite Pet on National in which a new building will be built streetfront next to Wendy's. Many improvements have gone underway already such as new vintage style lampposts, new trees, new signage, decorative stoplights, and brick pavers.Restaurant scene
The restaurant scene in Vandalia is perhaps one of the city's best assets. Increasingly picking up in the past decade, the city has made a name for itself in the region as a suburb that has an edge for commercial culinary options. The commercial chain scene is also big in Vandalia. There are hundreds of different restaurants in Vandalia. One study showed that between 2006-2008 a new restaurant opened up every other month in Vandalia.Education
- Vandalia-Butler City School District is one of only two districts to win the excellency rating every year since 2005. The schools have shown constant improvement and Butler High School is one of the top in the state of Ohio in the social studies area of study. The school district is also building a new middle school designed by SHP Leading Design based in Cincinnati, and the district is also renovating and enlarging Butler High school.
St. Christopher grade school is one of the top performing private schools in the area.
University of Phoenix has an extension branch for technological research near Poe Avenue.
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology is based in Vandalia.
News
Vandalia has its own community paper the Vandalia Drummer. Many in the community also receive city-published tabloids like Business at the Crossroads. Many residents throughout this area also regularly read the Dayton Daily NewsDayton Daily News
The Dayton Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. In the 2010 Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition that takes place every year, DaytonDailyNews.com was named "the best large-newspaper web site in Ohio".-History:On August 15,...
, the metropolitan area's main daily newspaper.
Notable natives and residents
- Josh BettsJosh BettsJoshua David Betts is a professional Canadian football quarterback who is currently a Tennis player. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
of the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, - Seth Gorney of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
- Hometown of Maria Lauterbach, a Marine whose murder in 2007 made national headlines.]
Events
The City of Vandalia boasts several seasonal festivals and events, such as the annual OktoberfestOktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
in the autumn, the Homecoming parade in the fall, and the Air Show
Dayton Air Show
The Vectren Dayton Air Show is an annual event at the Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio, eight miles north of Dayton, Ohio. The history of flight exhibitions dating back to 1910 by the Wright Company. The city is the home of the Wright Brothers and the true birthplace of aviation, as...
& Parade in the summer. They also host a firework show, The Star-Spangled Celebration. Other events include "Taste of Vandalia", a culinary event, and the Vandalia Corporate Challenge.
St. Christopher Catholic Church also hosts the Vandalia Fair every summer, one of the largest in the Miami Valley.
Parks and recreation
Vandalia is a top-rated parks and recreation community. Vandalia has over thirty parks in the area. Some of the larger ones include Helke Park and the Vandalia Sports Complex. It is also home to the Taylorsvile Metropark, home to the historic village of Tadmor. Vandalia also is home of the Vandalia Recreation Center, a highly popular rec facility.Airport conflictions
The city of Dayton had proposed an extension to the Dayton International Airport in 1998 that would annex part of Butler Township. The idea caused a mass conflict as it would disturb the natural shape of the city of Vandalia and it would heavily disturb the shape of National Road, or Rt. 40. The proposals where cancelled, however in 2008 when the city of Vandalia purchased the same land that was partially owned by University of Dayton, the city of Dayton finally began to work on their redeveloped expansion of the airport which included a new sight tower and updating of landscaping and the Airport Access Road. The same land will soon see increased development with the opening of MAC, Morton Middle School, Vandalia-Butler Fire Station #1, and is zoned for increased high end/ tech office jobs. The land is also heavily developed as an office park and a mix of retail and restaurants. The city of Vandalia is hoping that, with regional cooperation, the city of Dayton will work well to promote more office and upscale development in the region.Things to do
- Aullwood Audubon Center is an outdoor/indoor nature center, an animal sanctuary and a farm. Classes are offered there, including the Summer Earth Adventures for children ages 2–13. People 14 and elder can work as a volunteer there.
- In the future, people will be able to visit the Wright Brothers Monument in Vandalia. The monument is a proposed 250 feet (76.2 m) designed statue commemorating Dayton as the birthplace of flight. The monument is being built will be finished by 2012, and the design also calls for a transit center with a museum that offers tours through the historical Dayton region. The monument will also be a beacon of growth as it will sit directly next to the newly finished I-75, I-70 interstate interchange.
Sister cities
| - Lichtenfels Lichtenfels Lichtenfels is German placename and surname:Germany:There are two towns named Lichtenfels in Germany* Lichtenfels, Hesse* Lichtenfels, Bavaria ** Lichtenfels station** 1... , Bayern, Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... - Prestwick Prestwick Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... , United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |