Findlay, OH

Set in Northwest Ohio, with a population of approximately 37,000, Findlay takes pride in its more than 200-year heritage. The official Flag Capital of the United States (dubbed "Flag City USA"), Findlay can thank past resident John B. Cooke for enlisting a communitywide effort to take pride in flying the American flag, a tradition the city of Findlay takes seriously and continues to this day. The city attracts major manufacturing and distribution centers due to its proximity to major highways and the fact that many international companies have chosen to call Findlay home, creating a thriving Foreign Trade Zone.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Neighborhoods and districts of Findlay accommodate around 17,000 houses, out of which more than 15,500 are occupied. Fewer than two-thirds of the residents of Findlay are homeowners. Findlay was named a winner in the first-ever national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People in September 2005, awarded through the America's Promise Alliance.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Tall Timbers International Business Community is a hub for 13 manufacturing plants and four major warehouse distribution centers. Companies, such as Best Buy, Cooper Tire Mold Operations, Nissin Brake Ohio and Bridgestone not only create employment in the area, but serve as a large portion of the area's constant economic growth. Whirlpool Corporation, the largest manufacturing facility in the area, and Cardinal Health also have major offices based out of Findlay. Whirlpool alone employs more than 2,000 people. Findlay was once the longtime headquarters for Marathon Oil before the company moved its headquarters to Houston. However, the company still runs its large subsidiary, Marathon Petroleum Company, out of Findlay.

EDUCATION

The University of Findlay: Founded in 1882, the University of Findlay has an enrollment of about 4,700 full-time students, drawing from more than 40 countries. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. UF was named a "Best Midwestern College" by The Princeton Review three years in a row.

Owens Community College-Findlay Campus: Owens has a campus is nearby Toledo, as well as a new, 60-acre campus in the heart of Findlay. Between the two campuses, Owens educates more than 45,000 students each year. Even with the large number of students, the class sizes remain, on average, at 15 students each.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Findlay area offers residents an array of opportunities for entertainment and exploration:

• Fort Findlay Playhouse, a nonprofit organization with six annual shows to highlight local talent.
• Riverside Bandshell Concert Series, a free outdoor summer concert series held at Riverside Park.
• Hancock Historical Museum, an 1880 Victorian home that houses period furnishings as well as several different art collections.
• Mazza Museum, the only teaching gallery in the world to specialize in displaying the artwork of well-established, children's book illustrators.
• Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center, a diverse collection of educational tools collections to celebrate cultural diversity.

EVENTS

Findlay has many year-round events and happenings that center around education and a sense of community. In the winter, the Raccoon Winter Sports Center offers weekends on the slopes, and the North Pole Express has train rides for the whole family. During the warmer months, the community hosts festivals, such as the ArtWalk arts festival and the Flag City Balloon Fest. The Convention and Visitors Bureau also offers designated or customized tours to visitors in the area.

FAMILY FUN

• The Cube offers ice-skating and ice hockey, as well as meeting, party and conference space.
• Riverside Park contains a swimming pool, shelters, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, a softball field, playgrounds, shuffleboard, horseshoes and a waterfront area where visitors can fish, canoe and use pedal boats. The park also has a paved bike path and a bandshell stage for performances.
• Emory Adams Park has softball fields, baseball diamonds, numerous soccer fields and two shelter houses.
• Firestine Park offers picnic tables, grills, playground equipment and a nine-hole disc golf course.
• Civitan Park houses picnic tables, a grill and a play area, and connects by foot bridge to Anchor Park.
• Anchor Park has sand volleyball courts and walking access to the downtown riverfront area; it's also adjacent to Civitan Park.
• Findlay Grrrowl is the Tier III Junior A League hockey team that serves as a stepping stone to players' development and career advancement. The team's home rink is Findlay's The Cube.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Findlay was named one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by America's Promise in 2005 and 2007. In '07, it was one of only two Ohio cities to make the list.
• Findlay has two airports, Findlay Airport and Priebe Airport.
• The city experienced the second-worst flood in its history in August 2007, when the Blanchard River crested to more than seven feet above flood state. President Bush declared the city a disaster area.

Many well-known figures got their starts in the small town of Findlay:

• William Harrison Bennett, inventor of the radio frequency mass spectrometer.
• James C. Donnell, president (1854-1927) of The Ohio Oil Company, now known as Marathon Oil.
• Ray Harroun, first Indianapolis 500 winner.
• Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.
• Josh Huston, kicker in the National Football League.
• James Purdy, poet, playwright, novelist and short-story writer.