Lima, OH

Lima is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75. Situated just 70 miles north of Dayton and 80 miles southwest of Toledo, Lima is a town of approximately 40,000. It was once an industrial town, home of the Lima Oil Refinery and Lima Locomotive Works. The city was part of what was known as the "Rust Belt" but suffered greatly during the 1970s and '80s during the decline that affected the heavy manufacturing cities in much of the upper Midwest and northeastern United States. After the decline of their industrial base, Lima began to excel in the retail industry and has since become a retail hub for the state of Ohio.

Today this charming, small Midwestern town is every shopper's dream. With various specialty shops, malls, and department stores, Lima was reported in 1992 by TheLima News to be number one in Ohio for retail sales and purchases.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Although much of Lima's economy thrives on their retail sector, many of the jobs are blue-collar. Even through the ups and downs of the 20th century, oil has remained a constant industry in Lima. After providing the oil to light the buildings of the World's Fair in 1893, the production peaked in 1904 and nearly shut down shortly thereafter. Then, in 1911, Standard Oil Trust in Lima was ruled a monopoly and was broken down into smaller companies. Still, the Lima Refinery remained through owner after owner, and now, more than 100 years later is owned and operated by Husky Energy.

Ford Motor Company is also a major employer in Lima, with nearly 1,600 employees. The facility manufacturers the all-aluminum, 3.5-liter Duratec 35 V6 Ford engine.

EDUCATION

• University of Northwestern Ohio: UNOH offers master's, bachelor's, and associate's degrees between its three colleges: College of Technologies, College of Distance Learning, and College of Business. This university is a private institution but does not charge out-of-state tuition, making it the most affordable private university in Ohio.
• James A. Rhodes State College: Formerly Lima Technical College, Rhodes is a two-year technical college offering programs in allied health, nursing, business, public service, and information and engineering technologies.
• The Ohio State University at Lima: OSU Lima offers more than 140 courses in 10 bachelor's programs in science and the liberal arts. Eight of the ten programs are four-year degrees. Students can begin their degree at the Lima campus and complete their program at the main campus of OSU in Columbus.
• Lima City Schools: There are three public high schools, three middles schools, and five elementary schools in Lima. Of these schools eight are ranked as "continuous improvement" status. More than 4,500 students are enrolled in the system.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Diverse neighborhoods give Lima character:

• Downtown Lima: Main Street in Lima is a central destination for shopping, community events, and parades. Mostly renters live downtown in high-rise apartments and complexes. This is a lower-income area of Lima.
• West Street/Lane Avenue: Mostly families with children live in this lower-income, urban area. Many of the residents of this neighborhood are manufacturers and laborers.
• Gomer: This is a rural area with many farms. It is a quiet neighborhood with a mix of renters and owners.
• Slabtown/Ohio State U: This is a suburban part of Lima near the campus of OSU at Lima. The Ferguson Reservoir is located in this neighborhood, which is a quiet area that is home to a mix of age groups.
• Eastown Road/Allentown Road: This suburban area is an upper-income part of Lima. College student and seniors mostly live in this part of town.

BEST BETS

• Allen County Museum: Exhibits on history, geology, and transportation are displayed at this museum. Also housed at the Allen County Museum are numerous photos and artifacts of the Lima Locomotive Works history. Most recently added to the museum was the Children's Discovery Center that offers hands-on activities for kids.
• Children's Garden: A project for the OSU Lima campus, 4-H Master Gardeners, and the Allen County Historical Society. This privately funded project gives children a public garden space. The garden hosts hands-on educational activities to help children learn about horticulture and provides families with a community gathering place.
• Harrod Veteran's Memorial Park: This park is dedicated to the memory of all the veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The park displays a Howitzer cannon, an anchor from the USS Texas, a tank, and a Huey helicopter.

SPORTS TEAMS

Lima is home to two sports teams:

• Lima Locos: This locally owned baseball team is part of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The Locos play teams from the surrounding cities of Euclid, Sandusky, Columbus, and Grand Lake Celina. The teams play 20 home games a season and 20 away games. The players on these teams are the top college-level players who hope to make it to the major leagues. The GLSCL is one of 15 leagues of its kind in the country.
• Lima Warriors: This semiprofessional football team is part of the United States Football Alliance. The team plays its home games at Lima Stadium, which was built in the 1930s and is the only high school stadium in the United States that is recognized as a historic landmark.