Northwest Ohio

Understand

Geography

Due to glacial movements, the land here is incredibly flat, and low lying - It is easy to see for miles, and it isn't uncommon to hear some locals call inclines as short as several feet hills.

Agriculture

Northwest Ohio was one of the last areas of Ohio settled by Europeans, due to the vast Great Black Swamp that dominated the land after the glaciers receded. The swamp was slowly cut down and drained over time, and was re-purposed as fertile farmland. To this day, the majority of the land in this area is used to grow corn, soy and other crops. Bits of the swamp still exist in some parks, and it's common to see businesses, public art, and sports team mascots named after or inspired by the swamp.

Industrialization

In the 1880s oil and natural gas was discovered in this area, leading to a few boom towns becoming proper small cities. Though none grew into a metropolis, they often have grand public buildings and Victorian painted ladies that were paid for with a glut of oil money. Though the oil dried up due to wasteful practices the initially cheap gas attracted industry to the area, particularly companies in the glass and energy sectors. A few of these companies stuck around to this day - a few towns are known for their glassware, and early wind farms were established in this area.

Cities

• Findlay - Flag city USA, and the seat of Hancock County.
• Bluffton
• Van Buren - A quiet village with a large state park.
• Norwalk
• Columbus Grove
• Tiffin - An industrial city and seat of Seneca county.
• Wauseon
• Bowling Green - A college town, and seat of Wood County.
• Perrysburg - A small city and suburb of Toledo.
• Rossford
• Bryan
• Defiance - The seat of Defiance county in the far northwest.
• Fostoria - A city crossed by railroads.
• Napoleon
• Montpelier
• Paulding

Other destinations

State Parks and Resort Lodges

For camping and getaway rental reservations on any of Ohio's Parks tel. 1-866-644-6727.

• Harrison Lake State Park, Fulton County, 26246 Harrison Lake Road, Fayette. 175 campsites, 150 have electric hook-ups, showers, flush toilets, two Rent-A-Yurt units, non-powered watercraft, fishing, 3.5-mile hiking trail, volleyball, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, swimming, fishing, and canoeing.
• Mary Jane Thurston State Park, Henry County, northeast of McClure at 1-466 State Route 65, on the Maumee River. 35 non-electric campsites, twenty miles of open water for boating, two launch ramps, marina, fishing, hunting, one-mile portion of the Buckeye Trail, six miles of trails in the North Turkeyfoot Area, backpacking, horseback riding or mountain biking.
• Malabar Farm State Park, Richland County, 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas. 15 Primitive campsites and over 12 miles of back-country trails.The original Bromfield home is now a 19-bed hostel.
• Van Buren State Park, northern Hancock County, north of Findlay, east of Van Buren at 12259 Township Rd. 218. 27 non-electric sites, tables, fire rings, pit latrines, drinking water, playground, outdoor amphitheater, horseshoe pit, hiking, multi-purpose trail, nature center, lake, pet camping, horseman’s camp with 33 non-electric campsites, fishing, hunting, fishing, hunting, volleyball courts and horseshoe pits.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport with regularly scheduled flights is the Toledo Express Airport (TOL) in Toledo. Most travelers will fly in at a major airport in a neighboring region such as the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) or the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)

For travelers who are pilots, there are a number of minor General aviation airports in the area, most of which offer paved runways, fueling, and hangar services.

By car

I75 is a major interstate that goes through this region from north to south.

I80/I90 goes east to west as the Ohio Turnpike, a toll road. The turnpike is well maintained, and has large plaza rest areas with convenience stores, restaurants, and restrooms. Tolls are based on distance traveled, so don't lose the ticket provided on entry.

Two lane paved country roads are the primary links between cities in this area.

By train

Amtrak has a stop in Bryan, Ohio, and a larger station in Toledo.

Get around

By car

The majority of area travel is done by car. Parking is usually free. In the few downtown areas that use meters it is relatively cheap.

Electric cars may have difficulty finding dedicated charging stations outside cities on I-75.

By bike

The geography of Northwest Ohio is noticeably flatter than the rest of the state. This makes cycling a breeze provided there is no significant headwind, and changing gears is rarely needed.

Stay safe

Due to the flat terrain winds can be strong, and areas near rivers can flood easily. The Lake Effect from Lake Erie can also make winter weather stronger in the counties near the lake. Be aware of the weather.

Go next

Major cities

• Cleveland
• Columbus
• Detroit
• Fort Wayne
• Indianapolis

Regions

• Ohio Erie shore west
• Lake Erie Islands
• West Central Ohio
• Northern Indiana
• Southeast Michigan

Counties

Defiance County, Fulton County, Hancock County, Henry County, Huron County, Paulding County, Putnam County, Seneca County, Williams County, Wood County