Editing Ada, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Ada, Ohio
|settlement_type          = [[City (United States)|Village]]
|nickname                 = “A Classic Ohio Village”
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Buckeye and Main in Ada.jpg
|image_caption            = Corner of Main Street and Buckeye Avenue
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = OHMap-doton-Ada.png
|map_caption              = Location of Ada, Ohio
|image_map1               = Map of Hardin County Ohio Highlighting Ada Village.png
|map_caption1             = Location of Ada in Hardin County

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Ohio]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hardin County, Ohio|Hardin]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Ohio|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Liberty Township, Hardin County, Ohio|Liberty]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Dave Retterer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Village Council & Mayor Directory {{!}} Village of Ada |url=https://www.adaoh.org/village-council-mayor-directory |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.adaoh.org}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_land_km2            = 5.53
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 5.53
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.13
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.13
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 5302
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2023 est">{{cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-POP-39.xlsx |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 5334
|population_density_km2   = 965.30
|population_density_sq_mi = 2499.53

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 958
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|46|05|N|83|49|31|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 45810
|area_code                = [[Area code 419|419]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 39-00198<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397907<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397907}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.adaoh.gov/|adaoh.gov}}
}}

'''Ada''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|d|ə}} {{respell|AY|də}}<ref>{{cite web |title=E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Ohio Pronunciation Guide {{!}} Ohio University |url=https://www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/journalism/e-w-scripps-school-journalism-ohio-pronunciation-guide-1 |website=www.ohio.edu |publisher=[[Ohio University]] |access-date=January 2, 2024 |date=2016}}</ref>) is a village in [[Hardin County, Ohio]], United States, located about {{convert|69|miles}} southwest of [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 5,334. It is the home of [[Ohio Northern University]].

==History==
Following the 1817 [[Treaty of Fort Meigs]], the [[Shawnee]] Indians held reservation land at Hog Creek near Ada. Ada itself was originally called Johnstown, [[plat]]ted in 1853 by S. M. Johnson when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kohler|first=Minnie Ichler|title=A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Principal Interests|url=https://archive.org/details/twentiethcentury11kohl|year=1910|publisher=Lewis Publishing Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/twentiethcentury11kohl/page/197 197]}}</ref> When a post office was established it was called Ada Post Office, named after the postmaster's daughter, Ada.<ref>{{cite book|title=The History of Hardin County, Ohio|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofhardinc00warn|year=1883|publisher=Warner Beers & Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofhardinc00warn/page/n739 734]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Overman|first=William Daniel|title=Ohio Town Names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015015361465;view=1up;seq=17|year=1958|publisher=Atlantic Press|location=Akron, OH|page=1}}</ref>  The post office has been in operation since 1854.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=OH&county=Hardin | title=Hardin County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

The growth of the village is due in large part to the founding of the Ohio Normal School, now known as [[Ohio Northern University]]. The University was founded in 1871 by [[Henry Solomon Lehr]], just eighteen years after Ada was first settled. Today, Ada is the second largest incorporated community in Hardin County.

In 1910, President [[William Howard Taft]] visited Ada,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The day a U.S. president visited Ada |url=https://www.blufftonicon.com/photo/2020/04/06/day-us-president-visited-ada |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=Bluffton Icon |language=en}}</ref> to give the fall commencement speech at Ohio Northern University. To date, Taft is the only president to visit the village. Ada welcomed [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] to the village in January 1968,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLK visited Ohio Northern 56 years ago |url=https://www.adaicon.com/photo/202401/mlk-visited-ohio-northern-56-years-ago |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=Ada Icon |language=en}}</ref> just three months before his assassination.

Ada has been noted for having one of the [[List of short place names|shortest place name]]s in Ohio.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=og1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847%2C3325059 | title=One More Letter And Ai May Be Put Onto Map | work=Toledo Blade | date=December 3, 1985 | access-date=May 21, 2015 | last=Wolfe |first=Don | pages=17}}</ref> The National [[Arbor Day]] Foundation has qualified Ada as a [[Tree City USA]] since 1981.

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of {{convert|2.08|sqmi}}, all land.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/2010_place_list_39.txt
 |title       = 2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files for Places – Ohio
 |publisher   = United States Census
 |access-date  = October 19, 2012
 |url-status  = dead
 |archive-url  = https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2010/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/2010_place_list_39.txt
 |archive-date = March 2, 2018
}}</ref> The area surrounding the village is mostly farmland and small plots of forest. Hog Creek is the only waterway of note and snakes around the village to the north and the east.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 1760
|1890= 2079
|1900= 2576
|1910= 2465
|1920= 2321
|1930= 2499
|1940= 2368
|1950= 3640
|1960= 3918
|1970= 5309
|1980= 5669
|1990= 5413
|2000= 5582
|2010= 5952
|2020= 5334
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5302
|estref=<ref name="2023 est"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name=Census1880>{{cite web|title=Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-11.pdf|date=1880|work=Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Tenth Census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Census1910>{{cite web|title=Population: Ohio|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/36894832v3ch3.pdf|work=1910 U.S. Census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Census1930>{{cite web|title=Population: Ohio|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch08.pdf|work=1930 US Census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/adavillageohio,US/PST045221|title=QuickFacts Ada village, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=June 28, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 5,952 people, 1,729 households, and 846 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2861.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,910 housing units at an average density of {{convert|918.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 93.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 1,729 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 3.1% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 51.1% were non-families. 38.0% 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 2.26 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the village was 22.2 years. 13.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 49.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.2% were from 25 to 44; 13.5% were from 45 to 64; and 6.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 5,582 people, 1,783 households, and 850 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|2,982.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,948 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,040.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 95.50% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.25% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.30% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 1,783 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 52.3% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 13.9% under the age of 18, 48.6% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 12.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $24,665, and the median income for a family was $39,300. Males had a median income of $32,143 versus $23,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $12,561. About 11.7% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
The [[Wilson Sporting Goods]] NFL football manufacturing facility is located in Ada, and is the only leather football manufacturing facility in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/sports/football/02footballs.html |title= At a Small Ohio Factory, Leather and Laces Mesh  |access-date=September 2, 2008 |last= Thomas |first= Katie |date= February 2, 2008 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

== Government ==
[[File:Ada village hall and police station.jpg|thumb|Ada Village Hall and police station]]
The village has a mayor, David A. Retterer, who has held the office since 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schriner |first=Joe |date=2024-08-01 |title=“Retterer for Mayor,” again …running for his sixth consecutive Ada term |url=https://www.adaherald.com/news/local/retterer-for-mayor-again-running-for-his-sixth-consecutive-ada-term/article_3dfa3d22-41f5-11ee-9a2b-7fe8f84d2ef0.html |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=AdaHerald.com |language=en}}</ref> Retterer moved to the village in 1979 to become a mathematics professor at the local [[Ohio Northern University]], before running for mayor for the first time in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schriner |first=Joe |date=2024-08-01 |title=“Retterer for Mayor,” again …running for his sixth consecutive Ada term |url=https://www.adaherald.com/news/local/retterer-for-mayor-again-running-for-his-sixth-consecutive-ada-term/article_3dfa3d22-41f5-11ee-9a2b-7fe8f84d2ef0.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=AdaHerald.com |language=en}}</ref> Retterer won a 6th term as mayor in 2023, defeating challenger Howard Fenton.{{Election|year=2023|title=Ada Mayoral Election|party1=Republican Party (United States)|candidate1=David A. Retterer|votes1=659|percent1=61.59%|party2=Democratic Party (United States)|party2color={{color box| Blue |Default color for this text}}|candidate2=Howard N. Fenton|votes2=377|percent2=35.26%|party1color={{color box| Red |Default color for this text}}|majority=1,036|majoritypercent=100%|party1name=Republican}}

The village also elects a Village Council, made up of six representative elected on a rotating basis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Village Council & Mayor Directory {{!}} Village of Ada |url=https://www.adaoh.org/village-council-mayor-directory |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.adaoh.org}}</ref> There are no term limits to municipal offices in Ada. The Village Council is elected at large and by popular vote. The members are as follows:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Councilor
!Party
!Year of Term End
|-
|Jeff Oestreich
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2027
|-
|Linda Mason
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2027
|-
|Sean Beck
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2025
|-
|Bob Simmons
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2025
|-
|Jason Campbell
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2025
|-
|Sheila Coressel
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2027
|}

==Education==
[[File:HillMemorialBuilding.png|thumb|189x189px|Hill Memorial Building, on the campus of [[Ohio Northern University]] in Ada.]]
Ada is the home of [[Ohio Northern University]], a private university comprising five colleges.<ref>{{ cite web|url= http://www.onu.edu/|title=Ohio Northern University|publisher=Ohio Northern University|access-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>

[[Ada High School (Ohio)|Ada Exempted Village Public School]] houses grades K-12 and most of the administration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ada.k12.oh.us/|title=Home - Ada Exempted Village Schools|website=www.ada.k12.oh.us}}</ref> The district spends $7,701 per student annually ($925 lower than the state average).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/63178|title = Ada High School (2021-22 Ranking) &#124; Ada, OH}}</ref> [[Ada High School (Ohio)|Ada High School]]'s sports teams participate in the [[Blanchard Valley Conference]], officially moving in 2023 after spending over fifty years in the [[Northwest Conference (OHSAA)|Northwest Conference.]]

==Media==
Three media outlets operate in Ada. The ''Ada Herald'' is a weekly newspaper, AdaIcon.com is a news website, and [[WOHA (FM)|WOHA]], a non-commercial, religious radio station owned by Holy Family Communications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AdaHerald.com |date=February 21, 2024 |title=adaherald.com {{!}} The Ada Herald |url=https://www.adaherald.com/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=AdaHerald.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ada Icon |url=https://www.adaicon.com/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=Ada Icon |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ONU sells its FM radio license |url=https://www.adaicon.com/news/201912/onu-sells-its-fm-radio-license |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=Ada Icon |language=en}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Ada Pennsylvania Station and Railroad Park.jpg|thumb|[[Ada station]], built in 1887|189x189px]]
[[Ada Airport]] {{airport codes|||0D7}} is a privately owned, public-use [[airport]] located {{convert|1|nmi}} northwest of the [[central business district]] of Ada. [[Ada station]] formerly operated along the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] and is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardin County, Ohio|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=nris>{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[John Berton]], computer graphics animator
* [[Lily Bess Campbell|Lily Campbell]], Shakespeare scholar and UCLA professor
* [[Zac Dysert]], American football player
* [[Rollo May]], an [[Existentialism|existential]] [[psychologist]]
* [[Carey Orr]], cartoonist
* [[Lee Tressel]], [[College Football Hall of Fame]]r

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Ada (Ohio)}}
* [https://www.adaoh.gov/ City of Ada website]

{{Hardin County, Ohio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ada, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Villages in Hardin County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Ohio Northern University]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Villages in Ohio]]