Bluffton (Ohio)
Allen County Hancock County
39-07426
Bluffton is a town in Allen County and Hancock County in the U.S. state of Ohio. Had Bluffton in the census of 2000 a population of 3,896. Bluffton is also the seat of Bluffton University, a four-year educational institution, which is connected with the Mennonite Church USA.
Geography and transport
Bluffton is located in the center of Northwest Ohio and benefits from the proximity to I-75. The U.S. Highway 30, 16 kilometers south of Bluffton. The Interstates I-80 and I- 90 are in a range of less than an hour to the north of Bluffton. Thus the larger cities in the Midwestern states are easily accessible.
A railway line of the Norfolk and Western Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway stops in Bluffton.
Bluffton is accessible by air via the airport Bluffton.
Bluffton was founded near the Riley Creek, its water power could be used for the first saw and flour mills.
Economy
After the Superior Coach Company, was a part of the Sheller - Globe Corporation, the production of school buses in Lima adjusted since 1969 1980, founded three former employees of Mid Bus, 1982, a car company, in which they made much smaller buses. Had the previous school buses seating up to 66, presented Mid Bus initially manufactured a bus for 16 people. This concept led to the rapid growth of the company, which then moved to a much larger factory in Bluffton. 1998 Mid Bus was acquired by Collins Industries. In September 2007, Collins Industries announced plans to relocate the bus production in the main work of the company in South Hutchinson, Kansas.
In Bluffton remained coarse system, a Bavarian manufacturer of machine tools for the automotive industry and DTR, a joint venture between the Duramax and Tokai Rubber, a supplier of rubber parts for the automotive industry.
History
Bluffton was settled in 1832 in northwest Ohio. The wooded landscape reminded the European settlers of their homeland. They cleared the forest and the soil turned out to be particularly fruitful. Sawmills along the Riley Creeks processed the wood. Soon there were shops and inns were established and the more commercial enterprises more and more families moved into the area and formed the town Bluffton. 1861 Bluffton was incorporated as a Village. Bluffton was named after the Mennonite community in Bluffton Indiana.
Bluffton University
The Bluffton University was founded in 1899 as Central Mennonite College in Bluffton. As the number of Mennonite students decreased, the college was renamed Bluffton University. By 1997, only 13 percent of the students were Mennonites.
Despite the reduced role played by the Mennonites at the University, it remains connected to their religious values. To apply a strict code of honor, and the students may use their written tests alone, working out without chaperones. Also in the cafeteria on campus will not be asked for ID cards and meal cards, but it is expected that guests pay of even their menu.
In the 20th century, the University has always had a student population of a few hundred, but in the 90 years the number of thousand has been exceeded. In 2005, there were 1,211, including 239 graduate handset. Phyllis Diller and Hugh Downs are among the most well-known graduates of the University.
Famous people
- Tobias S. Buckell ( born 1979 ), science fiction author, lives in Bluffton
- Hugh Malcolm Downs ( born 1921 ), radio and television presenter, attended Bluffton University
- Phyllis Diller (1917-2012), Comedienne, is a graduate of Bluffton University
- Bob Latta ( born 1956 ), member of the House of Representatives
- Samuel S. Yoder (1841-1921), physician and lawyer, mayor of Bluffton 1868-1878, Congressman for Ohio from 1887 to 1891, 1891 to 1893 Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives