Bucyrus ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Crawford County, located in northern Ohio approximately 28 miles (45 km) west of Mansfield and southeast of Toledo. The population was 11,684 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is the largest in Crawford County, and the center of the Bucyrus Micropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003).
History
The origin of the name Bucyrus is not certain. It was given by James Kilbourne, who laid out the town in 1821. One theory is that the name Bucyrus is derived from "beautiful" coupled with the name of Cyrus the Great, founder of the First Persian Empire. An alternate theory is that the city was named after Busiris, a city of ancient Egypt.
The Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Company, a predecessor to Bucyrus International, Inc. was founded in Bucyrus in 1880. The company moved to Wisconsin in 1893.
Bucyrus was once home to the Dostal Brothers Brewery. Founded in 1902, the brewery was run by John M. and George A. Dostal.
The Lincoln Highway, later US Route 30, was routed through the city along Mansfield Street in 1913. In 1971 a modern, limited-access bypass was built to the north, but the associated freeway links to the east and west of Bucyrus, replacing the old two-lane Lincoln Highway route, were not completed until 2005, nearly 35 years after they were first proposed.
Ohio Central Traction Company, an interurban line that connected the two communities of Bucyrus and Galion, developed Seccaium Park at the end of the nineteenth century.
There was a notable landmark of an Elephant with a “B” atop the Geiger Clothing store (since demolished) on Washington Square. This was to promote Geiger's motto which was, “Buy your clothing here, for it will last like the hide of an elephant.”
On March 10, 2007, Bucyrus was featured as the town of the week on the nationally syndicated Public Radio International program, Whad'Ya Know?.
Geography
Bucyrus is located at (40.806014, -82.973169), along the Sandusky River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,362 people, 5,320 households, and 3,219 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,983 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 5,320 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.5% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% 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 2.85.
The median age in the city was 41.1 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,224 people, 5,559 households, and 3,552 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,955 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.38% White, 0.78% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 5,559 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.