WOOD COUNTY
County Offices
419-354-9000
www.co.wood.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
419-353-7945
www.bgchamber.net
Wood County is a vibrant place to call home, blending rural charm, historic preservation and progressive amenities. Sprawling townships, small villages and bustling cities are all dedicated to providing an outstanding quality of life and maintaining a strong local economy. The county seat and leading city of Bowling Green is home to Bowling Green State University, which serves the entire region with expanded opportunities for cultural enrichment, unique attractions, first-rate recreational facilities, and lifelong education. Newcomers will want to take the time exploring the welcoming communities and hidden byways of this wonderful region.
Services
Wood County enjoys a strategic location in Ohio’s lush rural heartland along the Interstate 75 corridor, with the east-west thoroughfare of Interstate 80/90 just minutes to the north. As part of the Greater Toledo Metropolitan Statistical Area, the county enjoys a location in close proximity to world-class urban advantages. At the same time, local cities are brimming over with progressive conveniences that include comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services at Wood County Hospital. Covering a 37-acre campus in Bowling Green, the hospital provides primary care, surgical specialties, obstetrics, therapies, advanced imaging, health education, and wellness programming to the surrounding communities. It also serves local business and industry with a dedicated occupational medicine program. Should the need for highly advanced care arise, nationally recognized teaching institutions are nearby including Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center and the University of Toledo Medical Center, both recognized for high performance in multiple clinical specialties by US News and World Report. In a national survey to identify quality physicians, 53 Toledo area doctors were selected by their peers to be listed among the Nation’s Finest Doctors and 49 of this group are Toledo Medical Center Physicians.
Wood County also provides access to first-rate educational resources on every academic level, underlined by some of Ohio’s finest public school districts and local options for a private education. Opportunities for extra-curricular activities are abundant, from sports programs to drama, foreign languages, leadership, and the arts. Students who are interested in vocational training have the advantage of the Penta Career Center on a new campus that allows state-of-the-art instruction. The Wood County District Public Library supports the entire community with more than 155,000 holdings and hundreds of programs. Opportunities for an affordable higher education are available close to home at Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University. OCC provides 130 academic programs leading to associate degrees or certificates in a variety of careers, ensuring individualized attention in classes that average 15 students. Bowling Green State University is part of Ohio’s public university system, serving more than 19,000 students and maintaining a favorable 19:1 student to faculty ratio. BGSU has been identified among “America’s best bang-for-the-buck colleges,” outranking other Ohio public institutions for doing the most exemplary job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. Twelve other public and private colleges and universities are available within a 50-mile radius of Wood County, including the University of Toledo and the private University of Findlay.
Lifestyle
Bowling Green State University plays a leading role in elevating the caliber of cultural enrichment opportunities that are available to Wood County residents through its College of Musical Arts, School of Art, and Departments of Theatre & Film, Creative Writing and Dance. Taking advantage of beautiful galleries and performance venues for diverse programming, University Arts shines as a cultural jewel throughout Northwest Ohio. BGSU resources include the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Willard Wankelman Gallery, and Hiroko Nakamoto Gallery as well as the Gish Film Theater, Joe E. Brown Theater, and Eva Marie Saint Theater. Local towns have developed their own unique attractions, from musical groups like the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra and choral groups to community theatre. Throughout the year, the calendar is filled with colorful celebrations that pay homage to historic events or just celebrate the season. The three-day Black Swamp Arts Festival is a regional favorite, connecting the arts with the Bowling Green community. Historic preservation includes the Wood County Historical Center & Museum, the National Construction Equipment Museum, the Little Red Schoolhouse at Bowling Green State University, and the spectacular Wood County Court House featuring one of the world’s largest working hand clocks. Fort Meigs State Memorial Park is the largest reconstructed wooden-walled fortification in North America, a focal point of the War of 1812 and site of historic battle reenactments.
Recreational opportunities are available throughout the four seasons in Wood County, where Bowling Green State University again plays an important role by providing spectator sports and exceptional facilities for public enjoyment, from a planetarium to a premier ice arena. Residents enjoy bicycling along miles of panoramic trails, golfing at country clubs or public greens, acres of lush parks filled with sports fields and courts, fitness centers, swimming pools, picnic areas, hiking trails, and nature preserves for quiet observation. Local recreation departments provide league play and special programs throughout the year that appeal to all age groups, complemented by private developments like the Portage Quarry Recreational Club with 50 acres for swimming and PADI-certified scuba instruction as well as camping. Those who prefer shopping to sports can look forward to quaint main streets lined with unique boutiques or modern retail centers displaying popular labels. Home styles are as diverse as the communities, blending custom estates on multi-acre lots with cozy bungalows or grand historic properties. City, village or countryside, your dream home is waiting to be purchased or built in one of Wood County’s friendly, welcoming hometown environments.
Bowling Green
City Offices
419-354-6204
www.bgohio.org
Chamber of Commerce
419-353-7945
www.bgchamber.net
In many ways, the city of Bowling Green serves as the economic heartbeat and cultural soul of Wood County. Following the tradition of one of America’s vibrant college towns, the city is home to excellent dining and entertainment establishments, imaginative shops, and well-developed recreational facilities—indoor and outdoor. Residents and visitors alike enjoy strolling down the streets of the quaint historic downtown district lined where cozy cafes, bakeries, pubs, and coffee shops blend with attractive stores run by friendly local merchants. Bowling Green is proud of its status as a Tree City USA, showcasing floral displays and thousands of flowering trees and shrubs each spring as well as breathtakingly beautiful fall foliage in lovely neighborhoods and wooded parks. Residents can enjoy first-rate cultural attractions or planetarium shows on the campus of Bowling Green State University or take advantage of community resources that include acres of lush parks, recreational facilities, the Bowling Green Community Center, and a new aquatics complex.
Fostoria
City Offices
419-435-8282
http://www.fostoriaohio.gov
Chamber of Commerce
419-435-0486
www.fostoriaohio.org
The slogan for the city of Fostoria is “Where good things begin!” This small but growing city provides an appealing hometown atmosphere for local residents but also a surprising number of attractions that draw regional and even national visitors. Glass collectors and history buffs will appreciate the dazzling array of original Fostoria Glass pieces at the local Glass Museum, while train lovers will enjoy the “Iron Triangle” and Fostoria RailPark—crowning the community’s proud designation as a Train City USA. Fostoria is dubbed the Iron Triangle because three different railroads converge in the city, a phenomenon that continually draws avid rail enthusiasts. The city’s colorful history is further showcased in the history museum with displays that depict the rise of the glass and rail industries. Recreational amenities include wonderful festivals and celebrations, local shopping and dining, rich parkland with sports facilities, the Fostoria Water Park, and area golf clubs. In addition to their leisure value, these greens are attracting scores of new residential development from beautiful condominiums to view lots that are ideal for custom single-family homes.
Northwood
City Offices
419-693-9320
www.ci.northwood.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
419-419-698-5911
www.embchamber.org
The city of Northwood is just one mile wide but welcomes newcomers to a truly outstanding quality of life in the middle of Wood County’s rapidly growing economy. Newcomers find a pleasing mix of older homes with beautiful new construction on sprawling rural landscapes just minutes from the intersection of the Ohio Turnpike and Interstate 75 for easy access to a world of metropolitan amenities. Attractions near the city include a world class museum, a celebrated zoo, a minor league baseball field, theatre and concert halls, and miles of unspoiled lake shore. The Toledo Museum of Art and the highly acclaimed Glass Pavilion are a short drive across the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway Bridge. Nearby Stranahan Theatre hosts theatre, musical concerts, comedic performances that include national headliners and Broadway shows. Closer to home, a well-developed parks system provides baseball diamonds, basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields, play areas, exercise stations, walking trails, and wetland preserves. The city is also close to Lake Erie for world-class fishing and boating.
Perrysburg
City Offices
419-872-8010
www.ci.perrysburg.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
419-874-9147
www.perrysburgchamber.com
Attractive and welcoming, the bustling small city of Perrysburg is proud of the richness of its hometown setting and unique attractions. The unique shops and eateries that line the charming historical downtown district contrast with the modern stores and entertainment centers at the Town Center at Levis Commons. During the growing season, the local farmers market never fails to draw enthusiastic crowds to fresh produce and home-baked goods. Broad streets, beautifully landscaped yards, and towering trees create a beautiful backdrop for diversified architecture spanning 1830 to 1940, giving the community an undeniable charm. The city is justly proud of unique features like its Tree City USA designation, 180 acres of parkland, one of the finest school districts in Ohio, and a local symphony orchestra. Other highlights include close proximity to Fort Meigs State Memorial Park, abundant sports facilities, family fun centers, and the Fort Meigs YMCA with state-of-the art exercise, swimming, and recreation facilities. The city’s new high school also features a 1,000-seat auditorium that serves as a local performance center.
Rossford
City Offices
419-666-0210
www.rossfordohio.com
Chamber of Commerce
419-893-5805
www.maumeechamber.com
Situated along the rolling Maumee River, the city of Rossford enjoys a strategic location at the intersection of the Ohio Turnpike and Interstate 75. The community is home to the Crossroads Shopping mecca as well as a quaint downtown district, a picturesque marina, and historic surroundings that include the Edward Ford Memorial. The sight of visitors is commonplace in Rossford, where tourists mingle with local residents in local parks, along the marina or at bustling retail centers. Popular pastimes include bowling and indoor soccer as well as boating and fishing. The city offers several acres of parks, each with distinctive features and recreational amenities. Veterans Memorial Park takes advantage of its location along the Maumee River to provide a scenic backdrop for water-related activities but also courts and facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, picnics, and concessions. Newcomers to Rossford will discover a welcoming hometown community within minutes from the bright lights and expanded amenities of Metropolitan Toledo.
Wood County Townships
Rural townships cover Wood County with unique opportunities for historic properties, well-kept older homes, handsome new construction, and custom home sites. Small villages dot the landscape, combining with township governments to provide commercial and recreational conveniences. Wood County Parks preserve 1,100 acres of natural beauty for public enjoyment, including the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, a 44-acre expanse with pond fishing and hiking trails or boardwalks through wetlands, swamp woods and native prairie. Newcomers who are looking for the serenity and openness of rural life will find the ideal environment in Wood County, where every address enjoys quick and easy access to expanded amenities in nearby cities and Metropolitan Toledo.
