HARDIN COUNTY
County Offices
419-674 2205
www.co.hardin.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
419-673-4131
www.hardinohio.org
One of Ohio’s richest agricultural centers, scenic Hardin County is home to farming operations of varying sizes that collectively produce $190 million in products. More than three-quarters of the land is devoted to farms, including a large community of Old Order Amish who still rely on horse-drawn buggies for transportation. At the same time, the area is served by an outstanding network of state highways along with US Highway 30, bisecting the county seat of Kenton and providing quick and easy access to Interstate 75. Newcomers will discover a wonderful quality of life where the delights of rural living harmonize with bustling small cities that provide progressive advantages from a local hospital to a highly respected private university.
Services
Located in close proximity to Interstate 75 for easy access to urban or metropolitan centers like Dayton and Columbus, panoramic Hardin County excels in quality of life. Most healthcare needs can be met close to home by a strong network of professionals and local clinics. The leading city of Kenton is home to Hardin Memorial Hospital, which continually underlines a commitment to deliver quality care with updates from renovations to investments in state-of-the-art equipment. The nearby Findlay-Hancock micropolitan area is an epicenter for advanced healthcare, anchored by Blanchard Valley Health System. With more than 2,000 associates, BVHS is a Northwest Ohio healthcare leader that serves an eight-county region. Blanchard Valley Hospital provides a full range of services including a Level 2 Special Care Nursery and an accredited Cycle II Chest Pain Center. In addition to its inclusion among the 100 Top Hospitals and consistent Patient Safety Excellence Awards from HealthGrades, BVHS has been recognized by Truven Health Analytics among the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. Two regional medical centers are also located in Lima, including St. Rita’s Medical Center, the largest hospital within a 70-mile radius of the city. Lima is also home to the Institute for Orthopedic Surgery and Lima Memorial Health System, with a long list of Centers of Excellence and a number one ranking for Exceptional Care.
The educational institutions available to Hardin County residents are equally impressive, beginning with a strong local public school system. The friendly village of Ada is home to Ohio Northern University, a highly respected private college with nationally ranked liberal arts and professional programs in five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Law. Those who are looking for an affordable start on a four-year degree or outstanding career training have a number of quality options that include the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center in Bellefountaine, the Apollo Career Center and Rhodes State College in Lima, and Owens Community College or the Millstream Career Center in Findlay. In addition to serving junior and senior high school students, the region’s career centers are outstanding resources for adult education. The city of Lima is also home to a campus for Ohio State University and the private University of Northwestern Ohio. The University of Findlay is another regional private institution that is renowned as one of Ohio’s top private colleges. UF is consistently recognized by Princeton Review as a “Best in the Midwest” college and ranked among the top tier of “America’s Best Colleges” by US News & World Report.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Hardin County will discover one of the nation’s most affordable and appealing lifestyles, brimming over with small-town pleasures and the finest of country living. Church and school picnics, farmers markets, home-crafted treasures, antique shops, colorful seasonal festivals, hometown celebrations, and the unspoiled beauty of Amish Country are all hallmarks of this picturesque area. Historic preservation is evident throughout the small cities and villages, crowned by the magnificent Harkin County Court House in Kenton and the elegant 1896 Sullivan-Johnson House—now a museum with a number of notable exhibits and collections. Kenton is also home to the Historic Village & Farm located near the Hardin County Fairgrounds. Ada Village invites visitors to step back into time at the Pierstorf Family Pharmacy Museum inside the Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University. The private college serves as a cultural center for the county, hosting a wide variety of educational, artistic, and entertainment programs throughout the year. The Freed Center for the Performing Arts presents nationally known speakers as well as first-rate theater concert events, while the 132-seat Stambaugh Theater is ideal for recitals and small-scale productions. The nearby city of Lima is home to the spectacular Veterans Memorial & Civic & Convention Center for national headliners and Broadway Shows. Artspace/Lima is another outstanding resource, serving as a premier art gallery and regional visual arts educational center. The city of Findlay is also easily accessible, adding a wide variety of opportunities to appreciate and participate in the arts.
Natural preservation combines with developed recreational centers like the Family YMCA in Kenton to ensure four-season activities that include swimming, golf, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and cycling. The Silver Creek Center for Environmental Studies in Kenton covers 26 acres with scenic woodlands, a meadow and streamlets to provide a laboratory for ecological study. The recent addition of 1,035-acre Lawrence Wood State Nature Preserve in Taylor Creek Township invites the public to walk in the shade of the region’s oldest trees and enjoy spring wildflowers while it protects rare plants and animals. Not far from home in Lima, the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District dedicates more than 1,200 acres to activities like hiking, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding, bicycling, and interpretive programs. Lima is also home to Limaland Motorsport Park for enthusiasts of stock, sprint and midget car racing. Adjacent Hancock County and the vibrant city of Findlay add a kaleidoscope of recreational amenities and opportunities for all ages, including more than 3,000 acres at 75 locations. When the snow flies, Ohio’s largest and most celebrated ski resort is available just minutes from home at Mad River Mountain in Zanesfield. Regardless of the season, life is good in Hardin County!
Kenton
City Offices
419-674-4850
www.kentoncity.com
Chamber of Commerce
419-673-4131
www.hardinohio.org
The largest city and seat of government for Hardin County, Kenton has the look and feel of a friendly rural community. Located at the hub of five state routes, the city offers easy access to Interstates 70 and 75. The Historic Courthouse District is the focal point of community life, encompassing downtown Kenton and sections of Detroit and Main Street. Stately buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s now offer attractive lofts and apartments that mingle with county and city offices, financial institutions, retailers and restaurants. This lively district also hosts the Hardin County Farmers Market and seasonal or holiday events from parades to Christmas around the Square and the Easter Egg Hunt. Five parks and the Hardin County Family YMCA are available for swimming, sports activities, skating, picnicking, fishing and camping. Kenton Little League enjoys a 36 acre sports complex with seven baseball/softball fields, a walking track, and an indoor training facility with batting cages. Highlights within the city’s outlying areas include two nature preserves.
Ada
Village Offices
419-634-4045
www.adaoh.org
Chamber of Commerce
419-788-9459
www.adachamber.org
Home to the beautiful campus of Ohio Northern University, the small village of Ada benefits from the vibrant and youthful energy associated with a college-town atmosphere. Exceptional opportunities for educational and cultural enrichment are available just beyond the front doorstep at the University’s performing arts centers. Newcomers will find a charming hometown setting with local shopping and unique industries that include Wilson Sporting Goods, distinguished as the nation’s only NFL football manufacturing facility. Local parks and lovely well-kept homes nestled in attractive neighborhoods characterize the village, which has been designated at a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Residents enjoy a high quality of life with a low cost of living in close proximity to a world of expanded urban amenities and conveniences in nearby cities like Kenton in Hardin County or minutes away in the vibrant cities of Lima and Findlay.
Hardin County Townships
Fifteen rural counties cover the expanse of Hardin County with rich farmland, natural preserves and community development that includes long-established villages. Along the county’s byways and back roads, acres of Amish Country are dotted with signs for home-crafted goods and farm-fresh produce. Antique hunters will want to explore the treasures in the Mt. Victory area or those tucked away in specialty shops throughout local towns. Townships and villages have developed their own commercial conveniences along with parks, playgrounds, and sports fields or courts. Housing choices are attractive and diverse, contrasting elegant older properties and modest family homes with vibrant new construction set on generous rural lots.
