Each month, we feature a different Ohio city as part of our #GOPCThread Series, OHCommunitySpotlight. This month, we highlight the city of Bowling Green!

Bowling Green is a city of around 30,000 residents, located 20 miles southwest of Toledo in Northeast Ohio. Bowling Green is the county seat for Wood County.

First settled in 1832, it was incorporated as a village in 1855, and then into a city in 1901. Bowling Green is named after Bowling Green, Kentucky, by a retired postal worker who once delivered mail in the sister city.

Like many Ohio cities, the discovery of oil in the 19th and 20th Century provided Bowling Green with an economic boom.

A strong investment in Bowling Green can still be seen today, as many downtown buildings and storefronts remain.

In the early 20th Century, the automobile industry entered Bowling Green and the surrounding area – before heading up north across the border to Detroit. The major employer was the Coats Steam Car.

The Bowling Green State Normal School was established in 1910, and opened in 1914. Residents in the area advocated for a post-secondary school during the Progressive Era, as the demand for teachers increased. Its first class graduated in 1915, certifying 35 teachers.

Today, Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) enrolls around 20,000 students who can study natural & social sciences, education, arts, business, health & wellness, humanities, & applied technologies. Bowling Green is one of 14 state universities in Ohio.

@BGSU, @UToledo + regional public & private entities partnered together to earn an Innovation Hub from the @OhioDevelopment in 2024. The $31.3M grant is expected to bring 1,600 jobs & create an economic impact of $284M over the next seven years.

The Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub will bolster economic growth & technological progress in Ohio by combining the expertise & knowledge of the region’s leaders in advanced manufacturing, solar, glassmaking, academia, labor & economic development.

Downtown Bowling Green offers residents and visitors an opportunity to experience historic buildings and shop, dine, and explore! A downtown designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) allows you to take your drink with you as you walk around downtown.

If you are looking for outdoor recreation, Bowling Green offers many parks and trails. These include the Black Swamp Preserve, the Slippery Elm Trail, the Cricket Frog Cove, and the Rudolph Savannah. The Wood County Park District operates each.

Thank you for joining us as we explore Bowling Green! Come back next month as we explore another Ohio city in the #GOPCThread!

Cover Image: Wood County Courthouse by Art Anderson.