Each month, we feature an Ohio Legacy City on our #GOPCThread Series, #OHCommunitySpotlight. This month, we visit Wilmington, county seat of Clinton County, logistic center, and weather capital of South-Central Ohio
It's that time once again as we shine the #OHCommunitySpotlight on another of Ohio's #LegacyCities. This month, we visit Wilmington, county seat of Clinton County & weather central for portions of OH, KY & IN
Founded in 1810, Wilmington was first called Clinton, sharing its name with the newly formed county which was named for the then-Vice President George Clinton (not the famous funk-artist ☹). Following an influx of settlers from NC, the name was changed in Wilmington in 1811.
Like much of SW Ohio, before European settlers entered the region, the area that became Wilmington was populated by members of the Adena and Hopewell Culture. The nearby Keiter Mound sits on a wooded hill just north of the city.
The community grew quickly, reaching 1,500 residents by 1840. That same year, the community’s first school building opened. By 1853, the various schools around Wilmington were organized into a single district.
Many of the region’s settlers were members of the Society of Friends (the Quakers). These residents helped to establish the schools, founded Wilmington College in 1870, and played an important role aiding fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad.
While the majority of the area surrounding Wilmington is rural, with agriculture being a dominate industry, the city itself has played a significant role in transportation for more than a century. In 1880, two railroads passed through the city, which remain operational to this day.
In 1929, a small airport was opened. Taken over by the Civil Aeronautic Authority in 1940, In 1942, the U.S. Army Air Force took over Wilmington Airport, renaming the facility Clinton County Army Air Field.
By 1947, the installation was renamed Clinton County Air Force Base, supporting the Air Force Reserves 302d Troop Carrier Wing, which became the 302d Tactical Airlift Wing before briefly becoming the 302d Special Operations Wing. However in 1972, the base was decommissioned.
Following the airports decommissioning, it was developed into the Wilmington Industrial Air Park, home to the Great Oaks JVS, Southern State Community College, and an air freight facility that was home to Airborne Freight Corporation, later Airborne Express.
In 2003, Airborne was acquired by DHL, & the Wilmington Airport became a major sorting center for the package delivery company. The facility was a major jobs center for the Wilmington community, but in 2009 DHL ceased U.S. domestic delivery & the Wilmington facility closed
10,000 Ohio jobs to vanish with DHL - Columbus Dispatch Image via AP FIle
The shutdown resulted in the loss of 16,000 jobs in the area. The closure was devastating for the local economy.
DHL Cuts 9,500 Jobs in U.S., and an Ohio Town Takes the Brunt - The New York Times
Image by Tom Uhlman for The New York Time
On July 16, 2009, the Wilmington City Council voted unanimously to establish Wilmington as a "Green Enterprise Zone" (GEZ). The ordinance has helped to facilitate green economic development by creating financial incentives for the creation of green collar jobs.
Green Collar Workers - Wikipedia
In just the first year of the GEZ’s existence, ECC was able to assist the City of Wilmington and Clinton County in obtaining $1.3 million in stimulus funding to develop three renewable energy projects
The GEZ also led to AZEK Company opening its flagship manufacturing plant in Wilmington, where they produce composite decking & railing systems through the recycling of post-industrial & post-consumer polyethylene, making it into raw material for TimberTech decking
Air cargo service also eventually returned to Wilmington Air Park when Amazon began using the facility for their new Amazon Air service. Today, Wilmington Air Park is the highest volume cargo airport in Ohio, and is 31st in the U. S.
Amazon Unveils Cargo Plane As It Expands Delivery Network - Columbus Dispatch
Image by Nathan Coats via Wikimedia Commons
The airport is also home to UAS, a joint venture between the states of Ohio & Indiana to support research, testing, and evaluation of unmanned aircraft systems for business, government, and academia.
Followers in Central & SW Ohio know Wilmington as the home of @NWSILN. Opened in 1993 to replace three offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, & Dayton, the Wilmington office was viewed as ideally located to handle forecasting & warning responsibilities for the region.
Wilmington is the home to the historic Murphy Theater, which opened in 1918 with the financial assistance of Wilmington native & then-owner of the Chicago Cubs Charles Murphy. Today, the theater is operated as a non-profit & serves as a community center
Image by Mark Susina via Flickr
The Murphy Theater can be seen in the film Lost in Yonkers, which was partially filmed in the area, and annually hosts the Murphy Christmas Show, showcasing dance troupes, barbershop quartets, children’s choirs, & other local acts.
The Murphy Theater - Wikipedia
Image by Dhabtema via Wikimedia Commons
For many years, Wilmington hosted the annual Banana Split Festival, begun to celebrate the towns role in the creation of the summer threat in 1907. The City also hosts the Clinton County Corn Festival, honoring the regions agricultural tradition.
Cover photo of Downtown Wilmington by Photo by Christopher L. Riley via Wikimedia Commons
