Toledo is a city located in the state of Ohio. It serves as the county seat of Lucas County. The city has grown rapidly over the years. The city’s economy has long revolved around the manufacturing of glass, which has led to the nickname “The Glass City.”

Toledo Population Statistics

The city has seen an uptick in violent crimes in the 21st century. In 2013, the city was ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. However, later that year, crime rates began to fall again.

Toledo Population Growth

During its early years, the city of Toledo saw substantial population growth. A population of just over 1,200 people in 1840 rose to over 30,000 in 1870. The population was well over 100,000 at the time of the 1900 census. In 1920, the city’s population was over 240,000. The city’s population rose to over 300,000 in 1950. The population peaked at over 380,000 in 1970 before declining at the next census and each one following that. Recent estimates show that the population has dropped by 3% since the last poll taken in 2010. This shows that despite efforts to revitalize, the city of Toledo has a long way to go to increase its population.

The area now known as Toledo was first inhabited by many groups of indigenous people. The area was controlled by the Wyandot tribe and the Council of Three Fires. The first European in the area with Etienne Brule, who arrived in what is now Toledo in 1615. Later in the 1600s, the French established trading posts, and the fur trade thrived. However, Europeans did not settle the area until at least 1795.

Following the Northwest Indian War and the defeat at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Indian tribes ceded parts of Ohio – including what is now Toledo – to the United States. European settlers continued to come to the area; however, the War of 1812 drove many people away. A few years later, resettlement began again. In the 1820s, the Miami and Erie Canal was authorized for construction, later followed by the Wabash and Erie Canal extension. Towns wanted to be the ending terminus of the canal, and it was in 1833 that Port Lawrence and Vistula merged to become more competitive. The resulting region was called Toledo.

The newly-established Toledo was not chosen to be the location of the final terminus but was the location of a sidecut before the terminus. Toledo’s expansion was slow during its first 20 years of settlement. However, the city’s population did continue to grow, and by the 1880s, its borders expanded.

As railroads began to replace canals, Toledo became a transportation hub and attracted other industries including furniture makers, breweries and glass manufacturers. The city’s population started growing even more with an influx of immigrants that were coming to the city to take on factory jobs. By the end of the 1800s, Toledo was thriving and was one of the largest cities in the state.

The population continued to grow throughout the 20th century, although it did face some setbacks during the Great Depression. However, WPA projects were designed to reemploy residents following the Great Depression and resulted in the expansion of the Toledo Museum of Art and the Toledo Zoo.

, and a depressed economy as industrial restructuring caused a slump in the manufacturing industry. By the 1980s, the city’s economy was again depressed. However, the 21st century brought about many redevelopment projects to draw in more residents. This includes Fifth Third Field and Huntington Center. While the city is working to improve, it still faces problems such as high crime rates.