Families stay for generations in Ottawa
Once home to the namesake Native American nation, Ottawa is a small village along the bends of the Blanchard River. Located about 30 miles from Lima, Ottawa offers a slower pace of life, a respected school district, and a historic downtown brimming with small businesses and local eats. “We have such a large number of families that stay here from generation to generation, and that’s why we have so much support,” says Kelly Theisen, director of membership engagement for the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce. “There’s growth with the manufacturing segment of town, and there are lots of jobs being added.”
Ottawa-Glandorf has WBL championship teams
Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools has an enrollment of about 1,500 students and receives a B-plus grade from Niche. Ottawa Elementary and Ottawa-Glandorf High School receive a B. Juniors and seniors can take classes at Millstream Career Center in Findlay, which offers dual enrollment and career training for fields like welding, performing arts, computer programming, and engineering. “Besides the high academic excellence, we seem to have incredible athletes in our school district,” Theisen says. “They know how to work well together as teams and they work very hard, and I think that’s why they get as far as they do.” The district received the 2024-2025 Western Buckeye League All Sports Trophy after earning eight WBL team championships during the school year.
Several colleges and universities are within a 40-minute drive, including the University of Findlay, Rhodes State College, Bluffton University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Northwestern Ohio and the Lima branch of Ohio State University.
Historic downtown blends local shops, dining and gathering spaces
Locally owned shops, restaurants and businesses pack the red brick buildings of Ottawa’s historic downtown. “Within the past two years, we’ve had a lot of revitalization and renovation happening right in the downtown district,” Theisen says. “The Du Mont building was renovated and has Ottawa Brewing on the lower level and a great restaurant. There happens to be a street right next to the brewery that’s like a gathering place with outdoor seating and a pickleball court. It’s a really nice outdoor gathering area that’s been added to our community.” North Perry Street is more commercial, with fast food chains and national retailers like Walmart. For something more local, Leap Meats offers locally sourced meats and custom processing. The Ottawa Farmers Market runs every Wednesday from June through August at the Ottawa Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mix of 20th-century homes and newer builds
Ottawa has a suburban setting with sidewalk-lined streets and compact lots. The community’s housing stock largely consists of homes built throughout the 20th century, but buyers can also find homes built within the past 25 years and new builds in subdivisions like Meadow Glen. Bungalow, National and ranch-style are common designs in town, as well as American foursquare, farmhouse and revival styles. Fixer-uppers can cost between $50,000 and $150,000, but most move-in ready homes range from $150,000 to $300,000. New builds and updated homes on larger lots tend to sell for $300,000 to $500,000.
Thursdays at the Rex brings music, food and neighbors together
Ottawa has multiple pocket parks and green spaces throughout town, but Memorial Park is the village’s largest recreational hub. Mature trees, playground equipment and shelter houses make it a popular gathering place for families. Rex Pavilion is in the center of town and features an amphitheater, green space and picnic tables. From June through August, Thursdays at the Rex brings live music and food trucks to the pavilion. There’s recreation on the Blanchard River, too. In 2023, the village added two public access drop-in points at the water treatment plant and Arrowhead Park. Kayakers can paddle along a 4-mile stretch of the river through town. In total, the river has about 40 miles of navigable waters in and around Findlay.
Columbus and Fort Wayne are within a two-hour drive
U.S. Route 225 and state Route 65 intersect in town and connect to nearby cities like Lima and Findlay, both of which are within a half hour’s drive. In addition to retail and restaurant options, Lima has emergency medical care available at Lima Memorial Hospital. Drivers can reach Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport within two hours, and Fort Wayne is less than an hour and a half away.
The Blanchard River is prone to flooding
The Blanchard River is a vital regional asset and provides water to Ottawa and surrounding communities. However, the river carries the risk of flooding. Several severe floods have occurred in the past 20 years, damaging residential areas and downtown businesses. The village participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which offers affordable flood insurance to property owners.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
