Lima
Around Lima
Photo: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Ohio · 100k people
Lima
Friendly faces and open skies
Lima Locos redLima Locos blue
Welcome to Lima, Ohio! You'll find a friendly community with a rich history and a love for local sports and food. Whether you're here for the fair or just passing through, we're glad to have you.
Clubs for Lima
No clubs for Lima yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lima. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lima. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Allen County Museum Local history and art, home to a mastodon skeleton.
- Ohio Northern University Private university in Ada with a beautiful campus.
- Bluffton University Small liberal arts college in Bluffton.
- The Ohio State University at Lima Branch campus of OSU.
- Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center Hosts concerts, conventions, and events.
- Allen County Fairgrounds Home of the Allen County Fair.
- Outdoors Bike the Miami-Erie Canal towpath
- Outdoors Fish at Lima Lake
- With kids Catch a Lima Locos baseball game
- With kids Explore the Allen County Museum
- Evenings See a show at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center
- Evenings Watch a play at the Lima Civic Center
- Locals love local burger joints
- Locals love small-town diners
Through the year
- Allen County Fair summer Summer fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
- Lima Locos baseball season summer Collegiate summer league team at Simmons Field.
- Lima Symphony Orchestra concerts year-round Classical performances throughout the year.
- Ohio Northern University sports fall/winter Polar Bear athletic events in Ada.
- Bluffton University sports fall/winter Beavers athletic events in Bluffton.
Lima has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and snowy, summers are hot and humid, and spring and fall are mild. The best time to be out is from late April to early October. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Lima (LIE-muh)”
- How locals say the city name, often pronounced 'LIE-muh'.
- “The Cornfield”
- Nickname for the area, referring to its agricultural roots.
Getaways
- Wapakoneta Home of the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
- Van Wert Small-town charm and the Van Wert County Fair.
- Celina Grand Lake St. Marys for boating and fishing.
- Findlay University town with a lively downtown.
Local flavour
Teams
- Lima Locos Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
Also rooting for Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians
Eat and drink
- Kewpee hamburgers Founded in Lima in 1923, a local fast-food staple
- pork tenderloin sandwich Midwestern classic.
- Buckeye candy Peanut butter and chocolate.
- sweet corn Summer staple.
Where people go
- Small-town main streets Quaint downtown areas with historic buildings and local shops
- Grain elevators Iconic agricultural structures dotting the flat landscape
- Lima Lake Reservoir for fishing and boating.
- Miami-Erie Canal Historic canal with towpath trail.
- Allen County Fairgrounds Fair and events venue.
Heritage and traditions
Lima is proud of its small-town friendliness, deep railroad and oil history, and a strong sense of community that shows in its local institutions and traditions.
This time of year in Lima
- Lima Symphony Orchestra concerts Fall and Winter Indoor season in fall and winter.
- Farmers market Summer and Fall Fresh produce and local goods.
Say it like a local: “Heading to Dayton” — A quick trip to a nearby city.
Festivals
- Allen County Fair August Annual fair with livestock, rides, and demolition derby.
- Lima Celtic Festival September Celebrates Scottish and Irish heritage with music and games.
- Lima's Taste of the Town June Local restaurants showcase signature dishes.
- Lima Symphony Orchestra's Pops Concert July Outdoor summer concert in a local park.
Landmarks with a story
- Allen County Museum Showcases local history, including the Lincoln-era and railroad era.
- Miami-Erie Canal Remnants of the 19th-century canal that fueled early growth.
- St. John's Catholic Church Historic parish in downtown Lima with striking architecture.
- Lima's West Market Street Historic District Victorian-era homes and storefronts.
Food traditions
- Kewpee hamburgers A Lima institution since 1923, known for its iconic mascot.
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A Midwestern classic, often served breaded and fried.
- Buckeye candy Peanut butter and chocolate treats, named after Ohio's state tree.
- Sweet corn Summer staple from local farms, often grilled or boiled.
- Mennonite-style casseroles Comfort food from the region's Anabaptist heritage.
Music and arts
- Lima Symphony Orchestra Regional orchestra performing classical and pops.
- ArtSpace Lima Community arts center with galleries and classes.
A little history
- 1831 Founded as a railroad town
- 1880s-1900s Oil boom brought wealth and industry
- 1946 Lima Locos baseball team established
- 1908 Allen County Museum opened
Rivalries
- Lima Senior vs. Bath High School football Local Friday night rivalry.
- Ohio Northern vs. Bluffton University Small college rivalry.
- Game day Lima Locos baseball
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Bike the Miami-Erie Canal towpath
- Outdoors Fish at Lima Lake
- With kids Faurot Park playground
- With kids Lima Public Library story times
Locals speak with a Midwestern accent, often flattening vowels and using 'pop' for soda. You'll hear 'y'all' occasionally, but 'you guys' is more common. The pace is unhurried, with a friendly, direct tone.
Only here
- Kewpee hamburgers originated here in 1923.
- The Allen County Museum has a replica of a 19th-century street.
- Lima's nickname is 'The Hub of the Buckeye State'.
- The Lima Locos baseball team is a summer tradition since 1946.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'Lima' as 'LYE-muh'—it rhymes with 'dime'.
- Visit Kewpee for a burger; it's a local rite of passage.
- Expect cold, snowy winters and humid summers; prepare for both.
- Explore the Miami-Erie Canal towpath for a scenic bike ride.
- Check the Allen County Fair in August for a true local experience.
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Part of Lima area
Nearby
Every areaWapakonetaOhioWhere the prairie meets the starsVan WertOhioWhere the cornfields meet community.KentonOhioHome of the friendly waveCelinaOhioWhere the lake meets the heartlandFindlayOhioFindlay: proudly waving the flag for the Buckeye State.SidneyOhioWhere the fields meet the steeplesBellefontaineOhioSmall‑town charm at the top of OhioDefianceOhioWhere the Maumee bends through black earth.
Lima, OH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.