Van Wert
Around Van Wert
Photo: Art Anderson · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Ohio · 28k people
Van Wert
“The City of Progress”
Where the cornfields meet community.
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Welcome to Van Wert! Here you'll find a close-knit community with a love for county fairs, high school football, and wide-open farmland. Stop by the courthouse square, grab a pork tenderloin sandwich, and enjoy the simple pace of life.
Clubs for Van Wert
No clubs for Van Wert yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Van Wert. 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 Van Wert. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Van Wert County Courthouse Historic 19th-century courthouse at the center of town.
- Van Wert County Fairgrounds Home of the Van Wert County Fair each summer.
- Niswonger Performing Arts Center Hosts concerts, plays, and community events.
- Miami and Erie Canal Remnants of the canal in Delphos, with a towpath for walking.
- Van Wert County Historical Society Museum Local history exhibits in a historic building.
- Van Wert City Park Community park with playgrounds, picnic areas, and a pond.
- Outdoors Walk the Miami-Erie Canal towpath
- Outdoors Fish at the Van Wert Reservoir
- With kids Visit the Van Wert County Fair
- With kids Go to the public library
- Evenings High school football games
- Evenings Concerts at the Niswonger
- Locals love County fair
- Locals love High school football games
Through the year
- Van Wert County Fair July The biggest summer event with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Delphos Canal Days June Celebrates the Miami-Erie Canal with a parade, crafts, and history.
- Van Wert Peony Festival May A flower festival with garden tours and a community picnic.
- Niswonger Performing Arts Season Year-round Year-round concerts, plays, and community performances.
- Van Wert County Historical Society Events Various Living history days and open houses at the museum.
Van Wert has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots — mild and dry.
Getaways
- Fort Wayne, IN Big-city shopping, the zoo, and minor league baseball.
- Celina, OH Grand Lake St. Marys for boating, fishing, and lakeside dining.
- Lima, OH Museums, the Allen County Fairgrounds, and a lively downtown.
- Wapakoneta, OH Home of the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
Local flavour
Rooting for Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds
Eat and drink
- Pork tenderloin sandwich Common Midwest sandwich, often served at fairs and local diners.
- Buckeyes (chocolate peanut butter candy) Ohio's iconic treat, popular at local gatherings.
Where people go
- County fairgrounds The Van Wert County Fair is a major annual event.
- Historic courthouse The Van Wert County Courthouse is a landmark in the town square.
- Small-town main street The downtown area features local shops and a classic Main Street feel.
- Farms and cornfields The surrounding area is agricultural, with vast fields of corn and soybeans.
Heritage and traditions
Van Wert County is proud of its deep German Catholic heritage, the historic Miami and Erie Canal, and the tight-knit small towns where everyone knows their neighbors. Locals cherish the area's rural roots and the enduring traditions of church festivals, county fairs, and community gatherings.
This time of year in Van Wert
- Church bazaars Fall Fall brings parish bazaars with German dinners, raffles, and crafts.
Say it like a local: “Uptown” — A term for the main street or downtown area.
Festivals
- Immaculate Conception Parish Festival Summer Held in Ottoville, this summer festival features German food, games, and a parade.
- Delphos Belgian Heritage Festival August Celebrates the Belgian community with traditional food, music, and a Belgian Village.
- Niswonger Performing Arts Series Year-round Brings concerts and shows to the area throughout the year, often featuring local talent.
- Ohio City Canal Days July Commemorates the canal era with a community picnic and historical talks.
Landmarks with a story
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Church A towering Gothic-style church in Ottoville, a centerpiece of the Cross-Tipped Churches region.
- St. John's Catholic Church Historic parish in Delphos with a rich German and Belgian heritage.
- Miami and Erie Canal The towpath and locks are preserved, reminding locals of the canal era that shaped the area.
- Van Wert County Historical Society Museum Housed in a former residence, it displays pioneer artifacts and local history.
- Woodland Cemetery Final resting place of many early settlers and Civil War veterans, with beautiful old monuments.
Food traditions
- German bratwurst and sauerkraut A staple at church festivals and family gatherings, reflecting the strong German Catholic heritage.
- Belgian meat pies In Delphos, the Belgian community makes savory pies with beef and pork, often served at heritage events.
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A regional favorite, breaded and fried, often served with pickles and onions.
Music and arts
- Polka and German band music Live polka bands play at church festivals and community events, especially in Ottoville and Delphos.
- Barn quilts Colorful painted quilt squares adorn barns across the county, a folk-art tradition.
A little history
- 1837 County founded
- 1840s Miami and Erie Canal opened through the area
- 1850s–1880s German and Belgian immigrants settled, building churches and farms
Rivalries
- Van Wert vs. Delphos high school football A fierce local rivalry that fills the stands.
- Ohio State vs. Michigan The Buckeyes' biggest game splits households.
- Game day Friday night football
- Outdoors Walk the Miami-Erie Canal towpath
- Outdoors Fish at the Van Wert Reservoir
- With kids Attending the county fair
- With kids Visiting the public library
A typical Midwestern accent with a slight German influence in vocabulary and rhythm, especially in towns like Ottoville and Delphos. Locals say 'pop' for soda, 'you guys' for a group, and pronounce 'creek' as 'crick'.
Only here
- The Cross-Tipped Churches—a cluster of Catholic churches with distinctive spires across the countryside.
- Delphos's Belgian Village, where descendants of Belgian immigrants keep traditions alive.
- The Van Wert Peony Festival, one of the oldest peony festivals in the Midwest.
- The Miami and Erie Canal towpath, where you can walk or bike where mules once pulled boats.
New here? A few tips
- Expect cold, snowy winters—invest in a good coat and snow boots.
- Get involved with the county fair; it's the social highlight of the summer.
- Learn a few German phrases; you'll hear them at church festivals and from older residents.
- Drive carefully on country roads, especially during harvest season when farm equipment is common.
- Visit the Cross-Tipped Churches—they're architectural gems and open to visitors.
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Part of Lima area
Nearby
Every areaDecaturIndianaLocal rooms for Adams County.CelinaOhioWhere the lake meets the heartlandLimaOhioFriendly faces and open skiesWapakonetaOhioWhere the prairie meets the starsDefianceOhioWhere the Maumee bends through black earth.Fort WayneIndianaThree rivers, one homeAuburnIndianaA small town with a big love for the classics.SidneyOhioWhere the fields meet the steeples
Van Wert, 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.