Local events in Blanchard Township, Hardin County
Blanchard Township itself has 3 events posted in the next 90 days; the others here are within 10 miles. All local events in Blanchard Township, Hardin County
Checked October 20; the events page is refreshed daily.
How Blanchard Township, Hardin County began
Blanchard Township, in the northern part of Hardin County, is named for the Blanchard River, which rises in the township and flows northwest toward Findlay. David H. Edgar, who arrived from Pennsylvania in 1830, was its first permanent settler. The railroad-era village of Dunkirk, platted in 1852 in the township's northeast corner and named for Dunkirk, New York, grew into the area's commercial center and peaked at over 1,300 residents in 1880 before a long decline. The township today is farmland with Dunkirk as its only municipality.
Settled 1830, by first settled by David H. Edgar in June 1830.
Where the name comes from
The township takes its name from the Blanchard River, which flows through it.
Before the town
No Native American village, trail, or treaty line specific to Blanchard Township was found in the sources searched; the township's recorded history begins with Euro-American settlement in 1830. The Blanchard River itself, which gives the township its name, was a travel corridor used by the Wyandot, Shawnee, and other nations across northwestern Ohio, and the wider region was within lands ceded piecemeal in the Fort Meigs (1817) and later treaties; no source ties a specific village or encounter to this township.
Timeline
- — David H. Edgar, a Pennsylvania native, arrives and enters 80 acres in Section 13, becoming the township's first permanent settler.
- — Edgar's first child, born in January of this year, is recorded as the first child born in the township.
- — Renatus Gum builds Dunkirk's first cabin, of hewed logs, and opens the settlement's first store.
- — Dunkirk is platted in northeastern Blanchard Township when the railroad is extended to the site; it is named for Dunkirk, New York.
- — A post office opens at Dunkirk.
- — Dunkirk's population peaks at 1,311.
- — Dunkirk's population stands at 774, roughly 41 percent below its 1880 peak.
Stories
Three sons lost to one war
New York-born pioneer Levi Bodley settled on the west half of Section 18 in August 1833, one of Blanchard Township's earliest arrivals. His first wife, Rebecca Dubois, died in April 1834; he remarried Rebecca B. Davis and the couple had ten children together. Three of Bodley's sons -- Mathew, Elisha, and John -- went on to serve in the Civil War, and all three died in it, a loss the 1883 county history records plainly among the roll of the township's pioneer families.
Local history sources: ohiogenealogyexpress.com · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
Water
Groundwater wells (2 wells) The water here
- Dunkirk Village69% of residentsGroundwater wells (2 wells)
- Kenton City17% of residentsScioto River valley aquifer (local wells, low confidence)
- Forest Village14% of residentsGroundwater wells (3 wells)
Hospitals, fire stations and more
Inside Blanchard Township, Hardin County's boundary: 2 poor-rated bridges. Press a pin or a name for its whole record and its source.
Bridges rated poor (2)
-
County Road 60 over Cessna Creek LateralPoor · built 1971
- Condition
- Poor: a deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert rated 4 or below on the 0 to 9 scale
- What it is
- Bridge
- Built
- 1971
- Length
- 8 ft
- Owner
- County
- Vehicles a day
- 118
- Coordinates
- 40.74574, -83.60270
National Bridge Inventory (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
County Road 70 over Blanchard RiverPoor · built 1900
- Condition
- Poor: a deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert rated 4 or below on the 0 to 9 scale
- What it is
- Bridge
- Built
- 1900
- Length
- 10 ft
- Owner
- County
- Vehicles a day
- 385
- Coordinates
- 40.73104, -83.59884
National Bridge Inventory (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory 2025. "Poor" means one major part rated 4 or below on the 0 to 9 scale; it calls for repair, not closing, unless the state posts or closes the bridge.
Its ZIP codes
Each ZIP code that touches Blanchard Township, Hardin County, with the share of its residents who live here and the same headline figures as the ZIP page.
| ZIP | Share | Water | Radon | Home value | Schools | Flood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45836 Dunkirk | 27% | Groundwater wells (2 wells) | Too few radon tests | Median year built 1979 | Hardin Northern Local · 4 stars overall | 0.8% of residents in the 1% floodplain |
| 45835 Washington Township and Dola | 10% | Mostly private wells | Too few radon tests | Median year built 1974 | Hardin Northern Local · 4 stars overall | 0.0% of residents in the 1% floodplain |
| 45843 Forest | 3% | Mostly private wells | 4.0 pCi/L average radon | Median year built 1974 | Riverdale Local · 3 stars overall | 1.2% of residents in the 1% floodplain |
| 43326 Kenton | 1% | Scioto River valley aquifer (local wells, low confidence) | 4.2 pCi/L average radon | Median year built 1968 | Kenton City · 3 stars overall | 4.3% of residents in the 1% floodplain |
Local government
Who holds office in Blanchard Township, Hardin County, how its elections and ballot issues came out, and the state auditor's record.
Ballot issues
| Date | Issue | For | Against | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-11-08 | Issue: 9. Blanchard Township Cemeteries | 306 | 168 | Passed (64.56% for), unofficial |
Elections for office
| Date | Office | Candidates and votes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-02 | Township Trustee | Kevin Ridgeway 127, 52.05%; Rob Wilson 117, 47.95% |
| 2019-11-05 | Township Trustee | Mike Crist 219, 100.0% |
| 2019-11-05 | Township Fiscal Officer | Bethany Driskill 206, 100.0% |
Winners in bold. Results from the county board of elections' official canvass unless marked.
Auditor of State record
- No fiscal caution, watch or emergency on the Auditor of State's lists.
- Basic Audit, 2024 to 2025, released 2026-08-25
- Basic Audit, 2022 to 2023, released 2024-10-08
The county
Hardin County: 10 ZIP codes, 23 cities, villages and townships, 31,735 people.
Nearby places
Quick answers
What county is Blanchard Township, Ohio in?
Blanchard Township, Hardin County is a township in Hardin County, Ohio, with 619 residents.
When was Blanchard Township, Ohio founded?
Blanchard Township, Hardin County was settled 1830. Founders on record: first settled by David H. Edgar in June 1830. Source
How did Blanchard Township, Ohio get its name?
The township takes its name from the Blanchard River, which flows through it. Source
What ZIP code is Blanchard Township, Ohio?
Blanchard Township, Hardin County is served by ZIP codes 45836, 45835 and 45843; 45836 holds the largest share of its residents.
Where does Blanchard Township, Ohio get its water?
The main water source for Blanchard Township, Hardin County (Dunkirk Village): Groundwater wells (2 wells).
Cite this page
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Blanchard Township, Hardin County", https://crackedbuckeye.com/place/blanchard-township-hardin-county/, built 2026-10-31, accessed [date].
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