Local events in Van Buren Township, Putnam County
Nothing is posted for Van Buren Township itself yet; here is what is on within 20 miles. All local events in Van Buren Township, Putnam County
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Checked October 20; the events page is refreshed daily.
How Van Buren Township, Putnam County began
Van Buren Township, in the northeastern corner of Putnam County, was surveyed in 1821 but not organized until 1843, and was known before organization as North Blanchard; swampy ground and fallen timber slowed its settlement. Abraham Baughman, the first settler, arrived in 1835, and the township's population reached 608 by 1860, when more than thirty residents worked as railroad laborers. It holds the villages of Belmore in its north and Leipsic in its west.
Settled 1835 (Abraham Baughman, first settler), incorporated 1843 (organized; surveyed 1821).
Where the name comes from
Before organization the township was known as North Blanchard; why it was later named for President Martin Van Buren is not recorded.
Before the town
No Native American site or village specific to Van Buren Township is recorded.
Timeline
- — The township is surveyed, then known as North Blanchard.
- — Abraham Baughman becomes the township's first settler.
- — Van Buren Township organizes.
- — Van Buren Township holds its first election at Abraham Baughman's house, twelve votes cast, after several attempts to organise had failed for lack of voters; the 1915 county history says the commissioners organised it in 1843.
- — The township's population is recorded at 172.
- — The Dayton & Michigan railroad is built through the township, giving an outlet for timber and drawing settlers; Leipsic is founded beside it that year.
- — Population reaches 608 (768 including Leipsic); over 30 residents work as railroad laborers.
- — A post office opens in Belmore, in the township's north (Belmore's own platting under the name Montgomeryville follows in 1862 as well).
- — Sixteen Van Buren Township men volunteer for the Union army between July 2 and August 22, and four more by September 13.
- — The Nickel Plate railroad is built through the township.
- — 825 votes are cast in Van Buren Township for governor.
- — The census counts 2,821 residents in Van Buren Township.
Stories
Swamp, Timber, and a Late Start
Van Buren Township was surveyed in 1821 by James Heaton and was known as North Blanchard; the county commissioners did not organize it until 1843. Wikipedia says the swampiness of the land and 'masses of fallen timbers' were the main reasons for its slow settlement, and the 1915 county history quotes Heaton's field notes on the same point. Abraham Baughman, the first settler, arrived in 1835. The population grew from 172 in 1850 to 608 in 1860 (768 including Leipsic), and by 1860 more than thirty residents were working as railroad laborers.
Local history sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · archive.org · archive.org
Water
Mostly private wells The water here
- Leipsic Village100% of residentsGroundwater wells (7 wells)
Hospitals, fire stations and more
Inside Van Buren Township, Putnam County's boundary: 1 poor-rated bridge, 1 Toxics Release Inventory facility and 7 spill cases. Press a pin or a name for its whole record and its source.
Bridges rated poor (1)
-
County Road Y over Yellow CreekPoor · built 1960
- Condition
- Poor: a deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert rated 4 or below on the 0 to 9 scale
- What it is
- Bridge
- Built
- 1960
- Length
- 10 ft
- Owner
- County
- Vehicles a day
- 117
- Coordinates
- 41.13555, -83.90774
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.
Facilities reporting toxic releases (1)
-
Pro Tec Coating CoToxics Release Inventory · Leipsic
- Address
- 5000 Co Rd 5, Leipsic, OH 45856
- County
- Putnam County
- Status
- Reports to the Toxics Release Inventory (active)
- EPA program ID
- 45856PRTCC5000C
- EPA registry ID
- 110056964067
EPA facility record ↗ EPA Facility Registry Service (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: EPA Facility Registry Service, Toxics Release Inventory reporters. Reporting a release is required of large users of listed chemicals; it is not by itself a violation.
Spills reported since 2021 (7)
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2025-07-29 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2025-07-29
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 150 gallons
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2507EPA0001268
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Manure Nos (Not Specified)2024-11-16 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2024-11-16
- What spilled
- Manure Nos (Not Specified)
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2411EPA0001890
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2024-10-02 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2024-10-02
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2410EPA0001689
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Manure Swine2024-05-20 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2024-05-20
- What spilled
- Manure Swine; Manure Cattle
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2405EPA0000839
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Material Undetermined / Other2024-04-09 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2024-04-09
- What spilled
- Material Undetermined / Other
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2404EPA0000569
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Material White2023-04-20 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2023-04-20
- What spilled
- Material White
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2304EPA0000633
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Manure Swine2022-10-11 · Van Buren Twp
- Reported
- 2022-10-11
- What spilled
- Manure Swine
- Where
- Van Buren Twp, Putnam County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2210EPA0001538
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: Ohio EPA emergency response spill reports, 2021 to September 2026, one point per case where Ohio EPA placed it. A report is what the caller or responder recorded; amounts are often blank or estimated.
Its ZIP codes
Each ZIP code that touches Van Buren Township, Putnam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45856 Leipsic | 12% | Mostly private wells | 4.0 pCi/L average radon | Median year built 1946 | Leipsic Local · 4 stars overall | 0.2% of residents in the 1% floodplain |
Local government
Who holds office in Van Buren Township, Putnam County, how its elections and ballot issues came out, and the state auditor's record.
Money issues on the ballot since 2020: 2 of 2 passed.
Ballot issues
| Date | Issue | For | Against | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-11-08 | Issue: Van Buren Township | 684 | 203 | Passed (77.11% for) |
| 2020-11-03 | Issue: Van Buren Township | 827 | 444 | Passed (65.07% for) |
Elections for office
| Date | Office | Candidates and votes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-07 | Township Fiscal Officer | Leo Gerdeman 349, 38.06%; Kathy M. Rieman 568, 61.94% |
| 2021-11-02 | Township Trustee | Douglas D. Mangas 284, 51.36%; Michael Rader 269, 48.64% |
| 2019-11-05 | Township Trustee (unofficial count) | L. Duane Tooman 503, 100.0% |
| 2019-11-05 | Township Fiscal Officer (unofficial count) | William J. Schroeder 469, 100.0% |
| 2017-11-07 | Township Trustee (unofficial count) | Douglas D. Mangas 408, 50.37%; Mike Rader 402, 49.63% |
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.
- Agreed Upon Procedures, 2023 to 2024, released 2025-08-07
The county
Putnam County: 13 ZIP codes, 31 cities, villages and townships, 35,849 people.
Nearby places
Quick answers
What county is Van Buren Township, Ohio in?
Van Buren Township, Putnam County is a township in Putnam County, Ohio, with 592 residents.
When was Van Buren Township, Ohio founded?
Van Buren Township, Putnam County was settled 1835 (Abraham Baughman, first settler); incorporated 1843 (organized; surveyed 1821). Source
How did Van Buren Township, Ohio get its name?
Before organization the township was known as North Blanchard; why it was later named for President Martin Van Buren is not recorded. Source
What ZIP code is Van Buren Township, Ohio?
Most of Van Buren Township, Putnam County is in ZIP code 45856.
Where does Van Buren Township, Ohio get its water?
The main water source for Van Buren Township, Putnam County (Leipsic Village): Mostly private wells.
Cite this page
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Van Buren Township, Putnam County", https://crackedbuckeye.com/place/van-buren-township-putnam-county/, built 2026-10-31, accessed [date].
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