Wauseon, Ohio: Fulton County's Small-City Hub

Wauseon (pronounced waw-ZEE-on) is the county seat of Fulton County in northwestern Ohio, about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Toledo and 15 miles (24 km) east of the Michigan border.

Quick Facts

• Population: ~7,500 (2020 Census)
• Area: 5.2 sq mi (13.5 km²)
• Founded: 1853 (railroad town)
• Named for: Wauseon, a Potawatomi chief
• Elevation: 775 ft (236 m)

Economy & Life

Manufacturing (automotive parts, plastics), agriculture (corn, soybeans), and healthcare (Fulton County Health Center) anchor the economy. Downtown retains historic brick storefronts; the annual Fulton County Fair (Labor Day week) draws 100,000+ visitors.

Transport

• Roads: US-20 (east-west), OH-108 (north-south), OH-2 (east-west north of town).
• Rail: Norfolk Southern freight; no passenger service.
• Air: Toledo Express (TOL) ~45 min; Detroit Metro (DTW) ~60 min.

Nearby Attractions

• Sauder Village (Archbold) — living-history museum
• Harrison Lake State Park — fishing, camping
• Oak Openings Preserve (Metroparks Toledo) — rare oak savanna

Wauseon embodies small-town Ohio: stable, self-contained, and within reach of two major metros.