Decorative drawing: a small American settlement seen from a low hill. Not a photograph of this place.

Sandusky, Ohio

16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1904 and the latest in 1986. It stands in Sandusky City. It lies in ZIP code area 44870. It stands on Mills Creek. The Survey maps it on the Sandusky quadrangle. 25,095 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 597 feet above sea level.

Research this city

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Sandusky within Erie County

Population over time

2 figures

Sandusky fell from 25,793 to 25,095 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
2010	25,793
2020	25,095	-698 (-3%)

Then and now

1904 to 1986

The same ground, surveyed 82 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet of Sandusky, surveyed 1986

Topographic sheet of Sandusky, surveyed 1904

Topographic sheets covering this place

16 sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 photographs, 1943

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Sandusky, Ohio. Loading coal into a freighter at one of the Pennsylvania Railroad docks
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Sandusky, Ohio. Loading coal from the Pennsylvania Railroad docks into a lake freighter. In the distance, a boat that has just been loaded is leaving port
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Sandusky, Ohio. Loading coal into a lake freighter at the Pennsylvania Railroad docks
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Sandusky, Ohio. Carloads of coal in the storage yard waiting to go to the Pennsylvania Railroad docks for shipment along the lakes
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Sandusky, Ohio. Trains being made up in the classification yard to go to the Pennsylvania Railroad docks for loading into lake freighters
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Specimens collected nearby

12 of 3,423 shown

Museums hold 3,423 specimens collected within 10 miles of Sandusky between 1860 and 1975: 1,925 Animalia, 1,184 Plantae, 277 Fungi, 30 Chromista, 6 Protozoa, 1 Unrecorded. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A. D. Selby, A. Dowdy, A. F. Satterthwait and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Species	Year	Collected by	Where, as recorded
Lampsilis radiata radiata (Gmelin, 1791)	1898	United States Fish Commission	Sandusky Bay
Pyganodon grandis (Say, 1829)	1898	United States Fish Commission & W. Kendall	Sandusky Bay near mouth of Sandusky River
Elliptio dilatatus (Rafinesque, 1820)	1899	not recorded	Lake Shore, Near East Harbor
Perca Linnaeus, 1758	1860	Smithsonian Institution	Sandusky
Vermivora chrysoptera (Linnaeus, 1766)	1868	No Person (Birds)	Taylor
Macropetalichthys rhapheidolabis Norwood & Owen, 1846 (fossil)	1881	D. S. Young
Apios tuberosa Moench	1885	Wilkinson, E.	Cedar Point
Spartina pectinata Bosc ex Link	1885	Wilkinson, E.	Cedar Point
Artemisia caudata Michx.	1886	Wilkinson, E.	Cedar Point
Graminopassalora graminis (Fuckel) U.Braun, C.Nakash., Videira & Crous	1886	William Trelease; A. Commons	Madison
Panicum virgatum L.	1886	Wilkinson, E.	Cedar Point
Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758	1886	Smithsonian Institution

All 3,423 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries nearby

6 within 5 miles

The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Sandusky: 4 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Limestone, General. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
Wagner Quarry	Limestone, General	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Febus Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Huron Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Erie Materials Inc.	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Geawe Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Soldiers Home Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer

Every working recorded in Erie County

Storms nearby

60 of 81 shown

The National Weather Service names Sandusky in 81 storm reports between 1994 and 2023: 42 thunderstorm wind, 30 hail, 3 storm surge/tide, 2 flash flood. The reports record 3 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	2 hurt	Large tree downed onto house and injured two inhabitants in Sandusky. Multiple large tree limbs downed elsewhere in Sandusky.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	1 hurt, $15,000	Thunderstorm winds toppled a tree in Sandusky. The tree landed on a car injuring at least one person.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$2,000,000	A thunderstorm downburst caused widespread wind damage in the northeast portion of Sandusky. The damage swatg was a half mile wide and approximately 2.25 miles long. Numerous large trees and limbs were brought down across the city with some falling on buildings causing roof damage. Numerous large trees were also downed at Battery Park and the Marina. Approximately 30 power poles were blown over on the causeway to Cedar Point. Some power lines landed on cars trapping 15 to 20 people in their vehicles. Power outages due to the downed lines caused Cedar Point to be closed for the following day. At least one site measured a wind gust to 76 mph. Estimated wind speeds based on damage were 70 to 80 mph in downtown Sandusky and as high and greater than 80 mph on the causeway.
September 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$750,000	Severe thunderstorm downburst winds caused substantial damage in Perkins Township, just south of the City of Sandusky, during the late evening hours of the 22nd. The damage was concentrated in an area just west of the Sandusky Mall. The thunderstorm winds were estimated to be around 70 mph. Forty to fifty homes in Perkins Township were damaged. A few homes had moderate damage but most of the damage was minor. A house nearly one hundred and fifty years old had its chimney knocked down from the severe winds. Another house had a roof collapse into the living room. A garage at another location collapsed after the roof was completely torn off. Other houses primarily had damage to their roofs. A church had two sections of it's roof torn off, and four windows blown out of it. Fifteen to twenty trees were completely uprooted in the area, and hundreds of other trees were knocked down or sustained major damage from large limbs broken off of them. Along with trees, many areas had power lines that were downed.
February 1998	Storm Surge/Tide	Sandusky	$500,000	no account filed
May 2011	Hail	Sandusky	$400,000	A swath of large hail fell across Erie County. Golf ball to hen egg size hail fell from the Sandusky area east across the Milan area to near Birmingham. Hundreds of vehicles and many homes were damaged by the hail.
May 2011	Hail	Sandusky	$300,000	A line of severe thunderstorms produced a swath of large hail ranging in size from ping pong balls to golf balls. Numerous vehicles and homes were damaged as a result of the damaging hail.
May 2010	Hail	Sandusky	$250,000	Quarter to hen egg sized hail was observed. Many vehicles were damaged by the hail.
July 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$150,000	Thunderstorm downburst winds estimated to be at least 60 mph downed many trees in Sandusky. Damage was also reported in the downtown area. One building lost most of it's roof. A previously fired damaged building in the area partially collapsed. Scattered power outages were also reported.
March 1998	Storm Surge/Tide	Sandusky	$100,000	no account filed
February 1998	Storm Surge/Tide	Sandusky	$75,000	no account filed
June 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees and utility poles.
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees. A home and building were damaged by fallen trees. A van was crushed by a tree.
August 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees. Two cars were crushed by trees.
September 1996	Flash Flood	Sandusky	$50,000	no account filed
August 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$35,000	Thunderstorm winds knocked downed several trees. Two of the trees damaged cars.
July 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$35,000	A 68 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured in Sandusky. Many trees were downed and two homes were damaged by fallen trees. Two other trees were knocked down five miles south of Sandusky.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$30,000	Numerous trees and power lines were reported down.
May 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$25,000	Thunderstorm wind gusts downed several trees and power lines in Sandusky.
September 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$25,000	Numerous large limbs, several trees and power lines were reported down around Sandusky.
June 2009	Hail	Sandusky	$20,000	Quarter size hail was observed.
July 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$20,000	no account filed
July 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$15,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$15,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and damaged a roof.
August 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$15,000	Thunderstorm winds downed many trees in Sandusky, Berlin Heights and Vermillion. A billboard sign was also toppled near Sandusky.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$12,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree and a power pole.
August 1998	Lightning	Sandusky	$12,000	Lightning struck the roof of a house, and the ensuing fire caused considerable damage.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$10,000	Numerous trees were reported down from Sandusky to Huron.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
June 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds toppled two power poles.
July 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$10,000	Numerous trees were downed south of Sandusky.
June 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$10,000	Trees were downed. Three city vehicles were damaged by falling trees.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$7,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several tree limbs in Perkins Township.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$5,000	Numerous large limbs were reported down.
July 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$5,000	no account filed
September 2011	Flood	Sandusky	$3,000	Lake enhanced rainfall over Erie County produced torrential rainfall with rates around two inches per hour. As much as 3 to 5 inches of storm total rain fell over the city of Sandusky. Several underpasses filled with water and many roads were closed due to high water.
August 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$2,000	Several power lines were knocked down on to utility poles.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a couple of trees.
June 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$2,000	Several large limbs were reported down.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed two large tree limbs.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed one tree.
August 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$1,000	Several large limbs were reported down.
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	$1,000	A few large limbs were reported down.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	-	Several power poles snapped along U.S. Route 6, about two-miles WSW of Sandusky.
May 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	-	Two trees down two miles SE of Sandusky.
May 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	-	Tree down on Wilson Street in Sandusky.
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Sandusky	-	Numerous trees were blown down across roadways.
July 2017	Hail	Sandusky	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
July 2017	Hail	Sandusky	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
July 2014	Hail	Sandusky	-	Nickel to quarter sized hail was observed.
September 2012	Hail	Sandusky	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
July 2012	Hail	Sandusky	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
July 2012	Hail	Sandusky	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
June 2010	Hail	Sandusky	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
June 2010	Hail	Sandusky	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
June 2010	Hail	Sandusky	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
May 2010	Hail	Sandusky	-	Quarter sized hail was observed at the NASA Plumb Rock facility.
August 2009	Hail	Sandusky	-	Penny size hail was observed.

Every storm recorded in Erie County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Holiday Estates	1.2 miles	16
MacArthur Park	1.2 miles	16
Ranch Wood	2.1 miles	16
Lions Park	2.1 miles	16
Cedar Point	2.5 miles	16
Baywater Estates	2.6 miles	16
Westview Estates	2.7 miles	16
Lincolnshire	2.8 miles	16

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Sandusky	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q608207	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1076832. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.