Wapakoneta

Wapakoneta is a town in northwestern Ohio along the Auglaize River, roughly 56 miles north of Dayton. The town area covers residential neighborhoods with main streets winding through the center and parks along the riverbank.

A Shawnee settlement stood here in the late 1700s before French-Canadian traders arrived. The formal town founding came later after Ohio became a state in 1803.

The name comes from a Shawnee word meaning white people, which reflects the settlement negotiations between local tribes and early traders. You can still trace these connections when exploring the downtown area where old trading routes once passed through.

The center is compact and walkable, with parking along the main streets. Local shops and restaurants sit mostly downtown and along several through roads.

Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, was born here in 1930. A museum on the edge of town displays exhibits from his space missions and artifacts from the early years of space travel.

Location: Auglaize County

Inception: 1782

Elevation above the sea: 272 m

Part of: West Central Ohio

Website: https://wapakoneta.net

GPS coordinates: 40.56917,-84.19417

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:29