Norfolk Southern/Conrail Rail Connection–Bucyrus, Ohio - Surface ...

3.1.3 Prime Farmlands and Coastal Zones
All of the construction site is within areas of previously disturbed soils. The proposed project would
cross two soil types -- Urban land and undulating Bennington-Urban land complex. Neither of these
soils are considered prime farmland or hydric soils. However, the Bennington-Urban land complex
could have hydric components where depressions and flats occur (SCS, Crawford County, 1979). The
Bennington-Urban land complex is a somewhat poorly drained soil that has a moderately slow or slow
permeability (SCS, Crawford County, 1979).
None of the project area is within a coastal zone.
3.2 SOCIOECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
In order to study the effects of the proposed construction on the population in the vicinity of the project,
information on racial composition and average income level in the area was obtained from the U.S.
Census Bureau TIGER/Line files and other statistical sources. From the Census files, the proposed
construction was determined to be contained in one census block (974600). Using the census block
number, Summary Tape Files were utilized to determine and analyze the poverty status, race and
income for the relevant block.
3.2.1 General County Information
The proposed project is in Crawford County, Ohio. The entire route would be within the city limits of
Bucyrus, Ohio. Bucyrus is an incorporated city with a 1994 population of 13,198. It is the largest city
in Crawford County and the county seat. Population data for Bucyrus are provided below in Table 3-1.
The Bucyrus population has decreased 2.2 percent between 1990 and 1994.
Table 3-1
Population of Bucyrus, Ohio
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Population 13,496 13,441 13,278 13,237 13,198
Population, employment and income trends from 1980 to 1993 for Crawford County and the State of
Ohio are provided in Table 3-2. The population of Ohio increased 2.7 percent from 1980 to 1993. The
population in Crawford County decreased 4.4 percent from 1980 to 1990. The average number of
persons in each household in Crawford County in 1990 was 2.57 (U.S. Department of Commerce,
County and City Data Book, 1994).
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