Lima, Ohio: Home to Glee’s Fictional High School

Location and General Information
Lima, nicknamed The Bean, is a city in northwest Ohio, USA, and serves as the seat of Allen County. It is the main city of the Lima metropolitan area, located on the banks of the Ottawa River, 90 miles northwest of Columbus and 125 miles north of Cincinnati. Interstate 75 passes through the city. State Routes 65, 81, 117, and 309 also serve the area.

Lima in Glee
Although it was filmed in Los Angeles, California, the popular television series Glee is set in a fictional high school in Lima.

History and Origin
Lima was founded in 1831 and took its name from Peru's capital city. The area was originally inhabited by the Shawnee.

Industrial Development
In the early 20th century, Lima was home to several oil companies. Today, the Husky Lima Refinery Company is the only one that is still in operation.

Lima Locomotive Works
The city was also home to the Lima Locomotive Works, which was founded as Lima Machine Works in 1877. It merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1951.

Top Attractions in Lima
- The city has several buildings and sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Hotel Argonne, the Ohio Theatre, the Allen County Courthouse, the United States Post Office, and the Barr Hotel.
- The Ohio Theatre is a historic building in Lima, located at 122 W. North Street, at latitude 40.742778 and longitude -84.106111. It has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since October 7, 1982. It was built in 1927 in the Churrigueresque style.
- The Allen County Courthouse is a beautiful historic courthouse built in 1881 and designed by George H. Maetzel. The building was added to the NRHP on July 24, 1974.
- The Allen County Historical Society and Museum, a popular tourist attraction with a gift shop in Lima, is located at 620 West Market Street (latitude 40.740552, longitude -84.113848). It was established in 1908. The museum features a replica 1930s jail cell of American gangster John Dillinger, as well as the No. 10 Shay Locomotive Engine. It is located next to the MacDonell House, which is also listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The building was built in 1893 in the Shingle Style.