Infrastructure - a crucial item when speaking of economic development. Henry county is fortunate to have easy access to the US Route-24 "Fort to Port" four-lane highway. For businesses and residents, you are within one hour to downtown Toledo, Ohio or Fort Wayne, Indiana. Completed in 2012, and running through the City of Napoleon, having this four-lane access is crucial when companies transport goods. Having US-24 run right through our small bedroom community, makes us a low-cost location with quick access across the Midwest. With an annual average daily traffic count of close to 21,000 vehicles, per the Ohio Department of Transportation, this highway connects access to I-80/90, I-475/75, I-280, and the Toledo Express, Detroit Metro and the Fort Wayne International airport.
Locally, additional perks of our infrastructure include the construction of the second Maumee river bridge, the Liberty Bridge, completed in 2021, easing the gap between the north and south side river for heavy truck traffic in Napoleon. This new bridge is a logistical perk to the largest Campbell Soup manufacturing plant in North America, located right here in Napoleon, Ohio. An obvious choice for their location, as their riverfront address takes full advantage of our ample access to water within the Maumee River.
Rail access is also key in our county. The Napoleon Defiance & Western Railway, a Pioneer Rail short line, ships food products, chemicals, aggregates, fertilizer, and grain through our lands. With a new spur/transload station built in 2018, Napoleon’s industrial area gained new leverage on its available adjacent land, now offering direct rail access. The Village of Deshler has also become a rail enthusiast hit for the heavy junction traffic seen daily (50-70 trains per day) from CSX. These rail cross-roads connect to their Northwest Ohio Terminal located in North Baltimore, Ohio. Located only 13 miles from Deshler, this terminal is the cornerstone of a double-stack freight rail corridor between East Coast sea ports and the Midwest.
All of Henry County's municipalities are serviced with ample utility infrastructure to
provide quality services to both residential and commercial buildings.