Local Information about Wayne,

Holmes, & Ashland Counties

WAYNE COUNTY

A rich agricultural community, Wayne County was founded in 1796 and was the third county in the Northwest Territory. The county, which had a strong connection to the Revolutionary War, was named for "Mad" Anthony Wayne, a war colleague of George Washington. Wooster, the county seat since 1808, was also named for war hero General David Wooster. Today, Wayne County is the 13th largest county in Ohio covering over 550 square miles.

Wayne County's rich soil and plentiful water supply supports a strong agricultural community. Dairy farms and roadside produce stands are still present and thriving in the county today. In the late 1800's, Wayne County began to expand industrially with a presence in the coal mining industry and access to the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad (which later became the Pennsylvania). Even today Wayne County is home to many world-renowned businesses such as Wooster Brush Company, Gerstenslager's, LuK USA LLC and The J.M. Smucker Company.

The Lincoln Highway Historic Byway runs through Wayne County. Designated by red, white and blue signs, this route follows the original 260 mile Ohio alignment of the 1928 U.S. Route 30 that stretched from New York City westward to San Francisco. U.S. Route 30 opened the Western portion of the county to development in the early 20th century. Today, as you travel this scenic route through Wayne County, you will experience some of "Main Street Across America", the Highway's original slogan. Downtown Wooster and Dalton, both on the Highway route since 1913, let visitors experience tree-lined streets, historical buildings and replicas of the original posts that designated the Lincoln Highway route.

The Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau has a vast array of culture, community gatherings, shopping, attractions, historic architecture and eateries (that) make Wayne County a special place to visit and live.

Discover Wooster's turn of the century charm, well maintained neighborhoods and homes of every style and range from condos and suburban tracts to farms and country cottages, you'll find the house you're looking for.

HOLMES COUNTY

Holmes County is named for Major Holmes, a young officer killed in the War of 1812. He was killed during the unsuccessful attack on Fort Mackinack. The Ohio General Assembly formed Holmes County in 1824 with land from Wayne, Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties. Millersburg became the county seat.

Holmes County's settlers came mostly from central and northern Europe, especially Germany, Switzerland and France. Among those coming from Switzerland were cheese makers, who established their profession in the county's early days. Today their descendants produce large quantities of cheese products that are well known throughout Ohio and neighboring states.

The county's first European settlers arrived in 1809 and 1810. Around the same time, a group of Amish Mennonites from eastern Pennsylvania crossed the Allegheny Mountains and settled in Ohio near the village of Sugarcreek. An Amish man named Jonas Stutzman established a settlement on land near what is now Walnut Creek. President Thomas Jefferson signed the deed for the land that would later become the largest Amish community in the world.

The Holmes County Convention and Visitor's Bureau offer's links to area attractions, maps, points of interest, bed & breakfast inns, and so much more! Live within the unique culture of the Amish with a property in central Ohio, home of the world's largest Amish community. Enjoy beautiful scenery, visit an Amish farm, savor homemade foods and listen for the clip-clop of a buggy. Shop for handmade quilts, artwork, and furniture in Millersburg, Berlin or Walnut Creek. Step back nearly 100 years in time and enjoy the peaceful serenity of Holmes County, Ohio.

ASHLAND COUNTY

Ashland County was established February 24, 1846 in the north central part of Ohio. It is located on the dividing ridge, or watershed, between Lake Erie and the Ohio River. Its inhabitants are mostly descendants of people from Pennsylvania, who occupy the 421 square mile area. Ashland County honors Henry Clay by being named for his home in Lexington, Kentucky.

The land is divided into two principal slopes or watersheds by a range of uplands, extending into a northeasterly direction across the southern part of Clear Creek Township and the northern part of Orange and Jackson Townships. This ridge separates the streams flowing south to the Muskingum River and north to Lake Erie. All of Ashland County was covered by glaciers. The line dividing the glacial plain from the glacial plateau runs east and west through the county. The surface in the southern part is hilly and rugged, in the northern, level to gently rolling. The Mohican River enters the county at Five Points and crosses Green and Hanover Townships to enter Holmes County.

Ashland County has five natural lakes; Spring Lake, Savannah Lake, Round Lake, Metcalf Lake and a portion of Long Lake. These lakes cover an area of 82 acres. Portions of two dams are located in Ashland County. Pleasant Hill Dam, containing 850 acres and Charles Mill Dam, containing 1350 acres with approximately one half of the area of these two dams lying within the county. Farm ponds cover several hundred acres in the county.

The Mohican State Park and the adjacent State Forest are located in the heart of Mohican Country...Ohio's great vacation region. The park is comprised of 1,110 acres with 5 miles of the scenic Clear Fork Branch of the Mohican River running through it. The recreational opportunities available to the park visitor include fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping, cottages and a resort lodge. The Mohican Memorial State Forest surrounds the park with 4,795 acres. Hunting, hiking, and bridle trails are available to the forest visitor. Mohican State Park is located in southern Ashland County bordered by State Routes 3 and 97, close to Loudonville, Ohio. The park can be easily accessed from Interstate 71.

The earliest known inhabitants of the region now comprising Ashland County were mound-building Indians and the American Indians. The tribes inhabiting this territory were the Wyandot, Erie, Mohican, and Delaware. Another large Indian village, established near the present site of Jeromesville by Mingoes under leadership of Chief Mohican John, became known as Mohican Johnstown. The tribe also established the village of Mingo Cabins a mile northeast, on the east bank of Jerome Fork.

Recent years have seen a rather distinct surge in the prominence of dairy farming. In 1940 there were about 2,000 dairy cows. Today there are 11,000+. Dairy products now account for 42 per cent of the farm income. Other livestock with some economic importance include: beef, hogs, poultry and sheep.

History, hiking, plentiful nature, camping, canoeing, horseback riding and so many more activities are available to you in this beautiful county. The Ashland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers additional local information.

Stop by for a visit and see if it feels like home to you!