- Allen
- Auglaize
- Crawford
- Darke
- Defiance
- Erie
- Fulton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Henry
- Huron
- Logan
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Mercer
- Morrow
- Ottawa
- Paulding
- Putnam
- Richland
- Sandusky
- Seneca
- Shelby
- Van Wert
- Williams
- Wood
- Wyandot
Northwest OhioOhio has deep roots in the northwest. It was the final frontier of the state, and where the last fighting occurred. Once those battles were over, the state's population exploded. Today there are many historic sites that have been preserved or recreated where they once stood.
Besides the beautiful islands located just a ferry ride away, northwest Ohio is also home to one of the best amusements parks in the world. Cedar Point has been giving visitors thrill-rides for more than a century.
The islands off the coast of northwest Ohio have long been get-a-way places for not only today's seekers of a good time, but has been a get-a-way destination for centuries. While there are numerous islands here, there are two main islands for summertime visitors.
Long before Cedar Point became the main attraction in Sandusky, it was the main shipping center for the state. It wasn't until Cleveland became an industrial giant, that Sandusky lost its charm. Regardless, there is still plenty of things to check out in Sandusky today besides the Point.
Cedar Point is one of the premiere amusement parks not only in Ohio, but in the entire world. Each year they seem to come up with something newer, bigger, higher, faster than any other spot in the country.
One of the finest examples of 19th Century Lake Erie Lighthouses is the Marblehead Lighthouse. This beacon of light has been directing sailors and ships for almost two centuries. Today the structure is still a functioning lighthouse, but is also open for visitors to climb the open spiral staircase for a beautiful view of Lake Erie.
The Marblehead Peninsula is also home to Lakeside Chautauqua that dates back to the 1870s. Johnson Island on the south side of the peninsula is home to beautiful condos and residences, but during the Civil War the island was a POW camp for captured Confederate officers.
During the War of 1812, northwest Ohio was the western front of the war. Here the British and an alliance of Native Americans led by Tecumseh were scaring the daylights out of Ohio residents all the way south to Columbus. To help stop the pending invasion of Ohio and the sure to come massacre of its citizens, Ohio began to fortify the frontier. None of these forts survived much after the war ended, but several of them have been historically recreated and are open to the public.
Some people still believe today that the United States sent men to the moon. Surprising, I know. It makes no matter whether you believe or don't there's a museum in the sleepy little town of Wapakoneta devoted to home-boy Neil Armstrong's monumental accomplishments in the field of space exploration.
Ohio has been called the Mother of Presidents since seven of America's presidents either lived here most of their lives or were born here. One of those presidents had his residence in northwest Ohio in Fremont. Rutherford B. Hayes was actually born in Delaware, but when he retired from the White House, he lived in a beautiful home he and his wife Lucy built. Next door to the family estate is his Presidential Museum.
Rutherford and Lucy are both buried on the estate known as Spiegel Grove. By the way, Lucy Hayes is the first presidential wife to become called the "First Lady."
Fremont is also the location of a famous battle during the War of 1812 at Fort Stephenson. The fort's commander had been ordered to abandon the fort as British forces came down the Sandusky River. Colonel Croghan held off the British and forced a retreat thus stopping the British invasion of Ohio.
Historical Northwest Ohio Before the first settlers came here, big sections of Northwest Ohio was largely swampy, buggy, and unpleasant. The extreme northwest corner of this area was call the Great Black Swamp. It was the remainder of the melting glaciers. Even with this unpleasant environment, there were Native Americans living here, plus they had created trails through the swampy land. Many years later those trails would become some of the major highways we travel on today.
After the Indian Wars of the 18th and 19th Centuries ended, the Native Americans living in this area came out on the short end of the stick. Initially they were forced onto what would later be called reservations. This was a short-term solution until the government forcibly removed the few Native Americans that remained there. By the time President Andrew Jackson enforced the Indian Removal Act of 1830, Native Americans in Ohio had become almost completely integrated into local communities. The fear of Native Americans that once sent settlers running for local stockades for protection, had disappeared from the state.
In 1800 there were about 42,000 people living in what would become Ohio. After the wars, Ohio's population skyrocketed faster than in any other state at any other time in history, so that in just 14 years after the War of 1812, Ohio's population was now over 800,000. All of Ohio was growing, except for the upper northwest region. And that was primarily for one reason: swamps, muck and mosquitos.
In other regions of the state, the towns and villages were thriving. But here in the northwest, there only a few, scarcely populated villages. Those that had invested their money and time on these communities realized the problem: mosquitos which bred like fleas on a dog. The solution was simple: get rid of the swamps which was no easy task. To help do this the state provided incentives to local these communities. With some financial assistance, the local communities were able to hire cheap labor (mostly European immigrants, in particular German immigrants). Not only were they willing to work for extremely low wages, but they also had experience draining large areas. With these elements in place, Northwest Ohio was on its way to becoming a great agricultural center of the country.
When looking at a map of northwest Ohio, you might notice a variety of names like anywhere, except a lot of those names especially the small villages are the same names found in central and eastern Europe. This is where the 1000s of immigrants that worked draining the fields first congregated and settled down. And then there's a distinctly different grouping of names that relate to American military heroes. This is where many of those fighting during the War of 1812 decided to stay in the area instead of going back to where they came.
After the Battle of Fallen Timbers, General Anthony Wayne, a famous Revolutionary War general appointed by President Washington to take charge of the hostile events that had been increasingly accelerating on the western frontier. Anthony Wayne was a take charge general that knew how to control his troops and deploy them in strategic ways.
Marching north from Cincinnati, Wayne built a series of supply forts along the way that provided fall back positions supplies. Eventually Wayne confronted Blue Jacket and a coalition of Native Americans along the Maumee River. His strategic offense surprised all except for Little Turtle who had warned Blue Jacket of the wily "black snake" that was approaching.
The engagement was over quickly and the Native Americans fled north. Wayne had his men to destroy their empty villages and burn their crops. It was a ruthless strategic move. Without food, the Native Americans were forced to seek peace when their quasi British allies failed to provide the needed supplies.
The end result was the signing of the Treat of Greene Ville that brought peace to the area, at least for a time.
©
Ohio City Productions, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
