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History · Cheshire

Cheshire dates to 1811

Most of Cheshire was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1968. Below: maps from 1908 on and the census since 1870.

1811founded
0on the National Register
9%homes built before 1940
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: The original uploader was Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia. · CC BY 2.5
Quick answers

How Cheshire began

When was Cheshire founded?

1811

Cheshire dates its founding to 1811 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1870.

First census: 276 in 18702020 census: 123215 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1826.The full story ↓

What stands out about Cheshire’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Cheshire are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Boom and bustPeaked at 369 in 1960; 123 people lived here in 2020.On the map since 19083 editions of the USGS map, 1908 to 1989. Watch Cheshire change.Deep rootsEstablished in 1811: 215 years of Cheshire.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Cheshire’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Cheshire’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
People over time

Cheshire, census by census

010020030040018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 369

Peaked at 369 in 1960; 123 people lived here in 2020.

8 censuses, 1870–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Cheshire’s Wikipedia page.

On the map

Cheshire on the map, 1908 to 1989

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Cheshire. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Cheshire on the 1908 USGS mapCheshire on the 1926 USGS mapCheshire on the 1989 USGS map1908Point Pleasant sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Cheshire.

The story

How Cheshire came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Cheshire.

Read it all →

Cheshire, Ohio, was named for the county of Cheshire in England. It was founded in 1811.

ChaptersTown buyout by American Electric Power

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Cheshire, 1811 to 1960

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1811
    FoundingCheshire is established
  3. 1826Post officeThe Cheshire post office opens
  4. 1892Born hereHarvey Vanzandt Higley is born here
  5. 20th century
  6. 1908On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 1914Born hereWendell Holmes is born here
  8. 1943Born hereFrank Cremeans is born here
  9. 1960CensusPopulation peaks at 369
By decade

Cheshire, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Chesire Ohio 20252025Chesire Ohio 2025Cheshire Baptist Church2024Cheshire Baptist ChurchCheshire post office 456202018Cheshire post office 45620Map of Gallia County Ohio Highlighting Cheshire Village2015Map of Gallia County Ohio Highlighting Cheshire Villa…MapCheshire OH 20042007Cheshire OH 2004OHMap-doton-Cheshire2004OHMap-doton-Cheshire
Famous people

3 famous people were born in Cheshire

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
W
Wendell HolmesAmerican actor · b. 1914
Frank CremeansAmerican politician · b. 1943
H
Harvey Vanzandt HigleyAmerican businessman · b. 1892
Places that used to be

Places now gone

Cheshire’s post office has been open since 1826.

Gone or out of use
Cheshire High Schoolschool

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Cheshire TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Cheshire’s history

What year was Cheshire founded?

In 1811, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Cheshire’s post office opened in 1826, and the census of 1870 counted 276 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.