From Claridon Township’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers
How Claridon Township began
When was Claridon Township founded?
1819
The Claridon Township post office opened in 1819, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Claridon (1819), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
2020 census: 3,103207 years
How historic is Claridon Township?
A
More historic than 86% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first Claridon Township post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Claridon Township’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Claridon Township is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #225 of 993 in Ohio. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Claridon Township’s overall grade.
Ohio towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Ohio town has 2.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Claridon Township’s 6.4 sits above most of its state (68% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±10.3 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Claridon Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Claridon Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1904Chardon 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 Claridon Township.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Another post office, Claridon, opened and closed inside today’s town.
Claridon
1819–1906
East Claridon
1828–today
18101920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Center RoadClaridonEast ClaridonJacques High Chapparal Mobile Home Park
Gone or out of use
Claridon Elementary SchoolschoolClaridon Post Officepost officeEast Claridon Post Officepost office
4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Claridon Township
ClaridonClaridon CenterCounty HomeEast Claridon
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Claridon Township was settled in 1808 by Asa Cowles and Seth Spencer. Claridon was originally named "Canton" then "Burlington" when part of Burton Township. Early settlers relied heavily upon an agriculturally based economy, with included dairying, poultry and potato crops. Several cheese factories were built in the township, including the Hall Cheese Factory constructed in 1863. Other industries were blacksmith shops, carpentry shops, maple sugaring, and Nathaniel Spencer's chair factory (the oldest manufacturing business in the township, built in 1811). A railroad was constructed in 1872, with a line running through eastern and northern sections of Claridon. This aided in shipping butter, eggs, cheese and maple syrup to the other communities. One of the oldest roads in Geauga County, Old State Road (State Route 608), runs diagonally across the eastern part of Claridon. In 1932, the ci…
The Claridon Township post office opened in 1819, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Claridon Township rank for history?
Claridon Township is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #225 of 993 in Ohio. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Claridon Township?
Two places: the Claridon Congregational Church (listed 1974) and the Lot Hathaway House (1974).
How old are the homes in Claridon Township?
26% of Claridon Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±10.3 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1968.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (3), the Library of Congress (3), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, 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.
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