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History · Laurelville

Laurelville dates to 1871, and 51% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1910 on.

1871founded
0on the National Register
51%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Quick answers

How Laurelville began

When was Laurelville founded?

1871

Laurelville dates its founding to 1871 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1878.

2020 census: 512155 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1878.The full story ↓

What stands out about Laurelville’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 Laurelville are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Laurelville’s homes were built before 1938.On the map since 19104 editions of the USGS map, 1910 to 1992. Watch Laurelville change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Laurelville’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Laurelville came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Laurelville.

Read it all →

Laurelville was established in 1871 by early settlers William A. Albin and Jacob Riegel, who planned the area as a center for commerce and transportation. The village was named after the native mountain laurel plant that grew abundantly in the surrounding hills.

The town quickly grew with the arrival of the M&C Railroad and became a stop for travelers and merchants. Early industries included sawmills, dry goods stores, and small manufacturers. Laurelville also became known for its fairs and served as a social center for western Hocking County.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

On the map

Laurelville on the map, 1910 to 1992

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

Laurelville on the 1910 USGS mapLaurelville on the 1961 USGS mapLaurelville on the 1975 USGS mapLaurelville on the 1992 USGS map1910Laurelville 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 Laurelville.

Timeline

Laurelville, 1871 to 1910

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1871
    FoundingLaurelville is established
  3. 1878Post officeThe Laurelville post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1910On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Laurelville, decade by decade

Today18 recent
Main from Maple2016Main from MapleLaurelville village hall, 18751 Main2016Laurelville village hall, 18751 MainLaurelville Elementary School on Pike Street2016Laurelville Elementary School on Pike StreetKarshner Mound from 562016Karshner Mound from 56Davis Works hill2016Davis Works hillBailor near Union in Perry Township2015Bailor near Union in Perry TownshipMap of Hocking County Ohio Highlighting Laurelville Village2015Map of Hocking County Ohio Highlighting Laurelville V…MapInside Rock House2013Inside Rock HouseChamber Outlook at Rock House, Hocking Hills, OH2013Chamber Outlook at Rock House, Hocking Hills, OHTrain Crossing Creek Laurelville OH approx 19032012Train Crossing Creek Laurelville OH approx 1903Poling Hotel and Saloon2012Poling Hotel and SaloonPassenger Train crossing Main St Laurelville OH approx 19032012Passenger Train crossing Main St Laurelville OH appro…Mowery Hotel and Mettlers Store2012Mowery Hotel and Mettlers StoreMettlers Store Laurelville Ohio Approx 19032012Mettlers Store Laurelville Ohio Approx 1903Laurelville OH 19132012Laurelville OH 1913'Iron Castle' earns combat patch DVIDS2354342009'Iron Castle' earns combat patch DVIDS235434Detailed map of2008Detailed map ofMapOHMap-doton-Laurelville2004OHMap-doton-Laurelville
Famous people

Famous people close to Laurelville

Nobody well known was born in Laurelville itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Ted LewisAmerican singer and bandleader · b. 1890
Thomas SterlingAmerican politician · b. 1851
John CradlebaughUnion United States Army officer, legislator, a… · b. 1819
Archibald LybrandUnion United States Army officer · b. 1840
Clarence A. ReidAmerican politician · b. 1892
Genevieve Estelle JonesScientific illustrator · b. 1847
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Saltcreek Township1 historic placeA−AdelphiIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townPerry TownshipIts storyB−Colerain Township1 historic placeA

Questions about Laurelville’s history

What year was Laurelville founded?

In 1871, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Laurelville’s post office opened in 1878.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
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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 (18), 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.