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History · Ohio City

Ohio City dates to 1876, and 41% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1914 on and the census since 1890.

1876founded
0on the National Register
41%homes built before 1940
1famous people
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Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Quick answers

How Ohio City began

When was Ohio City founded?

1876

Ohio City dates its founding to 1876 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 666 in 18902020 census: 651150 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1881.The full story ↓

What stands out about Ohio City’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 Ohio City are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Boom and bustPeaked at 899 in 1990; 651 people lived here in 2020.On the map since 19145 editions of the USGS map, 1914 to 1982. Watch Ohio City change.Old housesHalf of Ohio City’s homes were built before 1953.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Ohio City’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Ohio City’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

Ohio City, census by census

02004006008001,0001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 899

Peaked at 899 in 1990; 651 people lived here in 2020.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

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

On the map

Ohio City on the map, 1914 to 1982

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

Ohio City on the 1914 USGS mapOhio City on the 1944 USGS mapOhio City on the 1960 USGS mapOhio City on the 1971 USGS mapOhio City on the 1982 USGS map1914Van Wert 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 Ohio City.

The story

How Ohio City came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Ohio City.

Read it all →

The village was platted on March 4–8, 1876, by Butler, Patterson & Company as Van Wert Junction. On June 1, 1882, a vote was taken with 28 for and 11 against to change the name to Enterprise. The name Enterprise caused much confusion to the post office at the time because there was another Enterprise in Preble County. Again, the name was in need of being changed.

The town council met on June 1, 1890, and a man by the name of Lewis J. Kiggins brought up the subject, and asked the rest of the men if they liked Ohio City. The vote was taken and Ohio City became the new name.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Ohio City in 1906

Passages that mention Ohio City, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Lnited States government. Later he worked in a sawmill, finally entering the business himself in 1874 locating about two and a half miles south of Ohio City. He operated this mill for four years and then moved it into Ohio City. He was the fourth man to locate in Ohio City and is the pioneer sawmil…
History of Van Wert County, Ohio1906Read the page →
Read the text

Lnited States government. Later he worked in a sawmill, finally entering the business himself in 1874 locating about two and a half miles south of Ohio City. He operated this mill for four years and then moved it into Ohio City. He was the fourth man to locate in Ohio City and is the pioneer sawmill operator of the city, being still engaged in that line — actively and

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
accepted a position on the “Clover Leaf” Railroad, as foreman of a railroad construction gang, which he filled for eight months. In 1888 he located in Ohio City, where for 14 years he managed the Wells-Fargo Express business. In the meantime he had taken much interest in city and township politics,…
History of Van Wert County, Ohio1906Read the page →
Read the text

accepted a position on the “Clover Leaf” Railroad, as foreman of a railroad construction gang, which he filled for eight months. In 1888 he located in Ohio City, where for 14 years he managed the Wells-Fargo Express business. In the meantime he had taken much interest in city and township politics, and was successively chosen township clerk, city clerk

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Ohio City, 1860 to 1990

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1860Born hereJohn William Lambert is born here
  3. 1876
    FoundingOhio City is established
  4. 1881Post officeThe Koogle post office opens
  5. 1890Post officeThe Koogle post office closes
  6. 1890Post officeThe Ohio City post office opens
  7. 20th century
  8. 1914On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  9. 1990CensusPopulation peaks at 899
By decade

Ohio City, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Main in central2015Main in centralCarmean east of Central2015Carmean east of CentralBrumback Library branch in2015Brumback Library branch inMap of Van Wert County Ohio Highlighting Ohio City Village2015Map of Van Wert County Ohio Highlighting Ohio City Vi…MapOhio City OH2013Ohio City OHOHMap-doton-Ohio City2004OHMap-doton-Ohio City
Places that used to be

Lost post offices

Ohio City’s post office has been open since 1890. Another post office, Koogle, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Koogle
1881–1890
Ohio City
1890–today
18801950today

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

Questions about Ohio City’s history

What year was Ohio City founded?

In 1876, according to Wikidata. Ohio City’s post office opened in 1881, and the census of 1890 counted 666 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), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.