VISIT CLINTON COUNTY HISTORY'S WEBSITE: https://clintoncountyhistory.org/
The Settling of the Ohio Valley:
The Ohio Valley and all the land from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River had been won from England in the War for Independence. It was covered with virgin forest and populated with Indians. There were no roads, only Indian trails.
People of this young American nation saw in the newly won possession a land of opportunity. There were abundant fish in the streams and all kinds of game in the woods. The forest provided fuel both for warmth and cooking and wood to build houses. The land was fertile and productive and could be had practically for the taking.
The government gave veterans large grants of new land for their service in the war. Settlers could buy small tracts of land for only two dollars per acre; fifty cents down and four years to pay the remaining one dollar and fifty cents. A congressional act (May 20, 1785) provided for the survey of Ohio into townships six miles square. As surveying proceeded, settlers and many Revolutionary Soldiers moved into the newly surveyed territory.
In 1819, Walter Scott, a close relative of the Scotch poet, Sir Walter Scott, walked with a companion from New York City to Pittsburgh over the Forbes Road. He said the road was full of people walking, on horseback and every kind of conveyance; taking whatever livestock and possessions they could with them, all headed west. He described it as an “inland tidal wave.” So it was, as that wave of humanity swept down the Ohio Valley, it felled forests, built houses, extended and widened trails and traces into roads, turned forests into farmlands, settlements into towns and towns into cities. In the ten year period, 1800 to 1810, the population of Ohio doubled five times. Clinton County was formed as a part of this growth.
History of Clinton County:
The settlement of Clinton County began about the year 1800, principally by emigrants from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. On February 19, 1810, Clinton County was established, the law creating the county taking effect on March 1 of that year. Land donated by David Faulkner and Joseph Done, near the center of the County, was designated to become the county seat at this time. In August of 1810, the county was named for Governor George Clinton, of New York, Vice President of the United States.
The territory within the limits of the county was originally parts of both Highland and Warren Counties, being a part of the land that was reserved as “Virginia Military Survey” to reward the soldiers of the Revolutionary War and known under the general name of “Military Lands”. The county is bounded as follows: On the North, by Greene and Fayette Counties, on the East, by Fayette and Highland Counties, on the South, by Highland and Brown Counties, and on the West, by Warren County.
Many of the county's early residents were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers). They played an important role in the Underground Railroad during the 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s, helping runaway slaves find freedom in the North. The Quakers also established Wilmington College during the 1870s.
Clinton County has witnessed the building of three separate Courthouses to date. With our most recent and current Courthouse, located in the county seat of Wilmington, being dedicated on October 22, 1919. This structure cost $370,000 to construct and is a grand example of Beaux-Arts Classicism.
Clinton County is located in southwestern Ohio. The county is primarily rural, with just over one percent of its 411 square miles deemed to be urban areas. Wilmington is the largest metropolitan area, with a population of 11,921 people in 2000. It is also the county seat and home to a National Weather Service station. In 2000, the county's next largest community was Blanchester, with a population of 4,220 people. Unlike many of Ohio's predominantly rural counties, Clinton County experienced more than a fourteen percent growth between 1990 and 2000, raising the county's total population to 40,543 residents. The county averages almost ninety-nine people per square mile according to the Ohio History Connection. Most Clinton County residents work in the transportation sector. In this order, manufacturing, sales, service industry, and government positions rank second, third, fourth, and fifth in employment opportunities for Clinton County residents. Agriculture ranks sixth, although the county consists of some of the most fertile and productive soil in the United States.
Timeline for City, Towns, and Townships within Clinton County:
Cities in the County:
According to the 1882 History of Clinton County… A town for the county seat of Clinton County was plotted and laid out between 1810 and 1812 as a result of land donated by David Faulker and Joseph Doan. On August 6, 1810 the name given to the town was Clinton. By court order, September 10, 1810 the name changed to Armenia. On December 31, 1810 the name was changed from Armenia to Mount Pleasant. And then on February 11, 1811, the name was changed from Mount Pleasant to its current name, Wilmington, reflecting the towns of Delaware and North Carolina where many residents held roots. At that time also, it was ruled that any further name changes would have to be authorized by the state legislature. The town of Wilmington was laid out by George McManis, Director for Clinton County, and consisted of 16 squares of eight lots each - numbering from 1 to 128 - with lots 58 and 73 specifically set aside for public grounds. The most expensive lots sold for $100 and the cheapest sold for $4.25.
Note: Wilmington is located in Union Township and as of the 2010 Census has a population of 42,040 people.
Villages in the County:
Blanchester
- Platted March 23, 1832, by Joseph & John Blancet
- Located in Jefferson Township
Clarksville
- Platted in 1816
- Located in Vernon Township
Lynchburg
- No records are available as to the platting of this village, but believed to be 1830
Martinsville
- Platted in 1816
- Located in Clark Township
Midland
- No records available as to the platting of this village
- Located in Washington Township
- Originally called Clinton Valley
New Vienna
- Laid out in 1827 by Thomas Hussey
- Located in Green Township
- Originally Called Buzzard’s Glory due to the tanning and hide yards located there
- The name of New Vienna is believed to have been adopted in 1835
Port William
- Platted in 1826
- Located in Liberty Township
- Originally called West Liberty
- The name of Port William is believed to have been adopted in 1832
Sabina
- Surveyed in 1831 by Warren Sabin
- Located in Richland Township
- Platted by Warren Sabin
Unincorporated Communities in the County:
Bloomington
- Formed in 1842
- Originally called Lewisville
- The name of Bloomington is believed to have been adopted in 1847
Burtonville
- Formed in 1840
- Names after Payton Burton, a millwright who built a grist mill near the village.
Cuba
- Formed in 1813
- Platted from Union and Green Townships
- First named Paris because the first settlers came from Paris, KY.
Farmers Station
- Formed in 1809
Gurneyville
- Formed in 1847
Jonesboro
- No records available as to when formed
Lees Creek
- Formed in 1816
- Originally called Centerville
Lumberton
- No records available as to when formed
McKay’s Station
- Formed in 1862
Melvin
- No records available as to when formed
Memphis
- No records available as to when formed
Morrisville
- Formed in 1840
New Antioch
- Formed in 1851
- Given the name for the Greek Antioch mentioned in the Bible
Kingman (North & South)
- No records available as to when formed
Oakland
- No records available as to when formed
- Named for the many giant Oak trees
Ogden
- No records available as to when formed
Powder Lick
- No records available as to when formed
Reesville
- No records available as to when formed
- Platted by Moses Reese
Unincorporated Communities in the County – con’t:
Sligo
- Formed in 1840
Wallopsburg
- No records available as to when formed
Westboro
- No records available as to when formed
Ghost Town
New Burlington
Townships in the County:
Adams
- Formed May 1, 1849 (from Chester & Vernon Townships)
- Was the 12th township formed in the county
- Was named after John Quincy Adams
Chester
- Formed March 1, 1810
Clark
- Formed July 14, 1817 (from Green & Vernon Townships)
Green
- Formed August 13, 1813 (from Richland Township)
Jefferson
- Formed March 5, 1839 (from Clark & Marion Townships)
Liberty
- Formed July 15, 1817 (from Chester & Richland Townships)
Marion
- Formed August 5, 1830 (from Vernon Township)
Richland
- Formed March 1, 1810
Union
- Formed August 13, 1813 (from Chester, Richland & Vernon Townships)
Vernon
- Formed March 1, 1810
Washington
- Formed June 4, 1835 (from Clark & other Townships)
Wayne
- Formed March 1837 (from Green & Richland Townships)
Wilson
- Formed August 20, 1850 (from Union, Richland & Liberty Townships)
VISIT CLINTON COUNTY HISTORY'S WEBSITE: https://clintoncountyhistory.org/