Mercer County, Ohio

A Veteran Agriculture, Mercer County's Foundation American Indian Strategy: Use of the Landscape American Indian Tribes Background of the Log Home and Original Owners Battle of Fort Recovery Battle of the Wabash Beaver Chapel Church Building Fort Recovery Burying the U.S. Army Dead Carthagena Black Cemetery Celina Celina Celina City Hall Dr. Victor Grasson Early Celina History Early Mercer County History Fort Adams Fort Recovery Civil War Veterans Memorial Fort Recovery Monument Fort Recovery State Historic Site Gen. Richard Butler Geologic History Golder Pottkotter Post Veterans Memorial Grand Lake St. Marys Grand Lake St. Marys Points Of Interest Grand Lake St. Marys Spillway Green Mound Cemetery Veterans Memorial Greene Ville Treaty Line Hedges Memorial Park Hedges Park Veteran's Memorial Horse Drawn Plow In Honor Of Air Force In Honor Of Army In Honor Of Coast Guard In Honor Of Marines In Honor Of Navy Kentucky Militia Encampment Lake Improvments Locating the Fort Major Historic Influences Maria Stein Convent and Relic Chapel Maria Stein Veterans Memorial Mercer County Courthouse Mercer County Veterans Memorial Native Cultures On Christmas Day 1793 On This Triangle of Land Pioneer Cemetery Points Of Intrest In Mercer And Auglaize Counties Prehistoric Indians / Historic Indians Prologue to 1791 Rockford Rockford Rockford Bicentennial Historic Mural Rockford Veterans Memorial Saint Henry, Ohio Samuel McDowell Sha'anoe Warrior Monument Spring Hill Cemetery Veterans Memorial St John the Baptist Catholic Church St. Clair Massacre St. Clair's Defeat / Battle of Fort Recovery St. Clair's Defeat / Fort Recovery St. Clair’s Defeat (1791) / Wayne’s Victory (1794) St. Francis Catholic Church St. Henry Catholic Church St. Paul Catholic Church, Sharpsburg (Zenz City) & Sharpsburg School St. Rose Schoolhouse Bell Strong, tall, redheaded Nance Swamp College Veterans Memorial The Battle of Fallen Timbers and the Treaty of Greeneville The Battle of Fort Recovery The Battle of Fort Recovery The Battle of the Wabash The Battlefield The Cranberry Prairie The Cranberry School Bell The Franke Historical Walkway The Greeneville Treaty Boundary Line The Old Wabash River The Riley Home The Role of Women in the Battle The Wabash (Ouabache) River This church founded c 1838 Towards a Better Understanding / Remembering the Fallen VanTrees Donation Veteran Memorial Display Veterans Memorial Wabash River Weaponry at the Battle of the Wabash and the Battle of Fort Recovery Welcome to the Fort Recovery Battlefield Walking Tour
Mercer County, Ohio, located in the western part of the state, has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Shawnee and Miami peoples, who were later displaced by the arrival of European settlers.

In the early 1800s, the land that is now Mercer County was part of the Northwest Territory, which was ceded by Native American tribes to the United States government. The region was then opened for settlement and attracted pioneers looking for fertile farmland. Many settlers came from neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

The county was officially established on April 1, 1820, and was named after Hugh Mercer, a renowned Revolutionary War general. As more settlers arrived, the county's population grew rapidly. Agriculture became the backbone of the local economy, with farmers cultivating crops such as wheat, corn, and soybeans. With the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal in the early 1840s, Mercer County became a hub for transportation, as goods were transported to and from neighboring cities.

During the Civil War, Mercer County sent numerous soldiers to fight for the Union Army. The county experienced economic growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the development of industries such as manufacturing, quarrying, and oil production. The county's largest city, Celina, also became a popular tourist destination due to its location on Grand Lake St. Marys, one of the largest man-made lakes in Ohio.

Today, Mercer County continues to thrive as a predominantly agricultural community with a diverse economy. Its rich history is preserved through museums, historic sites, and community events that celebrate the county's heritage.
Brief timeline of the history of Mercer County, Ohio:

  • 1815 - Mercer County is established
  • 1824 - First white settlers arrive in the county
  • 1832 - Mercer County becomes part of the newly formed state of Ohio
  • 1833 - Celina, the county seat, is laid out
  • 1848 - Mercer County's population reaches 2,619
  • 1850 - The Miami and Erie Canal reaches Celina, facilitating trade and transportation
  • 1861-1865 - Mercer County residents serve in the American Civil War
  • 1881 - Construction of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad begins
  • 1896 - The Ohio State Legislature authorizes the construction of a new courthouse in Celina
  • 1913 - A devastating flood damages much of the county
  • 1920s - Mercer County experiences an economic boom due to oil and gas discoveries
  • 1954 - Grand Lake St. Marys State Park is established
  • 1990 - Mercer County's population exceeds 40,000
  • 2007 - The largest man-made lake in Ohio, Grand Lake St. Marys, is designated as a state park

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Mercer County, Ohio.