Historical Markers in 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. Clairs Defeat (1791) / Waynes 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
About Mercer County
Mercer County Timeline
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.
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.
Mercer County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey 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