Clermont County, Ohio

2000 177,977
1990 150,187
1980 128,483
1970 95,725
1960 80,530
1950 42,182
1940 34,109
1930 29,786
1920 28,291
1910 29,551
1900 31,610
1890 33,553
1880 36,713
1870 34,268
1860 33,034
1850 30,455
1840 23,106
1830 20,466
1820 15,820
1810 9,965

• Amelia
• Batavia
• Bethel
• Chilo
• Felicity

• Loveland
• Milford
• Moscow
• Neville

• New Richmond
• Newtonsville
• Owensville
• Williamsburg

• Batavia
• Franklin
• Goshen
• Jackson

• Miami
• Monroe
• Ohio
• Pierce

• Stonelick
• Tate
• Union

• Washington
• Wayne
• Williamsburg

• Cherry Grove
• Day Heights

• Mount Carmel
• Mount Repose

• Mulberry
• Summerside

• Withamsville

Here are stories and traditions behind how some of Clermont County's many communities received their original and current names.

Afton: The name of this unincorporated community was suggested by Sarah Lytle, daughter of William Lytle, also known as "The Father of Clermont County". A popular song in the 1850s, which referred to "Sweet Afton," might be how Miss Lytle got the idea. A post office was established in this Williamsburg Township community in 1849 under the name of California. Afton is approximately one mile east of Williamsburg on Old S.R. 32.

Amelia was originally called Milltown because of several mills in the area. It wasn't long before the name was slurred into Milton, and when the village applied for a post office, it did so under that name. Since a "Milton" post office already existed in Ohio, another name was needed. The popular Amelia Bowdoin, who operated the tollgate on the Ohio Turnpike (State Route 125), was one of the better known persons in the community. The Amelia post office was established in February of 1836. The village was incorporated in December, 1900. Amelia straddles S.R. 125 (Main Street), approximately six miles east of the Hamilton/Clermont County border.

Bantam received its name from Dr. Thomas Pinkham, whose family settled in the area, building a mansion in 1824. At that time Clermont factions were disputing the choice of Batavia or New Richmond as the county's seat. Pinkham offered to donate 1,000 acres for a "bantam-sized" community as a compromise location. However, Bantam never became the county seat. (Williamsburg, New Richmond and now Batavia, have been the county seats.) Bantam, an unincorporated area in Tate Township, is about three miles west of Bethel on S.R. 125. It is on the southern edge of East Fork Lake State Park.

Batavia was named for Batavia, NY, previous home of some of the community's first settlers. Batavia is Clermont's third county seat. It incorporated as a village in February, 1842. Batavia is at the intersection of State Routes 32, 132 and 222, approximately in the center of Clermont County. Most county offices are located in the village of Batavia and neighboring Batavia Township area, which is also home to the University of Cincinnati's Clermont College branch.

Belfast, an unincorporated community, received its name from early Irish settlers. The post office established here in March of 1840, was given the name Belfast. Belfast is in Stonelick Township, approximately two miles west of Newtonsville on S.R. 131. Belfast is one of the many rural communities that never had a "downtown" district but is simply considered a cross roads community.

Bethel was first named Plainfield after Plainfield, N. J., the home town of village founder Obediah Denham. The named changed twice, first to Denhamstown in honor of its founder and finally to Bethel in 1802 when the village plat was recorded. Bethel is the site of the Bible story of Jacob's dream about the ladder to Heaven. Bethel was incorporated as a village in March, 1851. It is on S.R. 125, approximately three miles west of the Brown/Clermont County border.

Branch Hill was named after Col. John H. Branch who laid out the community in January of 1873. This unincorporated area of Miami Township is on the Little Miami River near Interstate 275, about a mile and a half southeast of the city of Loveland.

Chilo's name origin is not certain. The village was originally called Mechanicsburg because - it is believed - mechanics who worked on steamboats lived there. The "Ch" is pronounced as in the word "chili." Chilo was laid out by Robert Bagby on May 1, 1816. The village was incorporated in 1968. It is on the Ohio River, about five miles west of the Brown/Clermont County border.

Clermontville received its named from the Clermont, or Parker, Academy, which opened in 1838. A Clermontville post office was established in July of 1875. The first settler, a Mr. Newton, sold his land to David Morton in 1815. Today, this unincorporated area is at the intersection of Clermontville-Laurel and Clermontville-Spur roads, less than a mile from the Ohio River in Monroe Township. It is approximately two miles downriver (north) of Point Pleasant, birthplace of President Grant.

Edenton was originally called Slonesville after its first settler, William Slone, who arrived in 1802. Its present name comes from Edenton, N. C., previous home of some of the community's original settlers. A post office was established in February of 1848 in this unincorporated area of Wayne Township in northeast Clermont County. Edenton is at the intersection of State Routes 133 and 727, at the northeast edge of Stonelick State Park.

Felicity was named by Mary Fee, daughter of village founder William Fee, who preferred a different name from the original "Feestown." Mary Fee chose "Felicity" because she said it expressed her feelings for the area - "something that causes happiness; the quality or state of being happy." The village was laid out in April of 1817. Felicity is at the intersection of State Routes 133, 222 and 756, in the middle of Franklin Township and approximately three miles from the Clermont/Brown County border.

Glen Este is an unincorporated area of Union Township which received part of its name from resident David K. Este, who owned a farm near the intersection of Glen Este-Withamsville Road and the railroad tracks which is currently State Route 32. He was an officer of the Cincinnati, Georgetown and Portsmouth Railroad and had a station/post office established on his land. The road that ran through the area of Donnell's Trace or old State Route 74, passed through a glen, "a secluded, narrow valley." Glen Este received its post office in July of 1878 with an insignificant sign on the door that read: The Eastgate to Cincinnati. It was 100 years later that the nickname Eastgate became the regional name for the area. The once thriving downtown district on Cincinnati Batavia Pike, Old State Route 74 has shifted a bit to the Eastgate Shopping district near I-275. Glen Este is split as the west side still carries a Cincinnati address and at Clermont Lane the addresses change to Batavia. The area is home to Glen Este High School.

Goshen received its name from Goshen, N. Y., previous home of some of the area's first citizens. It was laid out by John Winans and Lot Cooper in October of 1816. The Goshen area is at the intersection of State Routes 28 and 132 in north central Clermont County. It is approximately eight miles northeast of the city of Milford.

Hamlet was first known as the Yankee Settlement and for a time also was known as Brown's Farm. Settlers arrived in the area in the early 1800s from New England. The post office opened in March of 1885. Hamlet, an incorporated community, is just east of Amelia in Pierce Township at the intersection of State Routes 125 and 132.

Hulington was named after a resident, Albert W. Huling. The village was laid out in March of 1877. The unincorporated Hulington area is in Monroe Township, southwest of the intersection of S.R. 222 and Lindale-Mount Holly Road.

Laurel was first known as Van Burensville, named for U.S. President Martin Van Buren. The village was laid out in March of 1838. The post office, established in October, 1842, was named Clermont and changed to Laurel in March, 1844, possibly named for trees and shrubs in the area. The unincorporated Laurel area is in Monroe Township about three miles northeast of the Ohio River on S.R. 232.

Lerado, first known as Brownsville and/or Logtown, was laid out by Bernard Conn in April, 1834. It is said that the village received its present name from a female resident who either liked Texas or had lived in Laredo, Texas. The name of this unincorporated area remains misspelled to this day. Lerado is in Jackson Township, less than a mile from the Brown/Clermont County Line on S.R. 131.

Lindale was known as Lyndin when its first post office was established here in March, 1869. It might have received its name from the original name of Lyndin and dale "a gently undulating space between hills, a small valley," which described the area at the time. In 1998, Lindale is an unincorporated area at the intersection of State Routes 749 and 132, lying generally in the northeast tip of Ohio Township.

Locust Corner was originally known as Pleasant Hill because of the peacefulness of this hilly point in Pierce Township. The community was laid out from the farm of Benjamin Ricker, who settled here shortly after 1830. The still unincorporated community received its present name when the local post office was established in June of 1846. The name might have referred to locust trees in the area. Locust Corner is in Pierce Township, at the intersections of Locust Corner, Behymer and Wagner roads, about 3 miles east of the Clermont/Hamilton County border and three miles south of S.R. 125. Pierce Township offices are located in the area.

Loveland was originally called Paxton after Col. Thomas Paxton, who is said to have built the first house in Clermont County in this community in 1795. The city received its present name from James Loveland, an early store owner and the first postmaster. The city was formally laid out in November of 1849 and received its present name in March of 1850. It was incorporated in May, 1876, becoming the first city in Clermont County in July, 1961.

Marathon, first known as Cynthiana, was laid out by John Ferguson and John Eckelberger in December of 1838. When the post office was established in January of 1845, the community was given the name Marathon, for reasons unknown. Marathon, an unincorporated area, is less than a mile from the Clermont/Brown County Line on U.S. 50 in Jackson Township.

Miamiville, sometimes known as Miamisville, received its name from either Miami Township or the Little Miami River, which borders the community. Moses F. Robinson laid out the area in September of 1849. Miamiville, still unincorporated, is less than a mile from the river, about three miles upstream from the city of Milford.

Milford received its name from the mill at the ford of the Little Miami River, which stood on the west side of Main/Mill Street at the bridge that spans the Little Miami. The city was originally called Hageman's Mills for John Hageman, who built the community's first mill. Hageman's Mills was laid out in January of 1806. The post office established the name of Milford in June of 1809. The City of Milford, in northwest Clermont, is the county's largest incorporated community - Loveland also lies in two other counties - and includes the intersections of Interstate 275, U.S. 50 and State Routes 28 and 131.

Monterey's post office name was granted in December of 1847, shortly after the United States' War with Mexico. The name is believed to refer to the siege that occurred during that war. (Many communities established after the war received names of victorious battles or sieges from war veterans.) The village was laid in January of 1849 by Henry South. Monterey, never incorporated, is in Jackson Township, less than a mile west of the intersection of U.S. 50 and S.R. 133.

Moscow had its plat recorded by Owen Davis in July of 1818. It might have received its name from officers of Napoleon's army who fled to the United States after his defeat at that Russian city. However, an amusing tale recounts how one of the early families to settle in the area owned cows. One evening all were returned, but one, and the children were told to seek out, find, and return "Ma's cow." Moscow, on the Ohio River, is about 12 miles downstream from the Clermont/Brown border and is adjacent to Duke Power's Zimmer Power Plant.

Mount Carmel, also known as West Mount Carmel, is the Biblical site where the prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. A post office was established in this community in December of 1831. Mount Carmel is an unincorporated area of Union Township. It is near the Eastgate Shopping District, southwest of the Intersection of Interstate 275 and S.R. 32. The community is in and around the intersections of Old S.R. 74 and Mt. Carmel-Tobasco Road.

Mount Holly might have received its name from Mount Holly, N. J., previous home of some of the area's settlers. A post office was established in the community in February of 1866. Never officially incorporated, the Mount Holly area in 1998 is on the northern tip of Monroe Township, where S.R. 222 doglegs across S.R. 125, approximately two miles east of Amelia.

Mount Olive was the name given to the post office established in June, 1848 in this area in northern Franklin Township. In the Bible, it was at the Mount of Olives where Jesus predicted Peter would deny him. Mount Olive, never incorporated, is on S.R. 133, about seven miles north of the Ohio River.

Mount Pisgah, first known as Lisbon, later became Kegtown, a name that referred to the local making of kegs to store nails, whiskey, and other items. The post office established in February of 1844 was given the name Mount Pisgah. Mount Pisgah, never incorporated, is in Ohio Township, about three miles northeast of the Ohio River on S.R. 132.

Mount Repose was founded on land owned by Paul McGrew. Originally a military camp during the Civil War, it was known as Camp Repose or Camp Shady. Its present name might have referred to its location atop a long sloping hill east of Milford - a place to repose, or rest, oneself and/or animals before continuing on the old Chillicothe Turnpike (present S.R. 28). Mount Repose today is an unincorporated area of Miami Township, about three miles northeast of the city of Milford on S.R. 28.

Mulberry was first called Newberry for the large number of berry bushes and fruit trees that grew in the area. Part of the area was known as New Salisbury. Its current name might refer to mulberry trees in the area. When a post office was established here in December of 1831, the name was changed to Mulberry. The community was laid out by Thomas Shumard in 1818. Mulberry today is an unincorporated area of Miami Township, about one mile northeast of the city of Milford on S.R. 28.

Neville was named in honor of Gen. Presley Neville, who served on the staff of Gen. Lafayette at the siege of Yorktown, Va., in October, 1781. The Nevilles, originally from Virginia, moved to the Pittsburgh area and to this Clermont County riverside community sometime after 1800. The village was formally laid out by Presley Neville, through his attorney Benjamin South, in 1812. Neville is on the Ohio River approximately six miles west/downstream from the Clermont/Brown County line and three miles upstream from Moscow.

New Richmond was named for Richmond, Virginia, home of the village's surveyor. The village, was laid out by Peter Light, in September of 1814. Light's nephew did the original village survey. New Richmond is on the Ohio River, about five miles upstream from the Clermont/Hamilton County border. The village is next to Duke Power's Walter C. Beckjord Power Station.

Newtonsville was named for a large family named Newton who lived east of the village along present S. R. 131. The town was laid out by Cornelius Washburn Jr. and Stephen Whitaker in March of 1838. Newtonsville is about five miles west of the Clermont/Brown County line.

Nicholsville was named for N. B. Nichols, a business owner when the community was replatted by Erin Cole. The town was originally platted in 1842 by E. S. Dole, who named it Feetown after a store owner, Daniel Fee. Nicholsville, never incorporated, is at the intersection of S.R. 222 and Bethel-New Richmond Road in Monroe Township.

Olive Branch was first known as Apple's Settlement, named for Andrew Apple, who settled in the area about 1798. The village might have received its present name when a post office was established in February of 1845. Olive Branch, never incorporated, is in Batavia Township, near the intersection of Old S.R. 74 and Olive Branch-Stonelick Road.

Owensville was once known as Boston because some of its early citizens were from Boston, Mass. The present name dates to establishment of the post office in this community in April of 1832. Because a Boston, Ohio post office already existed, and a Mr. Owens was postmaster of the local office, his name was accepted and it became Owens' ville to which he distributed mail. Owensville is on U.S. 50, approximately midway between the Hamilton and Brown county borders. The village, incorporated in 1867, is the site of the Clermont County Fairgrounds.

Palestine was known as New Palestine for many years. The village was laid out in September of 1818, by Zachariah Chapman and Christian Ebersole. Palestine is on the Ohio River in Pierce Township at the intersection of U.S. 52 and S.R. 749.

Perintown, originally known as Perin's Mills, was founded by Samuel Perin who arrived in 1813. The post office was renamed from Perin's Mills to Perintown in April of 1890. Perintown, unincorporated, is on U.S. 50 in southern Miami Township, at the intersection of the U.S. Route 50 and Round Bottom Road. The community is on the banks of the East Fork of the Little Miami River.

Point Isabel was once known as Pekin. One story about the original name refers to the community's first store owner, John P. Constant. Slang among villagers at the time was "Meet us at P. Con's." The community is said to have received its present name either from the intersections of several roads at one point or from veterans of the recent Mexican War, who wanted to name the area in honor of Point Isabel, in Texas, a gathering place for American troops. The post office was established in the community in December of 1847. Point Isabel, not officially incorporated, is in Washington Township, at the intersection of State Routes 743 and 222 and near the intersections of Mount Olive-Point Isabel and Laurel-Point Isabel roads.

Point Pleasant might have been named for its pleasant location on a point of land on the Ohio River. First known as Pointopolis, the community was laid out in 1813 by Joseph Jackson. This unincorporated community in Monroe Township is the birthplace of President Ulysses Grant. It is on U.S. 52 about five miles upstream from New Richmond and about a mile downstream from Moscow.

Saltair was named after its founders, the Salt family, a name originally spelled Salt Aire for a family estate in England. One story says that Edward Salt, who brought his family to the area in 1796, married an Irish woman against his parents' wishes. The young couple fled to the Colonies where Salt fought on the American side during the Revolutionary War. Saltair, never officially incorporated, is in southern Tate Township, at the southern intersection of State Routes 222 and 232.

Summerside, originally known as East Mount Carmel, was divided from West Mount Carmel (present Mount Carmel) by Hall's Run, a sizeable stream at the time. The citizens of East Mount Carmel did not like their link with the area to the west because of its bad reputation for drunkenness and questionable night life. When a post office was established in August of 1887, a contest was held to choose a new name. Today, the community is still known as Summerside. Northeast of the intersection of Mount Carmel-Tobasco Road and S.R. 32, Summerside is in Union Township, Clermont County's largest, and is next to the Eastgate Shopping District.

Tobasco's name might be derived from an old story. In September, 1865, Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant and Gen. and Mrs. William Tecumseh Sherman were traveling east on the Ohio Turnpike (present Ohio Pike or S.R. 125) to visit friends and relatives in Clermont County. Upon arriving in the Tobasco area, the carriage in which the visitors were traveling was mobbed by admirers ­ former soldiers and their families. They persuaded Grant to speak to them on this hot summer day. As he spoke, Grant was reported to have removed his coat and remarked, "It is as hot as Tabasco sauce today." When a post office was established here in March of 1878, it was given the name "Tobasco", always spelled incorrectly.

Today, the unincorporated Tobasco area is southwest of the intersection of Interstate 275 and S.R. 125. It is in Union Township. Tobasco was one of the cross roads communitys that virtually had no homes or businesses for many years. It was a connector between the Cherry Grove shopping district at the Hamilton County line and the Withamsville downtown area. Today the area is full of restuarants, car dealers and banks however the name, Tobasco is long but forgotten and hardly ever used.

Utopia received its named from a pre-communist society, which began here in 1844. Judge Wade Loofborough of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, purchased 1,140 acres on behalf of for 250 Frenchmen and some local residents with the goal to establish a heaven on earth - a Utopian Society. The Fourierites, named after the founder of this society, Charles Fourier, gave up on this venture in 1846. Utopia is on the Ohio River, on U.S. 52, less than a mile from the Brown County line.

Wiggonsville derived its name from a long-forgotten joke about the village hatter, Benjamin South, nicknamed Ben Wiggins. (Note the spellings of Wiggons; in a few cases it was also spelled Wiggansville). The joke and the village are believed to have originated about 1840. Wiggonsville, an unincorporated area, is in Tate Township about two miles south of Bethel on S.R. 133.

Williamsburg was originally called Lytlestown after William Lytle, the village's founder and the man known as "The Father of Clermont County." He laid out the village in 1795. The name was changed to Williamburg in his honor. The incorporated village of Williamburg is on S.R. 32, less than a mile from the Brown County line. State Routes 276 and 133 also intersect in the village, as does Old S.R. 32.

Williamsburg is Clermont's oldest community, founded in 1796, and incorporated in 1847. It was the original county seat as well as a hub on the county's first two roads - the first, the Chillicothe Pike, that ran to Hillsboro and now is known as DeLa Palma Road and the second, the predecessor to S.R. 32, that ran from Williamsburg to Newtown.

Williams Corner was first settled shortly after 1805, known then as Simpkinsville, named for David Simpkins, who built the area's first cooper shop in 1827. Eventually, the name was changed when numerous members of the Williams family moved to the area after the 1880s. Williams Corner, never officially incorporated, is in northern Stonelick Township, at the intersections of State Routes 133 and 132 and Stonelick-Williams Corner Road. Clermont County's only remaining covered bridge is approximately one mile north of Stonelick-Williams Corner Road's southern intersection with U.S. 50.

Willowville received its name from the large number of willow trees in the area. The community lies along Old S.R. 74 in Union Township, north of S.R. 32, midway between Batavia and the Eastgate Shopping District. The general area begins at School House Road to Amelia Olive Branch Road in Olive Branch. New home developments off Elick and Shayler Roads have populated this once rural community

Withamsville was named after the Witham family. Baptist minister Maurice Witham and his family arrived here in October, 1800 from Saco Valley, Me. Withamsville is in Union Township on S.R. 125 east of its intersection with I-275.

Woodville, also known as West Woodville., was named for Jesse Wood, who laid out the community in March of 1828. (An East Woodville has never been found). Woodville is at the very northern edge of Clermont County in Wayne Township. An unincorporated area, it is near S.R. 133, near the Warren and Brown County borders.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ohio County Profiles: Clermont County (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
2. ^ Clermont County data (population). Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
4. ^ Clermont County data. Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
5. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

• Clermont County Government's website

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Clermont County, Ohio County seat: Batavia Cities Loveland | Milford Villages Amelia | Batavia | Bethel | Chilo | Felicity | Moscow | Neville | New Richmond | Newtonsville | Owensville | Williamsburg Townships Batavia | Franklin | Goshen | Jackson | Miami | Monroe | Ohio | Pierce | Stonelick | Tate | Union | Washington | Wayne | Williamsburg CDPs Day Heights | Mount Carmel | Mount Repose | Mulberry | Summerside | Withamsville Unincorporated communities Goshen | Marathon | Miamiville | Point Pleasant | Utopia

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Coordinates: 39°03′N 84°09′W / 39.05, -84.15