6 Most Memorable Small Towns in Ohio
While the state of Ohio might be more known for its urban areas, including cities like Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, or Cleveland, plenty of smaller towns and villages host unforgettable experiences. Celebrations like the Swiss Festival of Sugarcreek or the famous D-Day reenactments of Conneaut offer something for people willing to go off the beaten path a bit. Some of these towns are close to larger metropolitan areas, meaning it is not too taxing to go out of the way to see them, especially when they host so much beautiful architecture and memorable events. Dive in and discover the most memorable towns in Ohio, in "The Heart of It All."
Sugarcreek
Sugarcreek is in Ohio's Amish Country, commonly known as "The Little Switzerland of Ohio," because of its ties with Swiss and German immigrants who helped found the town in the 1830s. The downtown area has a sizable amount of European architecture inherited from the immigrants who helped found the town, even featuring one of the world's largest cuckoo clocks in the center of town. Walnut Creek is the name of a farm that welcomes visitors to feed and look at several hundred domestic species, including buffalo, elk, giraffes, and more!
During the fall, an annual Swiss Festival celebrates Sugarcreek's heritage through cheese and wine tasting courtesy of places like Breitenbach Winery, a wheel race, live music at the Pavilion Stage, and more! One of the largest stops for tourists is the Age of Steam Roundhouse, which serves as both a museum for steam locomotives and also a workshop where talented townspeople repair these engines back to their former glory.
Granville
Granville describes itself as a "New England style town" through its colonial area architecture, like the Bryn Du Mansion, Avery-Downer House, the Granville Inn, and so on. It is unique in that its structures don't match much of Ohio's building style, taking inspiration from the northeast of the country to the point where the settlers named it after their former home of Granville, Massachusetts.
In town is the Granville Historical Society, which offers free tours of its collection, including various local histories, maps, documents, and artifacts. Granville has many local parks, including the Sugarloaf, Opera House, Fanchion Lewis, Spring Valley, and Wildwood Park. Some parks, like Spring Valley, have trails like the Spring Valley Extended Loop, running through the local nature preserve. On top of Sugarloaf Park is the Founders Monument, set up in 1905 during the town's 100th anniversary.
Marietta
The town of Marietta was among the first United States settlements in the Northwest Territory, which refers to a post-Revolutionary War area including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and parts of modern-day Minnesota. Its name comes from Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who helped the United States become independent from Great Britain. Marietta has trolley tours on Front Street, which are 90-minute rides that are narrated, teaching residents and visitors about the rich history of the area, including the local architecture like The Castle or the Henry Fearing House, which are both 19th-century homes that still stand tall today and offer tours.
The downtown church, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption still functions today, offering mass while showing an incredible architectural style. The nearby Wayne National Forest provides campsites, while the North Country National Scenic Trail boasts seven miles of gorgeous walking through Marietta.
Wilmington
Wilmington is between the cities of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton and was initially hosted by Quakers during the 19th century at more than a dozen meeting houses in the area. Wilmington is memorable because of the number of different and varied events that happen year-round, bringing in many tourists from neighboring cities. Events like the Ohio Renaissance Festival during the fall or the Banana Split Festival stemming from the supposed creation of the ice cream treat coming from the town. A newer occurrence is the Hometown Holidazzle, a parade of floats, trucks, tractors, and bands lit up to celebrate the holidays.
One of the most famous landmarks available is the Murphy Theatre, which has been running for over a century and now serves as a non-profit community center. In the area are the Rocky Fort, Caesar's Creek, and Cowan Lake State Parks, which all offer a chance to get outside and away from town life, with trails like the Spillway or Cowan Lake Loop.
Greenville
Before the town was founded in the early 1800s, Greenville was the site of a US Army fort called Fort Green Ville, used in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. This would lead to the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, inviting settlers into the region. While the fort is gone, a landmark stands in its place, where the treaty was signed with the American Indians in 1795. The town is undoubtedly historic, with lots of cultural significance, from the Garst Museum housing over 300,000 artifacts from the area's history, including the personal belongings of sharpshooter Annie Oakley.
The Bear's Mill is a historic mill that still works today, offering tours and selling mill outputs like corn meal and rye flour. One of the top sights in the town is the St. Clair Memorial Hall, built in the early 1900s, which serves as both a concert and a theater hall, and able to hold up to 700 people. The big annual event in Greenville is the Great Darke County Fair, which has been running for over a century every August, with horse races, tractor pulls, concerts, demolition derbies, and more!
Conneaut
About 70 miles northeast of Cleveland is Conneaut, along Lake Erie. It comes from a Seneca Indian word, translated to either "place of late snows" or "river of large-mouth fish." The town is well known for its fishing since it is right on Lake Erie, with recreational fishers catching perch, bass, and walleyes. Shops like the Conneaut Creek Float & Fly Shop are welcoming and provide everything for someone who wants to fish on the lake. Every August, in Conneaut Township Park, is the largest reenactment of D-Day in the country, called D-Day Ohio, which lasts three days for an unforgettable experience. Over a thousand reenactors land on the park's shores using authentic vehicles, outfits, and equipment while the public watches demonstrations.
Conneaut is also home to the local Historical Railroad Museum, which looks at railroads that once went through the area. With their pride and joy, locomotive number 755 is a steam engine that attracts visitors every year. Meanwhile, the Indian Mound Metropark Loop has fine views of Conneaut Creek, which runs through the town.
The smaller towns hold a good chunk of the attractions and nature to enjoy in Ohio, making for memorable experiences. Not found in larger cities are the local hiking trails or preserved architecture in these smaller, more rural areas. These unforgettable towns still have a great sense of community, so while they are great for getting away from the larger city activity, there is still a lot going on, from annual events to relaxing at a local brewery.
