5 Oldest Incorporated Towns In Ohio

The history of the State of Ohio predates its founding. There are many towns and cities incorporated before Ohio became the 17th state on March 1, 1803. That history is a part of the story of the Northwest Territory, the first organized incorporated territory in the United States, encompassing all or part of several subsequent states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Many of Ohio’s earliest towns were founded during the period of the Northwest Territory, and their histories are an integral part of the United States' history.

Marietta

Marietta is a city of firsts. The first incorporated city in the territory, Marietta, was founded in 1788 and served as the first capital for the Northwest Territory until 1790. Other firsts include the first permanent school in Ohio (1791) and the Farmers Library, the first library in Ohio (1796). The precursor to Marietta College, The Muskingum Academy, was founded in 1797, making it the first institute of higher education in the state. Marietta was also the location of the Washington County Children's Home, founded in 1858, and was the first publicly funded and tax-supported children's home in the United States, providing care for orphans and other children in need. The city is rich in history, having been there for the establishment of the State of Ohio, the War of 1812, and later the US Civil War. That history remains an integral part of the city's fabric.

To soak up that history, take a walking tour of Historic Harmar Village, a pre-Civil War neighborhood that features preserved buildings, antique shops, and places to eat. A 90-minute trolley ride is available to take in all the historic sites. An 1890 Gothic Mansion called The Castle is also worth seeing, while the Marietta River Trail provides a paved path along the river for walking or biking. For a more rugged experience, the Marietta Trail Network is suited for hiking and mountain biking.

Gallipolis

Dubbed The Old French City on the Ohio River, Gallipolis had a rather unusual beginning. Incorporated in 1790, the city was first settled by a group of French merchants and aristocrats who had fled the French Revolution. Led by Count Jean-Joseph de Barth, a former member of the French National Assembly, this group of settlers was referred to as The French 500. On arriving in the area, they discovered the deeds to the land they had purchased were worthless. They nevertheless settled where they could, building the foundation of the city. In 1795, President George Washington granted the settlers free land in what is now Scioto County, Ohio, but many chose to stay in Gallipolis.

That history is very much evident in Gallipolis. The downtown and riverfront district has preserved buildings from the late 18th century and is now home to boutiques, antique shops, and dining options. Gallipolis Epileptic Hospital Stone Water Towers are three stone water towers built in 1892 for the state hospital complex that later operated as the Ohio Hospital for Epileptics (Gallipolis State Hospital). The John Gee Black Historical Center focuses on the local African American history. Housed in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1868, the church was renamed for John Gee, the first benefactor and principal founder of the church.

Chillicothe

The region around what is now Chillicothe had been used by Native Americans since 200 BCE. The first known permanent settlement was established in 1758 by the Shawnee. The Chalahgawtha were a band of Shawnee, and their Anglicized name, Chillicothe, was used for many different settlements in the area. European settlers drove the Shawnee from the area, and Chillicothe was incorporated in 1796. It served as the Northwest Territory capital starting in 1800, and was the Ohio State capital from 1803 until 1810, and from 1812 to 1816. As a Free State, Ohio was a destination for free Blacks before the Civil War. Chillicothe saw many early migrants from slave states who settled in the city, creating a vibrant community. During the Civil War, the Chillicothe Black community provided aid and shelter to those crossing the Ohio River as part of the Underground Railroad.

The Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is a park and visitor center dedicated to the preservation of the 2000-year-old earthwork complexes, mounds, and earthen enclosures that were built for feasts, funerals, rituals, and rites of passage by the area’s original inhabitants. The park is closed for construction until March 2026. The Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre is an outdoor theater and home to the Tecumseh!, an outdoor drama on the life of the Shawnee leader and his defense of the Shawnee sacred lands during the late 1700s.

Zanesville

Ebenezer Zane was a pioneer who established the Zane’s Trace trail, leading from Wheeling, West Virginia, to Maysville, Kentucky, passing through what is now Ohio. Where Zane's Trace met the Muskingum River, Zane plotted the town that would bear his name, with an inn opening in 1799, along with a ferry service. The town, originally called Westbourne, was incorporated in 1799, and the town was renamed Zanesville in 1801. The city served as the second state capital from 1810 to 1812, and it saw a period of growth from the 1820s to the 1850s. In the 1840s, Zanesville was a crucial part of the Underground Railroad, and during the Civil War, over 5000 Union troops were stationed there to protect the city during the 1863 Morgan’s Raid.

Zanesville was an important center for pottery manufacturing, both art pottery and utilitarian pottery, earning the title Pottery Capital of the World. Thanks to the local clay, ideal for pottery, more than a dozen potteries operated in the city. Although large-scale pottery production declined by the 1950s, artisan pottery has grown in popularity. The Zanesville Museum of Art covers the history of pottery in the area. The Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio is home to one of the largest collections of bronze sculptures in the United States. The affiliated bronze casting foundry, Coopermill Bronzeworks, has cast hundreds of other bronze works from many sculptors.

Lancaster

With the establishment of the Northwest Territory in 1787, the area of the future State of Ohio became a destination for American and European settlers who drove out the Shawnee and other Native American groups. The Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1784 established settler control of the area, and land speculation began in earnest. The founder of Zanesville, Ohio, Ebeneser Zane, was granted further land along his Zane’s Trace pioneer trail. His sons began to carve out plots to sell, and at the center of this was Lancaster, incorporated in 1800. Other villages grew around Lancaster, making it the key town in the area, contributing to Lancaster’s growth and success.

An important historical site is the Sherman House Museum. This was the birthplace of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. The house, first built in 1811, is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Civil War Preservation Trail. The house was expanded in 1816, and a brick front and Victorian parlor were added in 1870. In one of Lancaster’s three National Historic Districts, the Georgian Museum was built in 1832 and is a brick and sandstone house built in both the Federal and Greek Revival styles. Ohio has a rich history of glassmaking, and the Ohio Glass Museum and Glass Blowing Studio showcase the city’s glassmaking heritage and offer courses in glassblowing.

Explore Some of Ohio's Earliest Cities

With histories reaching back to the American Revolution and the beginnings of the United States, some of Ohio's oldest incorporated towns continue to educate and charm visitors with their historic buildings, local history, and significant monuments to crucial events in US history. Before Ohio became the 17th state, these cities were established and contributed significantly to the region's growth and the state's early development. These cities continue to celebrate their history with attractions that draw visitors every year.