Allen County, Ohio

Infobox U.S. County
county = Allen County
state = Ohio


founded = March 1, 1820cite web|url = http://www.odod.state.oh.us/research/FILES/S0/Allen.pdf |title = Ohio County Profiles: Allen County |accessdate = 2007-04-28 |publisher = Ohio Department of Development | format = PDF]
seat wl = Lima | largest city = Lima
area_total_sq_mi = 407
area_total_km2 = 1054
area_land_sq_mi = 404
area_land_km2 = 1047
area_water_sq_mi = 2 | area_water_km2 = 6
area percentage = 0.60%
census yr = 2000
pop = 108473
density_km2 =104
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset= -4
web = www.co.allen.oh.us
named for = John Allen|

Allen County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States with a population of 108,473 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

It is named for Colonel John Allen, a figure in the War of 1812. Although it has been claimed that the county was named for Revolutionary War soldier Ethan Allen,cite book
last = Wood
first = Helen Winemiller
title = The Naming of Allen County: The Story of Colonel John Allen in the War of 1812
publisher = Longmeier Printing & Advertising
date = 1975
location = Lima, Ohio] the weight of the evidence in favor of John Allen led the General Assembly to declare that the county was named for him. [.GR|6

History

Under the terms of the Treaty of Greenville signed in 1795, northwestern Ohio was reserved for Native Americans. Thus the area now comprising Allen County was off-limits to European settlement until the Treaty of Maumee Rapids in 1817cite book
last = Harrison
first = R. H.
title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio from Records and Original Surveys
publisher = R.H. Harrison
date = 1880
location = Philadelphia
pages = 20] . Under the terms of this treaty, the Shawnee tribe was assigned reservations at Wapakonetta and at their "Hog Creek" settlement along the Ottawa River which comprised most of what is the present-day Shawnee Township. The latter treaty opened the way for the Ohio Legislature on March 1, 1820 to create fourteen counties, including Allen, which was defined as Ranges 5 through 8 east and Towns 3 through 6 south.

The first permanent settlement within the present day bounds of Allen County took place in 1824, when Christopher S. Wood and his family settled in section 7 of Bath Township.cite book
title = History of Allen County, Ohio
publisher = Warner, Beers & Company
date = 1885
location = Chicago
pages = 417-418] The organization of Bath Township predates that of Allen County itself, with its first township meeting held on March 2, 1829.Fact|date=October 2007 On Feb. 12, 1829, an act of the legislature set aside land for a "county town". cite book
last = Knapp
first = H. S.
title = History of Allen County in Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio
publisher = H.H. Hardesty & Co.
date = 1875
location = Chicago
pages = 19] Wood was appointed commissioner to determine the location of this "seat of justice" for Allen County. This was done on March 3, 1831, with Wood appointed as Town Director. He laid out plots of land to be sold in section 31 of Bath Township,cite book
last = Harrison
first = R. H.
title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio from Records and Original Surveys
publisher = R.H. Harrison
date = 1880
location = Philadelphia
pages = 33 1/4] and the plat was filed April 20, 1831, creating what was the beginning of the city of Lima.

The organization of Allen County itself dates from the first meeting of the county commissioners, held on June 6, 1831. Present at this meeting were Commissioners James Daniels, John G. Wood, and Samuel Stewart. Also present was William G. Wood, county auditor; Adam White, county treasurer; and Henry Lippincott, sheriff.cite book
last = Knapp
first = H. S.
title = History of Allen County in Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio
publisher = H.H. Hardesty & Co.
date = 1875
location = Chicago
pages = 15]

The first court of justice was held in August 1831, and it is believed that the assembly of men, in informal session, selected the name for the seat of justice by drawing names from a hat.Fact|date=October 2007 The meeting was held at the cabin of James Daniels, which was located on the bank of the Ottawa River near the current location of Market Street. Patrick G. Goode of Montgomery County, special prosecuting attorney at that session, is given creditFact|date=October 2007 for having offered up the name of "Lima" (capital of Peru and source of the quinine used to treat the malaria prevalent in the area of the Great Black Swamp). At the County Commission session on June 6, 1831, the formation of a second township, Jackson, was approved.

In 1832 the Shawnees, including those living in the Hog Creek reservation (present day Shawnee Township), were removed to eastern Kansas. They received payment of $30 000 in fifteen annual installments for their lands which had an estimated value of over $200 000 at that time.cite book
last = Harrison
first = R. H.
title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio from Records and Original Surveys
publisher = R.H. Harrison
date = 1880
location = Philadelphia
pages = 19] They arrived at their new home with few provisions and immediately suffered an epidemic of cholera.

Lima was established as a village in 1841, and the town of Lima was organized March 29, 1842. Henry DeVilliers Williams was elected the first mayor and Amos Clutter was elected the first town marshall.Fact|date=October 2007

In 1848, the boundaries of Allen County changed with a reorganization that created Auglaize County, Ohio from the southern half of the original county. Town 2S, Range 7E (Monroe Twp.); Town 2S, Range 8E (Richland Twp.); the southern half of Town 2S, Range 5E, and the southern half of Town 2S, Range 6E (Sugar Creek Twp.) were transferred from Putnam County to Allen County. Parts of Van Wert and Mercer Counties were also transferred to Allen to form Spencer Township and part of Marion Township. In May, 1853, Allen and Putnam Counties agreed on a cash settlement for Putnam's loss.cite book
title = History of Allen County, Ohio
publisher = Warner, Beers & Company
date = 1885
location = Chicago
pages = 280-281]

There were several practical implications of these changes to the boundaries Allen County. Lima, the county seat became located near the center of the county, rather than in the northern quarter. The western part of the county gained a significant stretch of the Miami and Erie Canal, which was completed in 1845. The reorganization also brought the towns of Spencerville, laid out in 1844 and located on the canal,cite book
last = Harrison
first = R. H.
title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio from Records and Original Surveys
publisher = R.H. Harrison
date = 1880
location = Philadelphia
pages = 30] and Bluffton within the bounds of the county.

In 1885, oil was discovered in Lima. This began a boom in Allen County which lasted until after 1910.

Government

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 407 square miles (1,054 km²).404 square miles (1,047 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (6 km²) of it (0.60%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Putnam County (north)
*Hancock County (northeast)
*Hardin County (east)
*Auglaize County (south)
*Van Wert County (west)

Demographics

Unincorporated communities

References

External links

* [http://www.co.allen.oh.us/ Allen County Government's website]

----