History

The Buckeye Hills region consists of a large geographic area in Southeast Ohio which includes Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties. The region has substantial history of national significance and is foundational to the State of Ohio.

The First Ohio Settlement

The history and culture of the region is deeply rooted in the early exploration of Appalachia and settlement of the Northwest Territory. Founded in 1788, Marietta is situated at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers and was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. Marietta is named for Marie Antionette, the Queen of France at the time, due to the debt of gratitude the Revolutionary War veterans who settled here felt to France's support of the fight for independence.

A Wide Array of Communities Many of the cities and villages in the Buckeye Hills region date back to the early to mid 1800’s. These communities have significant history that is rooted in early exploration of the Ohio River valley, natural resource extraction, and transportation of goods and services. Many of these communities have historic downtowns that have served as the center of commercial activities and community gathering for over a century.

The First Public University in Ohio Established in 1804, Ohio University is the first chartered university in Ohio and is among the oldest universities in the United States. The location in Athens was selected because of its centralized location between Marietta and Chillicothe, the first capital city of Ohio.

There are six additional colleges in the region including Marietta College, Washington State Community College, Hocking College, Hocking College-Logan Campus, TriCounty Career Center, and Washington County Career Center. Communities of Color

The Buckeye Hills region has a rich and diverse history. Many communities, like Albany in Athens County, served as stops along the Underground Railroad as many of those escaping slavery traveled up the Hocking River from the Ohio River. To ensure the education of their children, the growing African American community founded the private Albany Enterprise Academy in 1862. It was the first school in Athens County founded by and for African Americans. It operated until 1886. Notable alumni included educator and activist Olivia Davidson, hotelier Edward Cornelius Berry, and teacher and poet A. J. Jackson.

The communities of Chesterhill in Morgan County and Rendville in Perry County share a history of offering economic opportunities and livelihoods for those looking to escape the racial segregation of the South. The Quakers who settled Chesterhill in 1843 made the village a sanctuary for the formerly enslaved. Established as a racially-integrated mining community in 1879, Rendville produced several important leaders including Richard L. Davis, a prominent labor organizer, Isaiah Tuppins, the first African American mayor in Ohio, and Sophia Mitchell, the first African American woman mayor in Ohio.

GLOUSTER, OHIO MURAL Athens County, Ohio

Image: Michelle Waters for BHRC