The Charming Small Town In Ohio That Was Named After A Mill

Close your eyes and point to a place on a Buckeye State map and you’re bound to land on a charming small town in Ohio. While Ohio might be best-known for the Three C’s (Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati), the heart and soul of the Buckeye State really does lie in its small towns. These are places full of hard-working people with a proud history; places like Milford, Ohio. This charming small town in Ohio isn’t just irresistibly charming; it has a fascinating history, too — starting with its namesake.

Milford is a town of about 6,800 in Southwest Ohio. It’s a river town, located on the banks of the Little Miami – and this geography plays a key role in the town’s history.

City of Milford, OH/Facebook

Established in 1836, the area was first surveyed by John Nancarrow, a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia, in 1803. John Hageman was the first permanent settler, and the area was originally named Hangeman’s Mill.

Google Maps

In 1803 Hageman put up a small mill along the riverbanks to improve water power. After Hangeman left for Indiana in 1815, Milford became the popular name of the area.

Ohio History Connection

Milford is an abbreviated form of “mill ford” and was so named because it was the first safe ford across the Little Miami River, and was the only way for many people to reach the mill.

City of Milford, OH/Facebook

In 1818, a wood bridge made the ford obsolete; and sadly, in 1920, the mill that was the city’s namesake burned down in a fire.

City of Milford, OH/Facebook

But the history and legacy of this original mill can be felt throughout the town. All improvements and construction in Milford’s downtown are carefully arranged around the standing structures with new businesses, like Little Miami Brewing Company, breathing life into these historic buildings.

Frank DiBona/Flickr

Nestled on the banks of the Little Miami River, Milford is an impossibly charming small town in Ohio sure to capture your heart. While its namesake is no longer standing, there are plenty of historic buildings and businesses that are testament to the town’s past and present and will continue to stand proud into the future.

City of Milford, OH/Facebook

Did you know the history of this charming small town in Ohio? If you haven’t visited Milford, Ohio, recently, we highly recommend making the trip!

City of Milford, OH/Facebook

Google Maps

Ohio History Connection

Frank DiBona/Flickr

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Address: Milford, OH, USA