History
Long before the Europeans arrived, the Native Americans constructed trails throughout Ohio, many of which still exist. One such route ran through Tuscarawas County and was called the Big Trail. Native American hunting parties traveled the Big Trail from the Great Lakes to the Ohio River.
In the mid -1700s French, English and American traders traversed the Tuscarawas Valley area on the Big Trail. Surveyor Christopher Gist arrived at the Native American settlement of Tuscarawi on Dec. 7, 1750. Eleven years later, Moravian missionary Rev. C. F. Post established a mission at the Delaware settlement. During the summer of 1771, settlers built Ohio's first school and church in the village of Schoenbrunn. In 1778 Fort Laurens, Ohio's only Revolutionary War fort, was constructed in the northernmost part of the county. After the Revolutionary War, settlers poured into Tuscarawas County and established villages throughout the area. The county seat, New Philadelphia, was founded in 1804 by John Knisely of Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
The Tuscarawas River has contributed greatly to the county's development. Construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal began in 1825. The canal passed through Tuscarawas County, connecting Cleveland to Portsmouth. As the waterway transported people and goods, towns along its route flourished. The canal continued being used until the great flood of 1913 obliterated most of it. A beautiful natural setting, coupled with a rich history, today makes Tuscarawas County a popular destination for campers, antique hunters, genealogists and history buffs.
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Business Opportunities
Business Growth and Potential
Tuscarawas County is situated in the heartland of the nation's great industrial base. The Cleveland-Akron-Canton industrial complex is just to the north, while Pittsburgh is less than two hours to the east and Columbus is 90 minutes to the southwest. The county is located within 500 miles of half the population of the U.S. and Canada, more than half of the nation's manufacturing, and more than a third of the nation's farmers.
Interstate 77 is an important artery bisecting the county. New Philadelphia's airport can accommodate most corporate aircraft, while three railroads, bus lines and nearly two dozen trucking companies provide other transportation. The Akron-Canton Regional Airport, approximately 35 minutes away, offers commercial passenger and cargo services.
Tuscarawas County's diverse industrial community is expanding and has positioned itself in worldwide markets. The growth of small and mid-size businesses has stimulated job creation in several communities.
Major Employers
Allied Machine and Engineering
Dover City Board of Education
JLG Industries/Gradall Co.
Lauren International
New Philadelphia City Board of Education
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
Union Hospital Association
Wal-Mart Stores
Zimmer Patient Care
Business Support Organizations
The Tuscarawas County Community Improvement Corporation facilitates industrial expansion and relocation by coordinating sites and buildings and providing access to growth incentives. The Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce partners with the CIC to encourage community development.
Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce
1323 Fourth Street NW
New Philadelphia OH 44663
(330) 343-4474
Newcomerstown Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 456
Newcomerstown OH 43832
(740) 498-7244
Twin City Chamber of Commerce
210 E. Third Street
Uhrichville OH 44683
(740) 922-5623
Strasburg-Franklin Business Association
PO Box 122
Strasburg OH 44680
(330) 878-5565
Tuscarawas County Community Improvement Corporation
1323 Fourth Street NW
New Philadelphia OH 44663
(330) 343-4474
Tuscarawas County Office of Community & Economic Development
125 E. High Avenue Room 212
New Philadelphia OH 44663
(330) 365-3219
Tuscarawas County Port Authority
330 Oxford Street
Dover OH 44622
(330) 602-4422
Newcomerstown Community Improvement Corporation
PO Box 87
Newcomerstown OH 43832
(740) 498-5121
East Ohio Development Alliance
326 Highland Avenue
Cambridge OH 43725
(740) 432-7902
Convention Facilities
Atwood Resort & Conference Center offers an 18 hole golf course, a 9 hole lighted par three course, swimming pools, tennis courts and vacation cabins along with dining in a first-class resort facility. The facility is located on State Routes 212 and 542 near New Cumberland and Dellroy.
Educational Opportunities
Tuscarawas County is home to the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University, Buckeye Joint Vocational School, nine public and four parochial school systems. Several colleges and universities are located within commuting distance. In addition, educational partnerships throughout the county help to provide opportunities that extend from pre-school through associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs, and on to continuing education for the employees of local business and industry. The Chamber of Commerce has a Business-Education partnership that facilitates linkages between the educational community and the business world.
Tourism and Lifestyle Today Tuscarawas County, along with nearby Holmes and Coshocton counties, is home to the largest Amish community in the world. That unique rural culture, along with many historical sites, draws thousands of tourists to the area each year. Local communities maintain a "small town" atmosphere, while opportunities for golfing, fishing, boating, hunting and camping abound. Community festivals and fairs add to the cultural life of the county. Varied shopping opportunities can be found in downtown shops and two regional malls.
Recreation
Recreational activities are available at any of the 10 lakes included in the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD). The Conservancy, located in east-central Ohio, has 54,000 acres of land and water designated for recreation and conservation activities. Atwood Lake, Beach City, Clendening, Leesville, and Tappan Lakes, along with Dover Dam, are all within easy access of visitors to Tuscarawas County.
Attractions and Points of Interest
- Paul Green's award-winning outdoor drama "Trumpet in the Land" tells the story of Moravian missionaries and their attempt to bring Christianity to the county's large Native American community during the establishment of Ohio's first settlement. The drama plays at the Schoenbrunn Amphitheater in New Philadelphia.
- Schoenbrunn Village at New Philadelphia includes 17 log buildings and the original cemetery, offering a glimpse of life in the area as it was in the late 18th century.
- Zoar Village State Memorial at Zoar commemorates the activities of residents of an early 19th century communal society.
- Fort Laurens State Memorial near Zoar offers visitors museum displays, artifacts, and a film presentation to recount the history of this Revolutionary War fort, which was built in 1778.
- The Gnadenhutten Museum recounts the massacre of 90 Christian Indians during the Revolution.
- The Temperance Tavern Museum in Newcomerstown covers local history from the early settler days through recent times. The museum offers information about the Delaware Indians as well as the careers of two "hometown boys," major league baseball pitcher Cy Young and renowned Ohio State University football coach Woody Hayes.
- Sugarcreek is the focal point of the state's Swiss cheese industry and serves as the "Gateway to Amish Country," featuring related Amish-style shops and stores.
- The Alpine Hills Historical Museum is the site of the annual Ohio Swiss Festival.
- The J.E. Reeves Victorian Home is a 17-room mansion in Dover that features many special activities and social functions throughout the year.
- The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum is located in a restored rail station and offers numerous special train rides through the county.
- The Warther Museum and Carvings in Dover showcases the works of woodcarver Ernest "Mooney" Warther.
Visitor Information
Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau
124 E. High Avenue
New Philadelphia OH 44663
(330) 339-5453 or (800) 527-3387
Tours
Visits to working cheese factories and the Baltic Mills flour factory and shop also are available, along with a stop at one of Ohio's most recognized wineries, Breitenbach Wines.
Airports
Harry Clever Field has a 3,900-foot, paved runway handling small corporate jets, a charter service, aerial photography and flight training.
Hospitals
Union Hospital
659 Boulevard
Dover, OH 44622
(330) 343-3311
Twin City Hospital
819 N. First Street
Dennison, OH 44621
(740) 922-2800 |