 History
Long ago, numerous native American tribes traveled the forest trails that spread throughout Guernsey County, and the names of their campsites-Trail Run, Salt Fork, Fish Basket and Indian Camp remain.
In 1796, Ebenezer Zane received funds to cut a road from Ohio to Kentucky. He named one of the first settlements Cambridge in honor of a town in Maryland. A group of early pioneers from the Isle of Guernsey in the British Channel settled in Cambridge in 1806 because the women in the party declined to travel any further.
The new county of Guernsey was formed in 1810. Central to the history of the area was the construction of the National Road (U.S. Route 40) through Cambridge in 1827. Many bridges also were built in that period, including the first bridge authorized in the Northwest Territory.
Early in the 20th century, the county, and particularly Cambridge, became known for its quality glass. Production of Cambridge Glass ceased many years ago but collectors still visit Cambridge for Mosser Glass and Boyd's Crystal Art Glass. Collectors also hunt for antiques that reflect the great glass industry that once thrived in Guernsey County.
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Business Opportunities The most valuable asset for new or expanding businesses is the county's location at the crossroads of two major interstates, putting it within a day's drive of more than 80 percent of the U.S. population. Additionally, local authorities are very "business friendly" and are quick to provide appropriate incentives and cooperation. Finally, the area offers a very desirable quality of life featuring two major lakes with ample recreational opportunities.
Business Growth
There has been an increase in the number of small businesses opening. More than 25 new businesses have opened in 2002 alone. There is a very healthy growth in the major local industries-some have on-site growth, while others with the purchase of new or existing facilities to allow room for continued growth.
Major Employers
- Cambridge City Board of Education
- Colgate-Palmolive Dental Care
- Daimler Chrystler / Detroit Diesel
- Guernsey County Government
- Interim Healthcare
- LDM Technologies
- Manpower
- Southwestern Ohio Regional Medical Center
- State of Ohio
Clustered Industries - There are approximately twelve companies in Guernsey County involved in plastics injection molding.
Business Potential
The current focus is on light manufacturing industries that would provide a maximum number of well-paid job opportunities. The designation of the industrial park as a Foreign Trade Zone makes it very attractive to large distribution facilities.
Natural Resources
- Seneca Lake
- Salt Fork State Park
Educational Resources
- Zane State College, Zanesville, Ohio - In addition to a full round of course offerings, Zane State College specializes in Hospitality Education and Training.
- Ohio University-Zanesville (OUZ), Zanesville, Ohio - OUZ has a well-established line of degree programs. Specifically for industry, OUZ and Zane State College have teamed with Detroit Diesel to develop the Zane State Training Center. This facility, located in the heart of Cambridge's industrial center, offers traditional post-secondary course work along with customized training programs designed to fit specific needs of local businesses.
- Muskingum College - New Concord, Ohio - Established since 1837, Muskingum College offers a quality liberal arts and sciences program in the setting of a residential, coeducational, church-related community. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and is located along the famous National Road. The college boasts of many famous alumni, including former U.S. Senator John Glenn and nationally-syndicated animal expert Jack Hanna.
Business Organizations and Initiatives
Convention Facilities
- Salt Fork Resort and Conference Center - Eight meeting and conference rooms, accommodating up to 450
- Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center - Banquet seating for 700, theater style seating for 1,200 and classroom seating for 700.
High-Speed Internet Access
Broadband services including Wireless, DSL and Cable are available in various parts of the county.
Tourism and Lifestyle Guernsey County offers key lifestyle assets that make relocating there a pleasure. Visitors and residents enjoy hiking at Salt Fork State Park, hunting on the AEP ReCreation Land, horseback riding at Rocky Fork Recreation Center and hitting the water at Salt Fork and Seneca lakes. Music lovers enjoy the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center, the Scottish Rite Auditorium and the variety of choirs, bands and symphonies. The Living Word Outdoor Drama and the General John Hunt Morgan's RAID reenactment are unique to the area. Shoppers take advantage of antique shops in downtown Cambridge, on National Road West and in Derwent. They find rich arts and crafts at Country Bits & Pieces, Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival and Adams Country Store. It is easy to stay fit with fitness clubs including the Cambridge Area YMCA, Cambridge Fitness and Home Town Health Fitness Centers as well as outdoor pursuits at Salt Fork State Park, Seneca Lake and The Wilds. Other key recreational spots include the Cambridge Country Club, Cambridge Municipal Airport and historic Downtown Cambridge, Old Washington and National Road. Outstanding real estate is available in the Salt Fork and Seneca regions and throughout the county.
Historic Spots
- The National Road Scenic Byway - an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway. There are several historic sites in Guernsey County along the National Road including S-bridges, mile markers, pike towns and sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Old Washington-site of a Civil War skirmish with Morgan's Raiders.
- Cambridge-John Glenn took his first airplane ride over the city.
Tours
One-Day Itineraries
Ohio Hills Heritage Arts Tours
Tails to Trails
Cambridge, A City With Glass
The Highway to History Two-Day Itineraries
The Living Word Outdoor Drama (Guernsey)
The Glass Pass (Guernsey and Licking)
A Celebration of Religious Freedom (Guernsey and Tuscarawas) Three-Day Itineraries
Buggies, Baskets and Backroads (Guernsey, Muskingum and Tuscarawas)
Fall Foliage Frolic (Guernsey and Washington) Airports
Cambridge Municipal Airport
4,300 foot runway
Contact: Terry Losego, airport manager
(740) 432-3726
Greater Pittsburgh International Airport
Distance: About 85 miles
Port Columbus International Airport
Distance: About 75 miles
Visitor Services
Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors and Convention Bureau
Debbie Robinson, Executive Director
627 Wheeling Avenue Suite 200
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-2022 or (800) 933-5480
Fax: (740) 432-5976
Car Rental
Cambridge Rent A Car (Avis)
1251 Campbell Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-2870
Fairdale Auto Sales
6209 Glenn Highway
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-4185 or (800) 773-4185
Travel Agents
AAA Travel Agency
902 Wheeling Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43257
Phone: (740) 432-7343
American Dream Cruises
2009 E. Wheeling Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 439-7447
Motor Coach Tours
Kamm Tours and Travel, Inc.
139 Elsie Drive
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 439-3690
Buckeye Tours, Inc.
1434 E. Wheeling Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 439-1977
Hospitals
Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare-Cambridge Campus
66737 Old Twenty-One Road
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 439-1371 or (800) 822-1371
Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center
1341 Clark Street
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 439-8000
Health Clinics
Community Health Link
1205 Clark Street
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-5465
Genesis Health Center-Cambridge
62353 Southgate Parkway
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 432-8173
Guernsey County Health Dept.
326 Highland Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 439-3577
Ohio Sports Medicine Institute
216 Highland Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone: (740) 435-8181 | |
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