Our Holdings

Highland County, established in 1805, has a rich history that dates back to the late 18th century. Our repository includes records from the following periods:

Early Settlement (1780s): The area began to attract settlers in the 1780s, with pioneers drawn by the promise of fertile land.

• Virginia Military District – Virigina and other states had claims to the Northwest Territory, but some states refused to ratify the Articles of Confederation unless Virigina and other states ceded their claims over the land. In exchange Virigina was granted the Virigina Military District to give out land grants to veterans of the Revolutionary War.
• The district became open for settlement in 1794, though surveys were already underway starting in the 1780s.
• Henry Massie, the younger brother of Nathniel Massie, started surveying the lands of what would become Highland County in the summer of 1796.
• New Market settled in April 1798 by Henry Massie.
• Greenfield was founded in 1799 by General Duncan McArthur.
• The village of Leesburg was founded in 1802, named after Leesburg Virginia.

Formation of Highland County (1805): The county was officially formed from parts of Adams and Ross Counties, named for its hilly terrain.

• Highland County Border Changes (21st County in Ohio)
• March 1, 1805, carved out from primarily Ross County alongside pieces of Adams and Clermont counties.
• Pursuant of the act of the General Assembly of the State passed February 18th, 1805.
• March 1, 1810, land ceded to Clinton and Fayette counties.
• Pursuant of the act of the General Assembly of the State passed February 19th, 1810.
• February 4, 1813, more land ceded to Clinton County (Final border changes)
• Pursuant of the act of the General Assembly of the State passed February 18th, 1813.
• First Commissioners: Joseph Swearinggen, George Richards, and Nathaniel Pope. (Likely Appointed)
• First Sherrif(s): Appointed Dan Evans and then the first elected was Anthony Franklin.
• First election: Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1805
  Sheriff: Anthony Franklin
  Coroner: Uriah Paulin
  Commissioners: Natheniel Pope, Jonthan Boyd, and Frederick Braugher.
• The city of Hillsboro was founded in 1807.
• Mowrystown started as a settlement around 1809, established by William Mowrys.
• The village of Lynchburg named after the city in Virigina was platted in 1830.
• The village of Sardina was established in 1833.

Growth and Development (19th Century): Throughout the 1800s, Highland County experienced significant growth, with the establishment of towns and infrastructure, including roads and railroads. The county became known for its agriculture, particularly in crops like corn and wheat, contributing to its economy.

• The village of Highland, originally called Lexington, was settled in 1816.
• Gist Settlement was created in the 1820s-1830s.
• April 1833, the Abolition Society of Paint Valley was founded. (Reorganized into the Greenfield Antislavery Society).
• Highland County Courthouse was built from 1832-1834, which is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the State of Ohio.
• Oakland Female Seminary founded in 1839 in Hillsboro. One of the first schools in Ohio for women that gave collegiate level education.
• The population of Highland County hit 25,000 in the 1850s.
• The Lincoln School founded in Hillsboro around 1870 for Black students.
• The Women’s Christian Temperance Union formed in 1873.
• C.S. Bell Company founded in 1875.
• The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company, the first African American owned car company founded in Greenfield in 1893.

20th Century Changes: The 1900s saw industrial development and modernization, along with the impacts of the Great Depression and World War II.

• McClain High School in Greenfield opened on September 23, 1915.
• Rocky Fork Lake added to the state park system in 1950.
• Marching Mothers begin their protest after Hillsboro’s school board refuses to integrate after the Supreme Court rules against segregation in Brown v Board of Education.
• Fort Hill State Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
• Paint Creek State Park opened in 1972.
• Southern State Community College was founded in 1975.
• Festival of Bells hosted by the City of Hillsboro begins in 1976.
• Highland County saw a 15.5% increase in population according to the 1980 Census, stemming from the Back to Land Movement, in which people wanted a simpler life leaving urban areas in exchange for the countryside.

Modern Era: Today, Highland County blends its rich history with contemporary life, maintaining its agricultural roots while also embracing new economic opportunities and community growth.

• Habitat for Humanity of Highland County was established in 2000.
• Hillsboro High School tore down their old campus that was built in 1928 for a newer building in 2009-10.