Houston, Ohio facts for kids
Houston is a small community in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. It's not a city or a town with its own government, but it's a place where people live and work. You can find a post office, a dollar general store, and a large building called a grain elevator there. A grain elevator is used to store crops like corn or wheat.
South of Houston, on Aiken Road, you'll find the transmitter for a radio station called WHIO-FM. This station used to have different names in the past, like WPTW-FM and WCLR.
Part of what is now Houston was once known as Mount Jefferson, Ohio. Old maps show this name before the communities joined together in the 1950s. About a mile east of Houston, near the Conrail train tracks, is a small area called Dawson. Even further east, about two miles away, is another rural spot called Bunker Hill. This area is known for the Bunker Hill Baptist Church, which is located near a wooded area.
Contents
The Story of Houston: How It Grew
Houston got its name from Harvey Houston, who helped plan the community in 1838. The first post office opened here in 1835. What we know as Houston today actually started as three separate small communities.
North Houston: A Railroad Town
North Houston was founded on November 1, 1855. It grew up after the Big Four (Penn Central) Railroad was built. Railroads were very important back then for moving goods and people. Asa Young was the person who founded North Houston.
South Houston: Named After Its Founder
South Houston was founded earlier, on May 4, 1838, by Harvey Houston himself. This part of the community was named in his honor.
Mount Jefferson: The Middle Ground
Between North and South Houston was a place called Mount Jefferson. It was founded on January 12, 1838, by Samuel Farnum.
Becoming One Community
In April 1957, these three separate communities decided to join together. They all took the name Houston. In 2008, Houston, Ohio, celebrated its 170th anniversary, marking a long history of growth and change.
Learning in Houston: Hardin-Houston Local School
Houston is home to the Hardin-Houston Local School. This school serves students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. About 800 students attend the school, making it a central part of the community. The school is part of the Hardin-Houston School District, which helps manage education for the area.
