Jefferson, Wayne County, Ohio facts for kids

Jefferson is a small, unincorporated community located in Wayne County, within the U.S. state of Ohio. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county.

Discovering Jefferson's Past

How Jefferson Began

Jefferson was officially planned and mapped out on June 30, 1829. Two people named Stephen Williams and Alexander Hutchinson were responsible for setting up the community, and George Emery surveyed the land. The plans were officially recorded just a few days later, on July 2, 1829.

Naming the Community

The community was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who was the third President of the United States. For a while, Jefferson was also known by another name: Plain.

Jefferson's Rise and Fall

Jefferson became a popular place for businesses because it was located only four miles west of Wooster. Wooster is the county seat, which means it's the main town where the county government is located. A coach line, which was like an old-fashioned bus route, also passed through Jefferson. This helped the community grow and become even more important.

Why Jefferson Changed

However, over time, the coach line stopped running through Jefferson. As a result, the community became less popular and many people moved away. A post office, called Plain, was opened in 1833. It served the community for many years before closing down in 1907.

Jefferson Today

Even though Jefferson isn't as busy as it once was, it's still a place where people live and work. Today, homes and businesses in the Jefferson area use Wooster addresses. A few companies still operate in or near the original settlement. These include B.W. Rogers Co, Kelly's Propane, Professional Textile Services, Central Farm & Garden Inc, and Airgas Store. You can find Jefferson where N Jefferson Road and W Old Lincoln Way meet.