Medway, Ohio facts for kids

Medway is a small community in Ohio, United States. It is not an official city but an unincorporated community. This means it does not have its own local government. Medway is located in Clark County. It is also part of the larger Springfield metropolitan area.

Close to Medway are the communities of Crystal Lakes and Park Layne. In 2000, about 4,110 people lived in the area covered by Medway's ZIP Code (45341). Students in Medway attend schools in the Tecumseh Local School District. The high school's sports teams are called the Arrows. Medway Elementary School teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Medway's Early History

European Explorers Arrive (1671)

In 1671, French fur traders were the first Europeans to reach the Mad River area. They found many beavers and other animals with valuable furs. The traders followed Honey Creek, which goes through where Medway is today. They set up a small base camp there. Later, this camp moved to a Shawnee trading post near what is now Springfield, Ohio.

On September 17, 1671, a group of explorers led by Spangler claimed all the land around the Mad River. They claimed it for King Louis XIV of France. This land became part of New France.

First Settlements and War (1740s-1750s)

In the 1740s, a company called the Wood's River Land Company bought a large area of land. This land is now parts of Clark County and Montgomery County. They sold pieces of this land to new settlers. The Drapier and Ingles families were some of the first to build homes here. Their settlement was called Drapier's Meadow by 1748.

A few years later, the French and Indian War began. This war was fought between Britain and France, with Native American allies on both sides. Britain won the war. This meant they took control of the French fur trading posts in the Medway area. After the war, the French left. The Shawnee people then took control of the trading post. They later moved to a larger Shawnee settlement in Springfield.

Medway and the American Revolution (1772-1797)

Medway played an important part in the American Revolutionary War. This was especially true for the fighting in the western areas. General George Rogers Clark led over 1,000 soldiers. Famous frontiersmen like Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton were with him. They crossed the Ohio River near Cincinnati. They fought many battles against British soldiers and their Shawnee allies.

The Shawnee slowly pulled back. Finally, on August 8, 1782, they fought American forces near Medway. This battle was about 7 miles west of Springfield. After several hours, both sides had many injured soldiers. The Americans won, scattering the Shawnee fighters. This victory helped stop Native American raids on Kentucky and other parts of the American frontier. It also helped America gain control of the entire Ohio Territory.

General Clark later said that the Medway area was very important for the American cause. He called the Mad River "the artery to the Miami River, and the Miami, the Ohio River thereto." Because Medway was so important, the government encouraged war veterans to settle there. Many families living in Medway today are descendants of these Revolutionary War soldiers.

Founding of Medway

Medway was officially planned out in 1816. It was named "Medway" because it was the midway point between Springfield and Dayton. A post office opened in Medway in 1850.

Notable People from Medway

• Harvey Haddix: A famous Major League Baseball pitcher and coach.
• Chris Lawson (racing driver): A member of a NASCAR pit crew.