Padua, Ohio facts for kids
Padua is a small, unincorporated community located in western Mercer County, Ohio, in the United States. It's not an official city or town with its own local government, but rather a group of homes and buildings. Padua is found where State Route 49 meets St. Anthony Road. It lies west of Celina, which is the main town and county seat of Mercer County. Padua sits at an elevation of about 899 feet (274 meters) above sea level.
The Story of Padua
Padua was founded way back in 1848, making it one of the older communities in its area. For a while, it even had its own post office, which opened on July 27, 1882. However, this post office closed on August 31, 1903. After that, people in Padua received their mail through the Fort Recovery post office.
The most important building in Padua is St. Anthony's Catholic Church. This church is right at the main crossroads of the community. Other notable places in Padua include the St. Anthony Cemetery and a building that used to be a school. This school taught students from 1940 until it closed in 1978.
What's in a Name?
Besides being known as "Padua," this community has also been called "St. Anthony." The official group that names places in the U.S., called the United States Board on Geographic Names, decided in 1961 that the official name would be "Padua." However, even today, signs at the entrances to the community often say "St. Anthony." Many local people still refer to it as St. Anthony as well.
