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Experience Wayne County
Founded in 1796, Wayne County was the third county to be established in the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Territory later divided into the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Wayne County was named after "Mad" Anthony Wayne who was General George Washington's revolutionary war colleague. The city of Wooster also derives its name from a revolutionary war hero, General David Wooster. Because it was the largest of the county's three cities, Wooster became the county seat in 1808. The 13th largest county in Ohio, the county covers 550 square miles and boasts a large portion of the Lincoln Highway Scenic Byway. The Lincoln Highway is listed on the Ohio Department of Transportation's must-see list. After the War of 1812, several religious communities from Pennsylvania comprised the largest group of settlers moving into the area. This group included Amish, Mennonites, German Baptist Brethren and Moravians. They were joined by other immigrants holding to the same faith who came from Switzerland and Germany. These all made the fertile soils of the region their new home. Amish Country
Today the county is known to be part of the triangle of counties (Holmes, Tuscarawas, & Wayne) that is home to the world's largest Amish community. Considered the "Gateway to Amish Country," the greatest concentration of the Amish population resides mainly in the southern and eastern portions of the county. Cities like Apple Creek, Kidron, Mt. Eaton, Fredericksburg, Shreve and their surrounding areas are where the Ohio Amish Country of Wayne County comes to life. Our Favorites
We absolutely loved Lehman's in Kidron. As they say, you truly "step through the door and step back in time." Their slogan, "A piece of the past makes an excellent present" is evident throughout the entire store. From the useful to the nostalgic, the modern to the old fashioned, there are thousands of products, gifts and gadgets to behold. They carry house wares, stoves, appliances, hardware, tools and so much more. You won't want to miss this experience! While in Kidron we also hit the Amish Auction Barn on the right day. We enjoyed watching people bid on young stock and perused the various vendors outside the auction.
Another recommendation of ours is Country Bedding Manufacturing in Apple Creek. Crist Miller and his son make custom built mattresses and box springs. We had been wanting to get new mattresses for our girls and for our own bed for some time. We took the plunge and purchased new mattresses and box springs from Country Bedding. The mattresses and box springs are made on location by local Amish craftsmen. We couldn’t be more pleased with the quality, comfort and value for the price! If you’re in their area stop in and check them out. Great Tastes
If you're in Orrville, you'll want to tour the Simply Smucker's Store. Sample their products, learn the company history and shop their gift store. Enjoy "the goodness of Smucker's in a store." There's plenty of places to get great-tasting, Amish-style cooking. But if you're looking for a sweet treat, stop in at Hartzler Dairy & Ice Cream Shoppe. They feature 26 flavors of handmade ice cream in there ice cream shop and eatery. They even sell milk bottled in glass the old-fashioned way! With all this and more, you can certainly see why Wayne County coined the slogans, "You need a Get-a-Wayne!" and "Wayne County. Just slightly behind our time."
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Historical information adapted from Wayne County Visitors Guide and Directory published by Wooster Printing & Litho Inc.
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