Town ‘best’ home for all

By Pamela Glason Thornton
Staff Writer
Union County Post

Noted surveyor and frontiersman Lucas Sullivant, who discovered Franklinton, the first neighborhood in Columbus, settled the land that became Marysville. History shows Sullivant as the settler of North Liberty in 1792.
Family history and gravestones connect the past to the present. Residents love the city and the region’s neighbors view various areas of the growing city from afar.
Former president George Bush and his wife Barbara have roots in the Union County area.
Ohio Magazine representatives awarded Marysville Mayor Tom Kruse in early February for being selected among its list of Ohio’s “Best Hometowns.” The designation was announced in the November 2006 edition of the magazine. The city represented the central portion of the state.
Kathy House, Director of Administration for the City of Marysville, has resided in the city since 1982. “Since moving to Marysville, I’ve known it to be one of Ohio’s best hometowns. It’s nice to know others realize that now as well,” said House.
Christy J. Clark, Director of Public Relations and Tourism at the Union County Chamber of Commerce, noted that Marysville, Ohio, the county seat of Union County, was established in November of 1819 when Samuel Culbertson plotted 96 lots on two bisecting roads in Millcreek. The 15.5-acre diamond-shaped square of land was named in honor of Culbertson’s daughter, Mary.
The newly-erected and expanding Coleman’s Crossing retail development is bringing an influx of owner-operator businesses to the Marysville area. Wal-Mart has moved down the street into the strip to be the anchor and Home Depot and Honda of Marysville occupy spaces in the Crossing as other businesses renovate and relocate.
Through growth and expansion, the area has kept a small town charm that attracts interest from outsiders.
“ Marysville is a safe, friendly place where families and economic opportunity grow together. We are committed to healthy families, well-planned neighborhoods and a vibrant economy,” said House.
“ Visitors come to Marysville to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city life. They come to experience hospitality and all the unique things we have to offer,” said Eric Phillips, Economic Development Director, Union County Chamber of Commerce.
Major businesses have made Marysville their headquarters. The city’s motto, “Where the grass is greener,” emphasizes the facts that plant fertilizer maker Scotts Miracle-Gro is based in Marysville and that the area produces plenty of cow manure, a staple fertilizer, because it is more than 80 percent agricultural. Another large employer, Honda of America Manufacturing, employs 10,000 people at its North American headquarters in Marysville.
Unique offerings can be found throughout the city. Local retailers including Animals by Arletta and Doc Henderson’s Restaurant, a converted mansion, fill residents’ and visitors’ needs for activity. To learn about the area, visit the Union County Chamber of Commerce in Marysville.
The four other cities named as Ohio’s Best Hometowns were Mariemont, Marietta, Maumee, and Wooster.Union County includes the town of Magnetic Springs, which became known because of the magic healing powers of its water. The northern part of the county was designated as part of Indian Territory by the 1795 Treaty of Greenville. According to the treaty, whites could settle south of the agreed “treaty line.” This treaty opened the way for white settlement of lands in what would become present-day Union County.
In 1792, Sullivant established one of the first Northwest Territory towns, North Liberty. Located on Big Darby Creek, the town included 325 lots. The town eventually expanded to Union County.
From North Liberty, Sullivant went on to focus his attention on the development of another town Franklinton, which later became the City of Columbus, the state’s capitol.
From 1799 to 1812, settlement continued along Big Darby Creek and settlements increased in the area from 1812 to 1820.
Marysville is the county seat. The name was derived based on the uniting of Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Logan counties. Today, Union County stands tall as a monument to the courage and fortitude of the pioneers who settled in the wilderness.
For listings of activities in the area, go to the website, www.unioncounty.org