MEDINA COUNTY

The Ohio government officially authorized the creation of Medina County on February 12, 1812 and was originally a portion of the Connecticut Western Reserve. A.I. Root, whose father Samuel settled here from Connecticut, made Medina the world headquarters for beekeeping and became the first person to publish an eyewitness account of manned flight by the Wright Brothers. Another large city in the county, Wadsworth, was home to significant companies that were also part of a world-wide economy. Two such companies, the Ohio Match Company and the Ohio Injector Company, were founded in the early 1890’s and sold near the middle of the 20th century.

Located in northern Ohio, Medina County covers 422 square miles, with an average of 358 residents per square mile. Between 1990 and 2000, the county population increased by 23.5 percent to a total of 151,095 residents in 2000. Medina is the county seat, and the largest in the county.

Farming ranks fifth in occupations, while most residents earn their livings by working in sales, service or manufacturing positions.

Poet Edith Thomas and Michigan Governor Russell A. Alger were notable residents of Medina County.