Introduction
The following content is specifically dedicated toward Williams, Fulton, Defiance, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, and Van Wert Counties—all located in the northwestern portion of the State of Ohio. Each of these communities is situated to the west of Toledo, and many communities nearer the Indiana state line are also accessible via Route 127 and related routes throughout the region.
Williams County
Williams County is the county located at the extreme northwestern corner of the State of Ohio, using the City of Bryan as the county seat. Spangler Candy World represents the primary tourist draw for the local area and throughout Williams County, without much else in the region allowing the community to stand out relative to communities in the surrounding region. Even though Bryan serves as the county seat, the smaller Village of Montpelier to the north actually serves as the host to the Williams County Fair every year, representing the northwest corner of the State of Ohio from an area relatively nearer the Ohio Turnpike.
Fulton County
Though a smaller county by population, Fulton County is located immediately to the west of Lucas County and thus to the Toledo area. Today, the community of Wauseon serves the role of the county seat, with the fairgrounds located to the north of the community and opposite the Ohio Turnpike. The Museum and Welcome Center of Fulton County is also located in the area, directly to the east of Route 108, as opposed to the fairgrounds further west.
Defiance County
On the larger side of the counties in Northwest Ohio, Defiance County is home to the City of Defiance, largely located at the junction of Routes 15, 18, 24, 66, 111, and 424, with Route 281 along the eastern fringe of the community. On the northern side of the community is the private Defiance College, north of the traditional Williamstown neighborhood associated with the city. To the south of the Maumee River are Old Fort Defiance, the Major General Anthony Wayne Monument, and the Andrew L. Tuttle Memorial Museum, with Auglaize Village to the southwest along Route 24 effectively serving the role of a living history museum in the general community.
Henry County
Another smaller county in the State of Ohio, Henry County is home to the community of Napoleon, serving as the county seat, as well as a number of related, largely rural areas with the southern side of the central community serving as the location of the Henry County Fairgrounds.
Paulding County
Located to the south of Defiance County and to the north of the City of Van Wert an Van Wert County is Paulding County, a county of only villages located in the northwestern portion of the State of Ohio. Today, the Village of Paulding is accessible along Routes 111 and 127, with Route 500 connecting the general area to the Village of Payne further southwest. Also associated with the county are Routes 24, 30, 49, 66, 114, 613, and 637, each representing a relatively distinct portion of the culture of the county.
Putnam County
Located to the west of the City of Findlay and Hancock County, the communities in Putnam County often provide distinct perspectives regarding cultural and lifestyle values in the region of Northwest Ohio. The flattest part of the State, many of the communities, including in Putnam County, are often organized into a grid system as a direct result of the successes of the Public Land Survey System throughout the region. The Village of Ottawa, though perhaps larger than the Village of Paulding and serving as the county seat, remains a community of minimal significance beyond the immediate area, though just a few basic amenities, including the Deford Hotel, exist within the downtown area. The eastern side of the community is home to the Putnam County Fairgrounds, while the southwestern side of the area is also home to the haunted cornfield associated with Putnam County.
Van Wert County
The southernmost of the counties to typically be identified as “Northwest Ohio” and firmly within the media market of Fort Wayne, Indiana, the entire county of Van Wert is identified as a culturally significant crossroads prior to European settlement, while in the modern day also being associated with the junction of Routes 30, 127, and 224, with 116 located fairly nearby.
Within the City of Van Wert, the two most notable attractions are the Wassenberg Art Center and the Van Wert County Historical Society, both relatively along Route 127. The City of Delphos, further east along the line with Allen County, is home to the Delphos Canal Museum, though the museum site is located on the Allen County side, approaching the City of Lima to the east.
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