Close Menu
The Village Reporter
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Current Edition
  • Store Locations
  • Photo Albums
  • Rate Card
  • Classifieds
  • Submit News
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Tuesday, October 7
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Login
The Village Reporter
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Current Edition
  • Store Locations
  • Photo Albums
  • Rate Card
  • Classifieds
  • Submit News
The Village Reporter
Local History

Historic Reflection: 1836 Village Of Centre (Williams Center)

By Newspaper StaffJanuary 23, 2021Updated:March 10, 2023No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

(January 23, 1836, 185 years ago): The village of Centre (now known as Williams Center) was surveyed in Center Township. The village of Centre, consisting of 418 lots, was surveyed for Dr. John Evans of Defiance. Centre probably received its name from the fact that when it was surveyed, it was near the geographic center of old Williams County. From 1820 until Defiance County was created on March 4, 1845, Williams County’s southern border was about 12 miles further south than today. When Defiance County was created, it left Centre at the extreme southern edge of the new, smaller Williams County. The town was not named after Center Township, because Center Township was created by the Williams County Commissioners on March 7, 1836—about six weeks after the village was surveyed. On January 5, 1839, a post office was established in Centre called “Williams Centre.” A Centre Post Office was established in 1830 in Delaware County, Ohio, and the U.S. Post Office Department would not allow two post offices in a state to have the same name. Over the years the village became known as Williams Center, although no record of a legal name change has been discovered. It is a little known fact that Centre was the second incorporated village in Williams County. On February 27, 1860, 58 residents of Centre and vicinity petitioned the Williams County Commissioners to incorporate the town. Legal notices were printed in the Bryan newspaper and on May 16, 1860, the county commissioners granted the request for incorporation, allowing the town’s citizens to elect a mayor, council and other municipal officials. For some reason this was never done; nevertheless, Centre was—and apparently still is—a legally incorporated village. This 1864 map of Centre is from of the Williams County Public Library Local History Center collection. Happy 185th birthday to the village of Williams Center!


 

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleSports Schedule For Saturday, January 23rd, 2021
Next Article Historic Reflection: 1888 Alvordton United Brethren Church
Newspaper Staff
  • Facebook

Related Posts

Evergreen Hosting Board Of Education Candidate Night

October 6, 2025

German Lutheran Heritage Of NW Ohio To Hear From Local Columnist

October 6, 2025

Alan & Barbara Lacombe Celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary

October 6, 2025

Three People Injured After Evergreen School Bus Crash While Test Driving

October 6, 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Account
  • Login
Historic County Tributes
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Current Edition
  • Store Locations
  • Photo Albums
  • Rate Card
  • Classifieds
  • Submit News
© 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?