The History of Worthington, From the Early 1800s to the 21st Century

The Scioto Company Explores the Northwest Territory

Worthington's seeds were planted by a group of prospective settlers from Granby, Connecticut, who formed the Scioto Company in May, 1802 with the express purpose of purchasing land west of the Allegheny Mountains. Soon thereafter, the company sent its president James Kilbourne on a trip to the Northwest Territory to locate and purchase a township in the United States Military District.

In August 1802, Kilbourne, along with several of the Scioto Company's original proprietors, arrived at the home of Colonel Thomas Worthington. Kilbourne was initially reluctant to purchase land, as he feared the Ohio Constitutional Convention would permit slavery once the territory became a state. Luckily, the Ohio Constitution of 1803 outlawed slavery, whereupon the Scioto Company purchased 16,000 acres for $1.25 an acre along what is now the Olentangy River.

Worthington Puts Down Roots

Kilbourne and seven workers began clearing the land in May, 1803. In August, the Scioto Company voted to name the fledgling village after Thomas Worthington, and one month later, the first families began to arrive. The town itself encompassed 8000 acres surveyed into 160 acre town lots for homes and businesses, surrounded by farm lots - New England style. Two parcels were set aside for a church and a school, along with five acres designated for a public green in the town center.

Worthington soon began to flourish, although it grew slowly at first. In 1804 it established Ohio's first Episcopalian congregation, with James Kilbourne as its minister, along with a Masonic lodge. A post office followed in 1805, along with an Academy in 1808 and a newspaper and manufacturing company in 1811.

In 1812 the Ohio legislature established Columbus as the new state capital. As a result, both Columbus and Worthington grew exponentially. By 1830, 910 people were living in Sharon Township according to that year's census. Five years later, the Ohio legislature incorporated Worthington as a village with an elected village council and mayor. For the remainder of the 19th century, Worthington's population remained stable, and the village served as the market center for surrounding farms.

Worthington: A Hub of Anti-Slavery Activity

True to its New England roots, Worthington was strongly anti-slavery. Historians believe the earliest African-Americans living in Worthington traveled from Chillicothe, where they were freed from former slave owners who moved to Ohio from Virginia. The earliest evidence of freed slaves living in Worthington is a receipt for payment, dated 1807, by Amos Maxfield to "Black Daniel" for work in his brickyard.

The 1830 census enumerated 300 African Americans in Franklin county, including two families and several individuals in Sharon Township. While African-Americans in Ohio at that time were not afforded any political rights, the census is one piece of evidence they felt reasonably secure in the community. Worthingtonians actively fought against slavery, and on March 28, 1835, sixty men and women signed the constitution to organize the "Anti-Slavery Society of Worthington." The society included Ansel Mattoon and Ozem Gardner, both referred to in oral tradition as "conductors" for the Underground Railroad.

There was nothing particularly "underground" about the Underground Railroad in Worthington - most runaway slaves were assisted quite openly. Worthington lay on the route from Kentucky to Canada and there is little doubt that runaway slaves were assisted en route. Two of what are believed to be original safe houses remain: the Mattoon residence at 72 E. North Street and the Gardner home at 8221 Flint Rd.

20th Century Worthington

Worthington evolved into a suburb of Columbus when an electric street railway connecting the two was built in 1893. The cars ran every half hour, making it possible to live in Worthington and work and shop in the city. Worthington obtained telephone service in 1899, a public water system in 1913, permission for private homes to tap the interurban electric lines in 1917, and free mail delivery in 1929. By the end of World War II, the population of Worthington had grown to 1,569. By 1950, its population had expanded to 2,128.

Worthington experienced unprecedented growth between 1950 and 1970, the year in which the town's population reached 15,326. Those two decades saw annexations, new subdivisions, and new schools built on a near-annual basis. Worthington's growth began to stabilize after the completion of Interstate 270 in 1975, and has remained stable since.

Worthington Today

The city of Worthington remains a stable and affluent community with an exceptionally well-educated populace. Having retained its New England charm, it boasts an historic downtown shopping center, historical attractions, a top-ranked public school system, the Ohio Railway Museum, and several large recreational areas. Visitors to the area can stay at the landmark Worthington Inn, which was restored to its former elegance in the 1980's.

Family-friendly and community oriented, Worthington is home to a nationally recognized library system, an expanded community center, numerous churches and religious congregations and safe neighborhoods with tree-lined streets. Its arts community includes several theater, choral, and visual arts groups, and the Worthington Art Festival is ranked as one of the top 200 arts festivals in the country.