SUMMIT COUNTY, OH HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
History of Summit County Ohio by William B. Doyle, (1881) – 1144 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.06.01.0011.CD.AR
History of Summit County, With an Outline Sketch of Ohio by William Henry Perrin, (1881) – 1100 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.08.22.2050.AR
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative Citizens Volume 1 by William B. Doyle, (1908) – 1016 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.10.08.1136.AR
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative Citizens Volume 2 by L. F. Doyle, (1876) – 1018 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.10.08.1200.AR
Summit County, Ohio: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the industrial heartland of northeastern Ohio, Summit County’s history is a story of transportation, innovation, and immense industrial growth. Its identity was forged by three distinct eras: its settlement as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, its commercial birth as the high point of the Ohio & Erie Canal, and its global fame as the 20th-century “Rubber Capital of the World.” For genealogists, the county’s records reflect waves of migration, from New England pioneers to European and Appalachian factory workers, creating a diverse and deeply American family tapestry centered around the city of Akron.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Summit County was created relatively late from sections of three established counties. Identifying an ancestor’s specific township is crucial for pre-1840 research.
- 1840: County Formed: Summit County was officially established on March 3, 1840.
- Parent Counties: It was formed from portions of three surrounding counties, making pre-1840 research complex. The new county took land from:
- The southern part of Medina County
- The western part of Portage County
- The northern part of Stark CountyGenealogical research for individuals living in the area prior to 1840 must begin by determining the township of residence to identify which of these three parent counties holds the relevant records.
- Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained stable since its creation.
- Name Origin: The county was named for the fact that it contained the highest elevation—the “summit”—along the entire 308-mile length of the Ohio and Erie Canal. This summit is located in Akron.
- County Seat History: The city of Akron, which already owed its existence and early growth to the canal, was designated the county seat upon the county’s formation in 1840 and has remained so ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The region was traditional territory for several Native American cultures. By the time of American settlement, it was used as hunting grounds by the Ottawa, Wyandot, and other tribes of the Ohio Country.
- The Connecticut Western Reserve: The county lies entirely within the historical boundaries of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The first permanent American settlers, primarily from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other New England states, began arriving in the first decade of the 19th century. They established organized townships centered on public squares, such as Hudson (founded 1799) and Tallmadge.
- Key Historical Events:
- The Ohio & Erie Canal: The arrival of the canal in the late 1820s was the single most important event in the county’s development. The city of Akron was founded in 1825 precisely to serve the canal. The series of locks required to lift boats to the summit created a bustling center of commerce and attracted a large number of laborers, including many Irish immigrants.
- The Rubber Industry: In 1870, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich moved his small rubber company to Akron, sparking an industrial revolution. Over the next few decades, major tire and rubber companies—including Goodyear, Firestone, and General Tire—were founded in the city, earning Akron the title “Rubber Capital of the World.” This industrial boom fueled a massive population increase, drawing tens of thousands of workers from Appalachia (West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee), Southern states, and Eastern Europe.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
Records for Summit County are primarily located in Akron, but understanding Ohio’s specific record-keeping system is key.
- County Courthouse and Offices: The main county government offices are in Akron.
- Summit County Probate Court: This is a primary destination for genealogists. In Ohio, the Probate Court holds marriage records (from 1840), wills, estate administrations, and guardianship records. It also holds some early birth and death records from 1867 to 1908.
- Summit County Fiscal Office, Recorder Division: This office holds all land records, including deeds and mortgages, from 1840.
- Clerk of Courts: Maintains civil and criminal court dockets and records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Ohio began on December 20, 1908. Records after this date are held by the Ohio Department of Health. For the period between 1867 and 1908, some (often incomplete) registers of births and deaths are held by the Summit County Probate Court.
- Marriage Records: Held by the Summit County Probate Court for the entire history of the county, from 1840 to the present.
- Libraries and Societies:
- Akron-Summit County Public Library: The Main Library’s Special Collections Division is the premier center for local history and genealogy research in the county. It has an extensive collection of newspapers on microfilm, city directories, maps, photographs, local histories, and manuscript collections.
- Summit County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society: An active society that publishes newsletters, maintains local research materials, and provides assistance to family historians.
- Western Reserve Historical Society: Located in nearby Cleveland, this is a major regional archive for materials related to the entire Connecticut Western Reserve, including early Summit County families.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Cuyahoga County (north)
- Geauga County (northeast)
- Portage County (east)
- Stark County (south)
- Wayne County (southwest)
- Medina County (west)