Oakville

History

Oakville, originally known as "Pleasant Hill," was laid out by John Holsinger in December 1873. The town was renamed Oakville around 1880 to avoid confusion with Pleasant Mills in Adams County. The development of Oakville was closely tied to the arrival of the Lake Erie and Western railroad in 1872. By 1880, Oakville had a store, a post office, and a growing community centered around the railway station. The original Pleasant Hill post office opened in 1876, the Oakville Post Office opened in 1880, and the town's first school was constructed in the early 1890s. This school, a three-room brick building, accommodated grades 1 through 8. As Oakville's population grew, the town saw the establishment of various businesses, including a grain elevator in 1898, a drainage tile operation, and the Neff Washing Machine Company. Despite the town's early growth, the grain elevator was destroyed by fire in 1912 but was rebuilt, only to face another fire in 1939. The Farmers State Bank, founded in 1915, experienced a robbery in 1921. Other notable businesses included a stockyard (closed in 1927), a Ford dealership, and a tractor supply store. In addition to its economic development, Oakville became known for its cultural contributions. The Oakville Band, formed in 1906, performed at community events such as parades, ice cream socials, and county fairs. The band was a key part of the town's social life until its disbandment around 1911 or 1912. Loren B. Garrett, a former band member, distributed a short history of the band in 1945, recalling the band's impact on the town's communal identity. Religiously motivated efforts to enforce strict Sunday laws also marked the early 20th century in Oakville. In one instance, local churchgoers pushed for the prosecution of individuals like…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,951
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,674
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,385
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  4,045
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,015
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,515
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,285
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,211

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2010-12-30
  6 km SE of Greentown, Indiana
• M 2.8 — 2008-09-30
  5 km SW of Kettlersville, Ohio
• M 3.8 — 2004-09-12
  4 km NW of Manilla, Indiana
• M 2.5 — 2004-01-30
  2 km S of Rockford, Ohio