Centerville

History

Following the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, which opened the Northwest Territory to settlement, Centerville was first surveyed in February 1796 by Aaron Nutt, Benjamin Archer, and Benjamin Robbins, three brothers-in-law who traveled from New Jersey through Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Their survey of land owned by John Cleves Symmes occurred two months prior to the establishment of Dayton. They each claimed land near the intersection of Main and Franklin Streets. Robbins and two of his brothers chose land in Centerville, with Robbins selecting 160 acres northwest of the town center due to the abundance of springs. Benjamin Robbins named the settlement after his hometown of Centreville, New Jersey, citing its location between two rivers and its proximity to several other communities. In 1796, Dr. John Hole, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War who served under General Richard Montgomery, arrived in the region. He was the first physician in the area and is credited with naming Montgomery County in honor of the general. Dr. Hole settled northwest of present-day Centerville, in the area that would become Washington Township, where he built a cabin for his family near Holes Creek. On April 6, 1797, Benjamin Robbins and his family arrived in Centerville from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, after constructing a wagon road over ten days. Robbins built a log cabin for his family, which was later damaged by a storm. His son, Sam Robbins, would later become the first mayor of Centerville. Centerville was officially recognized by the state in 1803, platted in 1805, and incorporated as a town in 1830. As more families settled in the area, they cleared land to build homes and establish farms. Early settlers initially constructed log houses, which were later replaced by stone…

Geography

Although the city is located primarily in Montgomery County, a small portion is located in Greene County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Centerville has a humid continental climate (Dfa). Summers are typically hot and humid, while winters are cold and dry. Due to its location in the Midwestern United States, Centerville is susceptible to severe weather events, including tornadoes from spring to fall. Floods, blizzards, and severe thunderstorms also occur.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  17,820
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  16,596
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  12,790
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,068
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,917
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,338
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  11,225
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  10,165

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-02-22
  2 km NE of Hillsboro, Ohio
• M 2.9 — 2023-12-09
  5 km W of Jackson Center, Ohio
• M 2.8 — 2008-09-30
  5 km SW of Kettlersville, Ohio