Eaton

History

Eaton was founded and platted in 1806 by William Bruce. The village derives its name from William Eaton, the U.S. Consul General to Tunis from 1797–1803 and commander of U.S. military forces in First Barbary War. In addition to the city of Eaton and the county of Preble, various streets in Eaton (including Barron, Decatur, Israel, Wadsworth, and Somers) were named in honor of heroes of the First Barbary War and Second Barbary War. The town grew quickly following its establishment. In 1846, the town first had 1000 inhabitants. This growth was primarily derived from the town's location at the strategic junction of two turnpikes. In 1849, Eaton was the site of a cholera outbreak. About half of the inhabitants fled; of the remaining 600 people, 120 died.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The city includes Crystal Lake and Seven Mile Creek. Parks include: Fort St. Clair, Water Works Park, 7-Mile Park, and Clarence Hook Memorial Park.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,681
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  3,003
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,672
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  2,639
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,605
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  2,340
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,334
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,291

Most recent

• 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
• M 3.8 — 2004-09-12
  4 km NW of Manilla, Indiana