Poland

History

In 1796, Poland Township was surveyed and registered as township 1, range 1 of the Connecticut Western Reserve of the Connecticut Land Company. Turhand Kirtland was a member of a group of surveyors led by Moses Cleaveland, and is considered to have founded the community of Poland in 1798. The earliest settlers primarily originated from Connecticut and Pennsylvania. An early grist mill was built on the Yellow Creek in 1802 by Jonathan Fowler, whose family was the first to settle in the village. Poland was named in honor of the country of Poland for its assistance during the American Revolutionary War, either due to a specific Polish hero or due to general gratitude towards the nation. An alternative legend from 1905 stated that the town instead takes its name from its original proprietor named George Poland. Poland was incorporated as a village in 1866. Poland Seminary was originally a private secondary school, Poland Academy, and then a liberal arts college founded in 1849. Its main building has been incorporated into Poland Middle School on College Street. Its dormitory is incorporated into the Poland Public Library on Main Street. Former distinguished faculty include the journalist Ida Tarbell; graduates include William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has an area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,240
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,226
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  5,715
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  5,670
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  5,652
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  5,348
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,964
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,940

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2026-03-05
  3 km SW of Madison, Ohio
• M 2.7 — 2026-01-06
  4 km ENE of North Madison, Ohio
• M 2.5 — 2025-05-12
  4 km ESE of Madison, Ohio
• M 2.5 — 2024-09-11
  4 km WNW of Claysville, Pennsylvania
• M 2.6 — 2024-06-01
  1 km E of Madison, Ohio
• M 3 — 2024-03-30
  2 km SSW of Maple Ridge, Ohio