From The Ohio Gazetteer, and Travelers's Guide --1837--
First Revised Edition by Warren Jenkins
Pub by Isaac N. Whiting Colulmbus
(Capitalization & punctuation as in original text)
In 1840 Portage County was divided into the present Summit and Portage Counties.
SUMMIT COUNTY (Portage County)
CUYAHOGA FALLS
CUYAHOGA FALLS, a village and post town of Portage county, containing about 1200 inhabitants. It was incorporated in 1836, and is increasing rapidly in population, business, and wealth. Here are the great falls of the the Cuyahoga, affording 4000 feet of water per minute, with a fall of about 240 feet. This is all available for hydraulic purposes, and a considerable portion is now occupied with machinery of various kinds. The whole furnishes an amount of water power believed to be unequalled in extent and importance in the west. The location of the town is one of peculiar salubrity and beauty. The health of the inhabitants, which it is supposed may be attributed to permanent causes, has been allmost unparalelled, (there having been but 19 deaths in 6 years from all causes.) The business and manufactures of the town are now extensive and important; and few towns in the west are rising more rapidly into importance. The Pennsylvania and Ohio canal passes through the town on the bank of the river; and the Ohio canal is but about 2 miles west. They form a junction about 4 miles distant, at the town of Akron. In the vicinity there is an abundance of coal, and of stone, and other materials for building. Here are two houses for public worship, a well endowed lyceum, a female seminary, and common schools. Temperance prevails universally among the inhabitants; and no ardent spirits are sold in the town. Manufactures are here carriedon to a considerable extent; and on the completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, now in progress, it is supposed they will be greatly extended. Some idea may be formed of the business of the place by the fact that the gross receipts of the post office here amount to abount 1000 dollars per annum.
There have been erected here within the last two years about 200 buildings and with its numerous advantages it must continue to advance in a rapid ratio. In this vicinity is found an abundance of the best of mineral coal; the only location of this article yet discovered on the waters of lake Erie, and which is now extensively mined and sent to the various ports on the lake and the New York canal. Also, an abundance of brown and yellow freestone of fine quality for building, lime, water lime, &c. &c. Distance from the Ohio canal, three miles, Cleveland thirty one, Columbus 129, Washington 332.
STOW STOW, apost township, (post office same name,) in Portage county, about 128 miles northeast of Columbus. Cuyahoga river runs across its southern borders from east to west, on which are erected several mills, and among others an oil mill. The land is generally timbered with oak.-- Population, 800 at the census of 1830. The township returns 14,783 acres on the tax list, assessed at 96,471 dollars.
NILES Niles, a post town and post office in Northampton township, Portage county, 20 miles from Ravenna