A Brief History of Tipp City, Ohio
Located 15 miles north of Dayton just off I-75 in the heartland of America, Tipp City is one of the premier dining and shopping destinations in Ohio. Recently voted one of the Five Best Hometowns in Ohio, Tipp City exudes Midwestern friendliness and small-town charm. Our historic downtown shopping district combines a love of historical accuracy with the latest in shopping and dining experiences.
Tippecanoe City was founded in 1840 along the developing Miami and Erie Canal. Its name derives from Presidential candidate William Henry Harrison's nickname, Tippecanoe, which, in turn, was derived from his heroism at the Battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811. The early city was a popular stopping-off point for boatmen traveling along the Miami and Erie Canal. The original downtown purportedly included a large number of bars and a red light district. The now dry canal locks can be seen just east of downtown. As Tippecanoe City grew, it merged with Hyattsville, a contiguous village, located on present-day Hyatt Street.
Development of the railroads in the 1850's and 1860's put the canals out of business and slowed the city's initially rapid growth. Ruins of a repair shop (yard barn) for the old Inter-Urban rail system can still be seen on the outskirts of town. The development of U.S. Route 25 (County Road 25-A) and subsequently Interstate 75 brought construction and vibrancy back to the town throughout the 20th century. (Wikipedia)
Why is it called "Tipp City?"
In the 1930's, confusion developed between Tippecanoe City and another small town located in norther Ohio called Tippecanoe. Mail was sometimes delivered to the wrong town, so in 1938, the U.S. Postal Service abbreviated "Tippecanoe City" to "Tipp City" to resolve the issue. Local proponents of a name change back to the original "Tippecanoe City" have long been gathering signatures for a proposed petition to revert to the original name.
Here are some historical photos of Tipp City, Ohio, and the surrounding area.
