Did you know Allen Township was established in 1827 having 19,015 acres within its borders equaling 29.7109 square miles within the township. It was the eighth township divided in the county from Liberty and Union Townships. The earliest survey within the area was made in 1797. The earliest recorded survey for 740 acres was made in June 6, 1813 known as survey No. 102 for Henry Whiting. That survey is along the Southern border towards North Lewisburg
Did you know that Allen Township had four Post Offices, Allen Center, Buck Run, Pottersburg, Coberlys.
Allen Center established in 1856 and discontinued in 1863
Buckrun established in 1829 and discontinued in 1834
Coberlys established in 1837 and discontinued in 1863
Pottersburg(h) established 1872 and discontinued its operations in 1936
November, 1882, there were twenty-one post offices in Union County, as follows: Boke’s Creek (at the village of Summersville), Broadway, Byhalia, Claibourne, Irwin, Jerome (at the village of Frankfort), Magnetic Springs, Marysville, Milford Center, New California, New Dover, Peoria, Pharisburg, Pottersburg, Raymond’s (at the village of Newton), Richwood, Rush Creek (at the village of Essex), Unionville Center, Watkins, “Woodland, York.
Did you know Allen Township was the site of a gold mine? Back in 1904 Edward Lucas was digging a well on his property and found shiny fragments in the sand he was digging out of the hole. Later confirmed to be gold, a company came in to begin mining the location but found nothing more. The exact location of the well is unknown but the property was South of Pottersburg along side of the old Erie Railroad.
Did you know that Allen Township area was once referred to as “Flat Woods”? The township was covered with a dense growth of timber and low areas of swamp, the reason for its nick name. Allen Township had at least 3 sawmills clearing the area of its timber and leaving a thick growth of brush behind.
Did you know that the township form of government was brought to America by the pilgram fathers in 1620? In Ohio the township predates our state government. In 1804 the elected officials consisted of three trustees, a clerk, two overseers of the poor, highway supervisors, justice of the peace, and constables. Later added were the treasurer and assessor. Fence viewers, also was a position noted in the township. Today, like in 1804, the township is a political subdivision of the state. Functions and duties have changed over the time. Elected officials such as, the three trustees and the fiscal officer, fill their roles on a “part time” basis, however these members can offer a more personal service to the public than any other unit of government as they are within the community they serve and have open monthly meetings that area residents can attend. Unlike 1804 when the township was responsible for caring for the poor, watching for animals escaping fences, and preserving the peace, the township can be responsible for fire protection, parks and recreation, zoning, cemeteries, waste disposal, maintaining roads and more today.
Did you know that Pottersburg had a semi-pro baseball team? Organized sometime in the 1920s, Pottersburg was a very successful team wining the majority of its seasons games. B. W. Cline from near Pottersburg managed the team for years. The teams home field was near where the Honda filling station today is located.
Did you know that owners of lands and lots along county roads that required improvements were assessed for the estimated expense of that improvement based on the amount of road frontage their properties had along those roads. The 51 owners of lands and lots had to pay anywhere from $1 to $550 in August of 1876 for the improvement of Milford -Allen Center Road (now Maple Ridge and Allen Center Road). The total was just over $6000 collected for the road improvement. Notices were published in the newspaper your portion of the assessments. Today those monies are indirectly assessed and collected.
Did you know that the Baptist church in Allen Center once was located 1/4 mile West from its present location. It has been at it’s current location since 1851 and has been in existence since 1848 when services were held in a log cabin.
Did you know that Bear Swamp road South of Northwest Parkway (old 33) was called “Herd Road” in 1880 and North of old 33 was called “Peoria & Allen Center Gravel” road on the county Plat maps. Holycross Epps road North of Allen Center road was called the “Extension” as at the time in 1880 it was still not a developed road only dirt. Many roads at the time in the Township and County were not formally named at the time like we know them today.
Did you know that Allen Township was home to three other “towns” besides Allen Center and Pottersburg? Once included in the township was Buckrun, Coberly’s, and Stringtown. Buckrun was near the site of the cemetery on S.R. 245, Coberly’s once stood at the cross roads of Inskeep Cratty and North Lewisburg Road near the covered bridge and Stringtown at the end of S.R. 739 near where the Homda Credit union now is. Look on our history page “Ghost towns” for more information on these towns.
Did you know that in 1880 Allen Township had 1333 residents? Compared to the 2010 census, it reported 2,263 residents in the township. Almost 1000+ more have moved into the township in the last 130 years. The mid to late 1800’s the township was a popular location with Allen Center and Pottersburg communities. But after 1900 population fell into the 700’s when those communities began to fade away. Honda and it’s supplier base and overall growth in Union County has added to the township resident count in the last 40 years.
Did you know that the school colors for Allen Center were green and white? School colors are chosen to help identify themselves and promote morale and school spirit. Most select two colors to avoid conflicts with other schools when they compete in sporting events. Why green and white for Allen Center? That reason may have been lost to time but we are fortunate to still have a few Allen Center students with us that remember those colors.
Did you know that the High School program in Allen Center was discontinued in 1948? The State Department of Education requested that the high school be discontinued due to having a very small enrollment. The County Superintendent made the decision after county residents filed petitions for the division. High School students were divided among four schools, North Lewisburg, Raymond, Union (Milford Ctr), and Allen Center, dropping attendance from 130 to 53 students. Limited programs and building accommodations also were reason for the decision.
Did you know that Pottersburg was home to Allen Townships Grange Meetings? Grange# 1827 held meetings in Pottersburg with L.W Shaw as Worthy Master, Blaine Evans as overseer, E.L Boner as treasurer. Although no building or location has been noted many of the meetings were said to be held in Churches, stores or members homes. The Grange was more than an Agricultural organization. The Grange, although different things to different people, was and still is dedicated to improving the economic well-being and quality of life of the American Agriculture producer and his urban neighbors. Started soon after the Civil War it lost most of the interest of the rural communities in the 1880s but made a comeback in the early 1900s. The Grange is still active in many rural communities across the United States and played a significant role in the social, educational, and material advancement in farming along with legislative influences in local, state and the national government.
Did you know the township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1? Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer, who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officeholder or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.
Did you know that Allen Township was the 5th township to be formed in the county? June, 5 1827 it was formed out of Union and Liberty Townships having a population of 741 in 1830. Union County has 14 townships.
Did you know that Pottersburg once had over 100 residents at one point? In 1877 it was reported that it had a Sawmill, 2 General stores, a Post Office, Blacksmith, Telegraph Office, Field Tile Factory, School, Church and a Train Depot. The first residents home was built in 1868 before the town was even surveyed in 1869. Originally consisting of 24 lots, one main street 66ft wide, and 4 cross streets, Front, William, Bennett and Carter, with alley ways on each end. In 1872 an additional 14 lots were added along with Railroad Street along the Great Atlantic Great Western Railway that passed along Pottersburg. In money troubles most of its existence, the Great Western, along with many railways went out of business in the 1970s. Little towns like Pottersburg that relied on the railroads to keep them alive, soon faded away.
Did you know that in Allen Township once had 2 Grist (grain) mills and 2 Sawmills? The Beltz Grist mill was located near the Champaign County line near the Big Darby near now Inskeep Cratty Road. The Wetzel Mill was both a Grist and Sawmill in the extreme Southern part of the Township on the Big Darby just along now S.R 245, the Finley Sawmill (steam powered) on the South side of the Milford-Allen Center Pike (Maple Ridge Road) near Collins Road, and the Pottersburg Sawmill (steam powered) near the railroad. These mills played a huge role in the development of the township with the production of grain and wood supplies.
Did you know that Allen Center once had a Post Office, Cabinet Maker, Blacksmith, Ashery (converts hardwood ashes into lye, potash, or pearlash used in production of glass and or soap), a General Store, a School and a Church? Established in 1848 Allen Center had run out of desire to be a town by 1877 with only a few houses and the church that remain. Today it still is a notable place on the map with our Fire Department, Community Building, walking trail / park, Road Maintenance operations, a church and residents houses.
Did you know that the Township Trustee meetings have been held on the first Monday of the month since 1827? The time of the day has varied from 8am to 7pm and some meetings have moved to a different day due to holidays and special events, but Monday has been the standard for almost 200 years. Currently the Township Trustee meetings are at 7pm on the first Monday of the month unless it falls on a holiday.
Did you know that Allen Township was named after Daniel Allen, one of its first settlers? Allen was selected as the name in honor of Daniel after his death in 1836 from a falling load of oats that broke his neck. He was one of the first 13 voters in the township and one of its first trustees.
Did you know that Allen Township has had 82 different Trustees since the township was formed in 1827? Daniel Allen, Henry Vangordon, Nimrod Garwood were the first trustees. Daniel and Henry went on to serve three different terms. Vangordon was named as one of the first settlers in Allen Township in 1820.
Did you know that Township Government pre-dates Ohio Government? In 1827 when Allen Township was formed, it had a Constable, Justice of the Peace. By 1831 it had Fence Viewers (making sure fences were in order so livestock didn’t wander) Property Assessors, and later Board of Health, and Social Workers. All of these were under control of the Township.
Did you know that MedFlight is not affiliated with Allen Township? MedFlight is a not-for-profit, CAMTS accredited air and ground critical care transportation company based in Columbus. Allen Township owns the property and rents it to MedFlight.
Did you know that TPP Tax (Tangible Personal Property Tax) accounted for 67% of Allen Townships tax base revenue before 2005? TPP tax is an industry based tax on equipment and property businesses use. The state felt it was an unfair tax that prevented businesses from locating in the state and decided to phase out the tax. The majority of Ohio’s townships have stopped receiving this tax in 2015. The Township Trustees and our Fire Chief have met with the Ohio Township Association and legislative officials, because of this, for now, Allen Township continues to receive the tax reimbursements due to our heavy industrial base. Currently in 2021 we have a 58% reliance on TPP tax. This is one of the Ohio Legislative Priorities for the General Assembly for 2021-2022.
