Delaware County was created in 1808 and named for the Delaware, or Lenape, people. Its county seat is the city of Delaware, set along the Olentangy River.
Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States, was born in Delaware in 1822. Ohio Wesleyan University was founded there in 1842 and still anchors the historic downtown.
Since 1946 the Delaware County Fair has hosted the Little Brown Jug, one of the most famous races in harness racing. In recent decades the county has become one of the fastest growing in Ohio, with new neighborhoods mixing with farmland and parks.
Places to Explore
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Olentangy Indian Caverns, Alum Creek State Park, Delaware State Park, and historic downtown Delaware.
Did You Know?
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is actually located in Delaware County, just north of the Franklin County line.
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