Portage County was created in 1808 and named for the Native American portage path that linked the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers. Its county seat is Ravenna.
Early settlers came from New England as part of the Western Reserve. Canals and railroads later connected the county to growing industrial cities. Hiram College was founded in 1850, and future president James A. Garfield served as its principal.
Kent State University opened in 1910. On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guard soldiers fired on students during a campus protest, killing four and wounding nine. The site is now a National Historic Landmark with a visitors center that preserves the history of that day.
Places to Explore
The May 4 Visitors Center at Kent State, Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park, West Branch State Park, and downtown Kent.
Did You Know?
When Garfield led the school in Hiram, it was known as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute.
Save this history pin on PinGallery and explore more stories about the communities, landmarks, and people of Ohio.