Circleville - Historical

Below are historical photos of the Circleville, Ohio located in Pickaway County. Circleville was established as the seat of Pickaway County in 1810. Its name derives from the circular portion of a large Hopewell mound that it was built on. The earthwork was described in 1772 as having a 1,100 foot diameter circle connected to a 900 foot square. The town's plans integrated the mound into the platting of the land, hence the down was laid out in a circle. In the middle of town stood an octagon courthouse. In the mid-1830s, many were unsatisfied with the unique layout of Circleville and the town was converted to the traditional grid system. In 1903, Circleville began to host an annual Pumpkin Show that draws thousands of visitors today. Circleville's claim to fame is a man named Ted Lewis. He was a performer who was known for his top hat, cane, and clarinet. Lewis was born and raised in Circleville, there's even a museum dedicated to him. The "Father of Ohio's Public School System", Caleb Atwater, also lived in Circleville for many years. The photos below are from a variety of times in the Pumpkin Town.

Photographs