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NWPR’s origin roots began as a news wire service in June 1990, primarily in service to the Art-to-Art Palette Journal with reading content focusing on the Arts, Education and Humanities within Eastern Indiana and Western Ohio.
In January 2010, NWPR not only expanded its home roots along Ohio US 127 and Indiana US 27, but also began publishing its content in a newspaper format reporting on all subject areas.
If you are travelling, the following is some brief information about the counties in NWPR’s roots.
NWPRÂ LOCAL EASTERN INDIANA
DID YOU KNOW? Steuben County, Indiana has over 101 natural lakes that are used year round. Pokagon State Park has the only toboggan slide in the state. Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve features a 400-acre buffalo preserve filled with approximately 250 bison. More at: http://www.co.steuben.in.us
DID YOU KNOW? LaGrange County, Indiana is home to the third largest Amish community in the country. Bikes and buggies adorn the country side. While picture taking is allowed, it is considered a religious taboo to take a snap shot of faces. Shipshewana hosts the largest flea market in the Midwest with almost 900 booths. More at: https://www.lagrangecounty.org/
DID YOU KNOW? Dekalb County, Indiana is home to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival & Auction is an international event over Labor Day. 2018 attracted bidders from 14 countries and 45 states. Tours and taste testing of Sechler’s Pickle Factory near St. Joe has been recognized by Food Network. More at: https://www.co.dekalb.in.us/
 DID YOU KNOW? Noble County, Indiana has the Mid-America Windmill museum that displays 52 windmills of yesterday. All models were built at Kendallville’s Flint & Walling Company. Famous author, Gene Stratton-Porter built a home on Sylvan Lake just outside of Rome City which is a State Historic Site. Albion features Black Pine Animal Sanctuary where exotic animals are able to retire with dignity. More at: https://visitindiana.com/local-contact-info/40791-noble-county-convention-and-visitors-bureau
DID YOU KNOW? Allen County, Indiana has one of the top zoos in the nation. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo in Fort Wayne holds over 1,000 animals from across the globe. Fort Wayne is also home to Vera Bradley, an icon of designer bags and luggage. The Old Fort that decided the War of 1812 still stands strong with regular enactments of history. More at: http://www.allencounty.us/visitors.
DID YOUR KNOW? Whitley County, Indiana has a 3-story French Renaissance style courthouse. Built in 1888, all of the original limestone, galvanized central dome and slate roof are still intact. Thomas R. Marshall, former Indiana Governor and former US Vice President also had a home in Columbia City. Today it serves as the Whitley County Historical Museum, Whitley County was founded in 1835 by an entire New England Colony. More at: https://visitindiana.com/search?#stq=columbia+city&stp=1
DID YOU KNOW? Adams County, Indiana features the largest outdoor museum in northern Indiana. Swiss Heritage Village & Museum is located in Berne and provides education on Swiss settlers to the area. One quarter of the county’s population is Swiss Amish. More at: http://www.co.adams.in.us/35/Visiting
DID YOU KNOW? Wells County, Indiana was named after Captain William A. Wells. He was raised by Little Turtle of the Miami Indiana tribe and considered a brave warrior. Killed by the Potawatomi during the war of 1812, the tribe ate his heart in hopes of gaining his strength. There are more unincorporated towns in Wells County (25) than incorporated towns (7). More at: https://kids.kiddle.co/Wells_County,_Indiana.
DID YOU KNOW? Jay County, Indiana has an unincorporated town named Center because it sits in the center of the county. Pennville was active in the Underground Railroad with a marker erected where Eliza Harris of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, once stayed. Portland hosts the largest gas engine and tractor show in the world. More at: http://visitjaycounty.com
DID YOU KNOW? Randolph County, Indiana is home to the state pie, Wick’s Sugar Cream. The Colts also adopted this dessert as their official pie. Winchester Speedway has the fastest ½ mile track in the world. “The Kite Man†Ansel Tony is from Farmland where he spent 50 years making kites. More at: http://www.roamrandolph.org/?utm_source=Visit+Indiana&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=VisitIndiana.com+Premium+Online+Listing&utm_content=40785.
DID YOU KNOW? Wayne County, Indiana used to make cars and aircraft. Two Egyptian mummies were found buried in Wayne County. One is on display at the Wayne County History Museum. Arts & Crafts style pottery made by the Overbeck Sisters during the early 20th century can be found in Cambridge City, their home town. More at: https://visitindiana.com/blog/index.php/2017/03/29/wayne-county-treasure-trove-art-history-culture
DID YOU KNOW? Union County, Indiana is one of the smallest counties in the state. Little Orphan Annie, or Mary Alice Smith, of Liberty, inspired James Whitcomb Riley to write a poem about her life. The Brownsville Covered Bridge was moved to Bartholomew County. More at: http://ucplibrary.org/union-county
NWPR REGIONAL EASTERN INDIANA
DID YOU KNOW? Huntington County, Indiana holds one of the top ten largest lakes in the state, the Salamonie. It is also home to two EE award winning wineries. Dan Quayle, former Vice President of the United States is a resident of Huntington County and the Quayle Vice Presidential Learning Center is the only Vice Presidential Museum in the nation. More at: https://visitindiana.com/local-contact-info/40947-huntington-county-visitor-and-convention-bureau
DID YOU KNOW? Grant County, Indiana is home to legendary James Dean. Garfield creator, Jim Davis, grew up in Swayzee. You can find displays of Garfield all around the county in remembrance of Davis. Julia Roberts married singer Lyle Lovett at St. James Lutheran Church in Marion in 1993. More at: https://visitindiana.com/trip-ideas/10048-grant-county
DID YOU KNOW? Blackford County, Indiana has a rich history of glass making in Dunkirk. For over 100 years Indiana Glass Company made pressed, blown and hand-molded glassware and tableware. A natural gas boom in the mid 19th century brought industries to the area. However, when the boom ended in 1906, so did the businesses. Blackford County is named after Judge Issac Blackford, long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. More at: https://kids.kiddle.co/Blackford_County,_Indiana
DID YOU KNOW? Delaware County, Indiana is where Ball State University is located in Muncie. They are known as the 2nd best teacher’s college in the nation. Muncie is recognized as “Middletown USA†where socioligical studies are conducted on a typical American city. More at: https://visitindiana.com/local-contact-info/41041-muncie-delaware-county-visitors-bureau
DID YOU KNOW? Henry County, Indiana is where you will find the largest high school gymnasium in the world. It is located at the New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is located near New Castle Chrysler High School. A native American mound which has depressions that align to sunrise/sunset during the equinoxes is marked in Henry County. It is believed to be 2000 years old. More at: https://kids.kiddle.co/New_Castle,_Indiana
DID YOU KNOW? Rush County, Indiana was named after Dr. Benjamin Rush who signed the Declaration of Independence. They have many covered bridges that include Smith Bridge, Offutt Covered Bridge and Moscow Covered Bridge. Moscow Bridge is 334 feet long and is the 3rd longest covered bridge in the state. More at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Rush_County,_Indiana
DID YOU KNOW? Fayette County, Indiana has steadily lost population since 1980 as the automotive industry looked for more sustainable transportation. There are no airports, major highways or rail service that runs through the county. Connersville is the only incorporated town in the county. More at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette_County,_Indiana
DID YOU KNOW? Franklin County, Indiana was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. He loved this county with its rolling hills, Whitewater River and arrow heads that showed up along the shores. Stone structures and high mounds that are centuries old dot the landscape. The German-American Hall of Fame in New York honored the quaint town of Oldenburg as the 9th greatest destination for German Heritage in American Towns. More at: https://visitindiana.com/search?#stq=Franklin+County&stp=1
DID YOU KNOW? Decatur County, Indiana has a large Aspen tree growing through the roof of the county seat’s courthouse that refuses to die. After removing it 10 times, and watching a new sprout take its place each time, it was decided to let it live. Westport Covered Bridge is the only bridge that was constructed in Decatur County. It is illuminated, inside and out, on the first weekend of each month. More at: https://visitgreensburg.com/activities/
DID YOU KNOW? Jennings County, Indiana was named after the first governor of the state, Jonathan Jennings. The Muscatatuck Training Center is located near North Vernon. This is a training ground for homeland security personnel. There are only 2 incorporated cities in Jennings County. More at:Â https://kids.kiddle.co/Jennings_County,_Indiana
DID YOU KNOW? Ripley County, Indiana inspired the movie, “Hoosiers.†The town was Milan where the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum is located today. Indiana’s oldest festival, the Versailles Pumpkin Show is held each fall since 1899. There are 2 covered bridges in Ripley County, Busching Covered Bridge and Otter Creek Bridge. More at: https://ripleycountytourism.com/
DID YOU KNOW? Dearborn County, Indiana borders both Ohio and Kentucky. It is part of the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, the 27th largest metropolitan area in the United States. The Hillforest Mansion, or Thomas Gaff House, built in 1855, is located in Aurora and considered a landmark of beauty of the Italian Renaissance era. More at: https://www.dearborncounty.org/
DID YOU KNOW? Ohio County, Indiana has a unique model train display at Heritage Hall in Rising Sun. The entire replica of real steam engines is designed and operated by The Conductors of Southeastern Indiana. ‘Hoosier Boy’ the renown hydroplane of 1924, traveled 267 miles down the Ohio River River in 267 minutes and 49 seconds, setting a record in this day. More at: https://visitindiana.com/blog/index.php/2015/12/28/trains-main-rising-sun-tradition
DID YOU KNOW? Switzerland County, Indiana was first settled by John James Dufour of Switzerland in the early 1800s. Many of the town names are Swiss. The town of Vevay is reminiscent of Old World Swiss villages with original cottages and farmsteads. Wine production earned this county the title of “The Rhineland of America” – More at: https://switzcotourism.com/things-to-do-1
NWPR LOCAL WESTERN OHIO
DID YOU KNOW? Williams County, Ohio is home to the Spangler Candy Company, the largest producer of candy cames in the world. Bryan was selected as the county seat in 1839 even though it was a howling wilderness of dense forest. John A. Bryan, then Auditor of State, and owner of the property is said to have induced State Commissioners with funds and promising to clear the land and erect county buildings. To this day Montpelier claims that they were treated unfairly as a candidate. More at: https://ohio.org/?pum_form_popup_id=7205&s=williams+county
DID YOU KNOW? Defiance County, Ohio has an 18-mile stretch of road that is famously known to Harley Davidson Inc. as one of the best touring roads in the country. State Route 424 rolls along the Maumee River with little traffic and great scenic views. U.S. General “Mad†Anthony Wayne used Defiance County to build Fort Defiance in 1794. It became a strong hold for conquering the British and American Indian control of the area. More at: https://ohio.org/defiance-ohio-where-friends-families-and-the-rivers-meet/
DID YOU KNOW? Paulding County, Ohio was known by farmers in 1845 as a great place to raise frogs and ice. The land was thick with trees so large that one man was found living in one. Originally slotted as a territory for the Miami Indians, hard times by settlers often wanted to give it back. Paulding County was once known as having the highest unsolved murder rate of any county in the 1920s. More at:Â https://kids.kiddle.co/Paulding_County,_Ohio
DID YOU KNOW? Putnam County, Ohio produced over 400,000 tons of coal a year beginning in 1907. The mines were shut down at the start of WWII as young men left to serve their country. Nitro was a town that had 25,000 residents in 1918. The biggest manufacturer was a company that turned out 700,000 pounds of gunpowder per day. More at: https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1948
DID YOU KNOW? Van Wert County, Ohio has been the center of the Van Wert Peony Festival since 1902 due to its incredible peony cultivation. Van Wert formed the first county public library in the country, the Brumback Library. Liederkranz cheese was once produced by the ‘cheesemakers’ of Van Wert, the only place in the world with this cheese type production. More at: https://kids.kiddle.co/Van_Wert,_Ohio
DID YOU KNOW? Allen County, Ohio was part of the Northwest Region designated for Native Indians in 1795. This all changed in 1817 under the Treaty of Maumee Rapids. Oil was discovered in 1885 and the area was booming until 1910. Comedian Phyllis Diller was born in Lima in 1917. More at: http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Allen_County
DID YOU KNOW? Mercer County, Ohio was created from two existing counties. Darke County and Shelby County decided to split the territory to form Mercer County in 1820. The Wabash River and the St. Marys River both travel through this county. The Wabash watershed is part of the Gulf of Mexico/s watershed while the St. Mary’s watershed is part of Lake Erie’s watershed. More at: https://www.mercercountyohio.org/
DID YOU KNOW? Auglaize County, Ohio is home to America’s first man on the moon, Neil A. Armstrong of Wapakoneta. The county is named after the Auglaize River. It is believed to have gotten its name from the French term eau glaise translated to mean clay water. The Auglaize River, the Miami River and the Erie Canal all cross through this county. More at: https://www.wapakoneta.org/
DID YOU KNOW? Darke County, Ohio is where Annie Oakley is from. It also hosts the fastest ½ mile dirt track in the world, Eldora Speedway. Greenville will always be remembered where The Treaty of Greenville was signed, making way for the Northwest Territory to expand. Darke County also leads the nation in egg production. More at: http://mydarkecounty.com/about/
DID YOU KNOW? Shelby County, Ohio became a new start for hundreds of slaves. Known as ‘the Randolph Slaves’, they were released by Virginia planter John Randolph of Roanoke in 1846. Shelby County was named after Isaac Shelby, former governor of Kentucky. Children of these descendants were nicknamed ‘Buckeyes.’ More at: https://kids.kiddle.co/Shelby_County,_Ohio
DID YOU KNOW? Miami County, Ohio is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named after the Miami Indiana Tribe. One of Ohio’s oldest taverns, Overfield Taven, built in 1808, can be found in Troy, Ohio. It is now a museum. The longest ‘long truss’ covered bridge is 224 feet long and located in Troy. More at: https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/fascinating-things-you-never-knew-about-the-history-and-places-miami-county/wT1Y3U2AOMLzkI1Gn0VFFO
DID YOU KNOW? Preble County, Ohio is home to 8 historical covered bridges. The county seat is Eaton. Preble County lies along Interstate 70 with easy access to Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus and Indianapolis, Indiana. Preble County is the place to go for antiques and historical items. Lewisburg, New Paris, Verona and College Corner serve as the antique center of the region. Find out more at http://www.preblecountypassport.com
NWPR REGIONAL WESTERN OHIO
DID YOU KNOW? Fulton County, Ohio was named after Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat. The county was not established until 1850 due to a dispute over whether Toledo belonged to Michigan or Ohio. Finally, the state line was moved 7 miles north so Ohio could claim this major city. Archbold is a town that features Sauder Village. It is known for being a replica of how people lived from 1803 – 1828 in simpler times. More at: https://www.fultoncountyoh.com/942/Visitors-Bureau
DID YOU KNOW? Lucas County, Ohio borders Lake Erie. Toledo is the county seat. Besides having an internationally acclaimed art museum, Toledo has delivered many great artists. Jamie Farr, Danny Thomas, Art Tatum and Israel Abramofsky are a few talented names. Toledo is also known as “The Glass Capital of the World†for its rich history in glass making and production. Lucas County also has a vast network of forests, grasslands and wetlands known as the Great Black Swamp. More at: http://www.lucascountyoh.gov/591/Community-Profile
DID YOU KNOW? Henry County, Ohio is named after Patrick Henry, known for the famous “give me liberty or give me death speech.†Less than 1% of Henry County is urban. The rest is strickly rural. Early settlers found the area uninhabitable due to the swampy conditions. German immigrants began arriving in 1843 and set to work on draining the swamp through irrigation techniques. More at: https://www.henrycountyohio.com/history.htm.
DID YOU KNOW? Wood County, Ohio once had boundary lines extending all the way to Michigan. It dismembered from Lucas County in 1835 and the Maumee River was then used as its northern border. Wood county is part of the Toledo Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the county seat. Ohio’s first wind farm was built along US Route 6 just west of Bowling Green. More at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Green,_Ohio.
DID YOU KNOW? Hancock County, Ohio was named for John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Findlay is the county seat and also home to Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the nation’s largest refiner of crude oil. Findlay has also been ranked the top Micropolitan Community in the United States by Site Selection magazine for the last 5 years. Read more at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County,_Ohio.
DID YOU KNOW? Hardin County, Ohio is only a short 60 mile drive from both Toledo and Columbus? Ohio Northern University (ONU) is located in the Village of Ada. The school is known for its 93% job and graduate school placement rate. Hardin County was named after an officer in the American Revolution, John Hardin. Read more at  County Profile – Hardin County Chamber & Business Alliance.
DID YOU KNOW? Logan County, Ohio was named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the region and its county seat is Bellefontaine. Indian Lake was originally a group of small lakes and wetlands on 640 acres. A reservoir was built to collect water for the Sidney Feeder to the Miami and Erie Canal. Today this area is a well-known fishing and boating area. More at https://www.logancountyohio.com/visitors-bureau.html.
DID YOU KNOW? Champaign County, Ohio takes its name from the French word for “open level country.” Urbana, Ohio shares its name with 12 other towns in the U.S. but it was the the first one. There are several prominent people from Urbana. Edgar Melville Ward, painter and educator; Clancy Brown, producer and actor; Raymond Hubbell, composer of musicals; and Beth Macy, journalist and non-fiction writer. Read more at  Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.
DID YOU KNOW? Clark County, Ohio was named after General George Rogers Clark, hero of the American Revolution. Springfield is the county seat and was featured in Newsweek 50th Anniversary issue called “The American Dream” in 1983. In 2004, Springfield was chosen as an All American City. Clark County is the third-smallest county in Ohio by total area. Find out more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_County,_Ohio.
DID YOU KNOW? Greene County, Ohio has a county seat named Xenia, meaning hospitality in Greek. There are 43 properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Some of these include Antioch Hall in Yellow Springs, Ballard Road Covered Bridge, Bank of Xenia, and the Cedarville Opera House in Cedarville. Find out more at http://www.greenecountyohio.org/.
DID YOU KNOW? Montgomery County, Ohio is the fifth most populous county in Ohio. The county seat is Dayton. Dayton was home to Orville and Wilbur Wright and where their Wright Flyer was built. Charles F. Kettering, world renowned inventor is from Dayton, as well as Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African-American poet and novelist. Find out more at http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Montgomery_County
DID YOU KNOW? Butler County, Ohio has the world’s largest indoor train-themed entertainment center in West Chester. Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield features more than 150,000 items from over 70 countries. There is a 47-mile stretch of scenic road known as the Presidential Pathways Scenic Byway that traces the lives of two presidents from Southwestern Ohio, William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison. More at https://www.gettothebc.com/about-butler-county.
DID YOU KNOW? Warren County, Ohio was named after Dr. Joseph Warren. Dr. Warren was a hero of the American Revolutionary War and is credited for sending Paul Revere on his famous ride. Notable residents include Neil Armstrong of Turtlecreek Township, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John McLean of Lebanon and musician Marty Roe, also of Lebanon. Lebanon is the county seat and has Ohio’s oldest inn, the Golden Lamb Inn, established in 1803. More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_County,_Ohio.
DID YOU KNOW? Hamilton County, Ohio is the third-most populous county in Ohio. The county seat is Cincinnati. Known as ‘The Queen City,’ Cincinnati’s cultural institutions were developed by German immigrants. The county was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, founder of the Federalist Party. Major highways running through Hamilton County include Interstates 71, 74, 75, 471 and 275. To learn more visit https://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/visitors.
DID YOU KNOW? Clermont County, Ohio is the eleventh oldest county of the former Northwest Territory. The county once encompassed twenty-three current Ohio counties and over 4.2 million acres of dense old growth forest. It was ordained in 1800 by the Commonwealth of Virginia  to reward Virginian military veterans with ground. Rowe Woods in Milford is a 1,025 acre Nature Center that has over 16 miles of trails. Learn more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clermont_County,_Ohio.
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