Orrville's history began in 1814 with the arrival of James Taggart Jr., a Revolutionary War veteran who came to the area and staked out a claim near what is today downtown Orrville. A year later, his sons, Samuel and Robert Taggart, came to settle on his claim, and they were followed by numerous other settlers, primarily of Pennsylvania Dutch and German heritage.

The house Samuel built on that claim (which was a safe haven for runaway slaves as part of the Underground Railroad during the 1800s) still remains a residence today in the southeast part of town.

Orrville became incorporated in 1864, as its population stood near 500. William Gailey was the town's first mayor.

The train tracks that run through the city today are a reminder of Orrville's historical blend of geography, history and personality. The city grew originally as a result of its proximity to several major railroads.

For more than a half-century, the railroads were the economic backbone of Orrville. In 1851, Judge Smith Orr - after whom the city was named - initiated the process of bringing the railroad to Wayne County. The Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad laid tracks through land Orr had purchased from Robert Taggart. Both a justice of the peace and surveyor, Judge Orr built a water tower for the trains' use and established a sawmill to sell wood to the railroads.

The first passenger train arrived in the county in 1852. Two years later, a north-south line (the Cleveland, Zanesville Cincinnati Railroad) ran tracks through town. With railroads running both north/south and east/west, Orrville became a major station for the Pennsylvania Railroad. It used to be said, If you want to get to heaven, you have to change trains in Orrville!

The town grew steadily during the late 1800s, a result of local agricultural production and the convenience of being at the cross-section of the various railroads. According to a newspaper article from 1872, the town had nearly 800 residents and 40 businesses. Ten years later, a third railroad (the Wheeling Lake Erie) came through town.

As the twentieth century began, more substantial growth appeared. The Pennsylvania Railroad made Orrville a terminal station and built a roundhouse and turntable. During this same period, the town was a national center for horse trading, serving as a convenient midway point between midwestern farms (where horses were raised) and large eastern cities (where horses would be used as draft animals).

The decline of the railroads came in the 1950s as the interstate highway system grew. Suddenly, shipment by truck became a cost-effective alternative to railway shipping. Once again, Orrville was at the center of things, with U.S. 30 just three miles to the south, State Route 57 running right through the center of town, and several major interstates (I-71, I-77 and I-76) all within 30 miles.

Although the roundhouse and terminal were razed in the 1960s and the last passenger train passed through Orrville in 1968, freight trains still rumble through town every day. The train whistle has become a familiar sound to the residents. However, the city has changed from the railroad town of the past to a city of widely diversified industry, education and service establishments.

The city's first factory, a pottery, was established in 1862. Other businesses soon sprang up around the downtown area, including a tile plant, a tannery and burial case, milling and machine companies.

The oldest and largest American pipe organ builder still under management of the founding family began in Orrville in 1873. The Schantz Organ Company was started by A.J. Tschantz (later changed to Schantz) and it remains in operation today in the southern portion of the city. As A.J.'s sons joined the business, the company developed a strong reputation as a regional builder; in turn, their sons learned the skills of the trade and took over the operation of the company. It was under this third-generation leadership, following World War II, that the company developed its national reputation. Today, under third and fourth generation management, the company's projects range in size from small organs of a few ranks of pipes to complex designs for some of the largest halls, churches and cathedrals in the world.

In 1897, Jerome Monroe Smucker founded a small, custom cider mill in Orrville, where he began making homemade apple butter. He started The J.M. Smucker Company by peddling the apple butter door-to-door in hand-signed crocks. Today, the company (which recently acquired Jiff Peanut Butter and Crisco) is the city's largest employer, with more than 900 employees in town and nearly 2,300 worldwide.

Peter and John Schmid began their dairy business in 1909, and it has evolved into Smith Dairy, another major employer in Orrville, with approximately 300 employees. Smith Dairy's products are shipped to lower Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, the East Coast and all parts of Ohio.

For the past 53 years, Orrville has been fortunate to have its own hospital, Dunlap Memorial. This local facility has kept up with the advances of modern medicine over the years and has gone through several additions - including a current $10 million expansion and renovation project.

Wayne College, a branch of the University of Akron, opened its Orrville campus in 1972. Students from the area and many surrounding counties take advantage of the educational opportunities the branch provides.

In the fall of 2001, Orrville celebrated City Day, a commemoration of its 50th anniversary of becoming a city (attaining a population of 5,000). Residents were treated to a breakfast, a parade and an official ceremony at Judge Smith Orr's homestead, now maintained by the Orrville Historical Society.

Orrville, through its growth over the past 188 years, has become a delightful city with small-town charm, and it is a wonderful place to call home. (Sept. 2002 Edition)