Gahanna was founded along the
Big Walnut Creek in 1849 by John Clark of Ross County from 800 acres of land that his father, Joseph Clark,
had purchased from Governor Worthington in 1814. Clark named his property the Gahanna Plantation, from which
the City of Gahanna derives its name. The name Gahanna is derived from a Native American word for three creeks
joining into one and is the former name of the Big Walnut Creek. The City of Gahanna's Official Seal refers to
this confluence of three creeks with the inscription "Three In One".
Gahanna maintained a considerable rivalry with the town of Bridgeport.
Located directly across Granville Street from Gahanna and also along the banks of the Big Walnut Creek,
Bridgeport was founded in 1853 by Jesse Baughman, a former Franklin County Commissioner. The two towns
eventually put aside their differences and merged into one. They adopted the name Gahanna as there was already
another town of Bridgeport in Ohio. In March of 1881, 55 citizens of Gahanna petitioned Franklin County to
incorporate the village. The incorporation was granted in June and was recorded on August 8th, 1881. The Village then
held its first mayoral election and on October 6, 1881, swore in its first mayor, L. John Neiswander.
Click here
for a brochure about a Historical Walking Tour of Gahanna.
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Gahanna Historical Society
102 S. High Street
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 475-3342
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