Middletown, Ohio (Images of America)

Over the years, Middletown has grown from a simplevillage of 50 people to a city of over 50,000. Locatedalong the Great Miami River, Middletown developedfrom a farming community into an industrial city locatedon I–75, a major national highway.The Miami-Erie Canal helped speed Middletown’sprogress and provided a link between northern andsouthern Ohio. The canal allowed for further industrialgrowth with such businesses as grist and saw mills, porkpackingplants, and paper and tobacco plants. Today,Middletown is a steel-producing community with manyother important industries. The construction of railroadsand new roads and highways also played an importantrole in Middletown’s growth.This work recalls many of the people that broughtthis success and development to Middletown. The everimprovingcameras and the rise of the art of photographyallowed much of this town’s history to be captured onfilm. Many of these images, taken by both professionalsand amateurs, are recorded in Middletown, Ohio. Join Mr.Miller and Mr. Crout in celebrating a community rich inhistory and heritage.