Defiance is the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio. The city was named for Fort Defiance, which once stood in the confines of the city. In August 1794, General Anthony Wayne ordered the construction of Fort Defiance at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers. Wayne built the fort during his campaign against the Indians of Ohio to provide his men with protection and a staging ground for their operations. The fort was a rough square with a blockhouse located on each corner. In addition to the stockade, a wall of earth eight feet thick and a ditch eight feet deep and fifteen feet wide protected the fortifications. Lieutenant John Boyer, an officer in Wayne’s army, claimed that the fort could protect the American soldiers from “the English, the Indians, and all the devils in hell.”

Following the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Wayne utilized Fort Defiance as his base of operations. He ordered the destruction of all Indian villages and crops within a fifty mile radius of the fort. When Native Americans and the United States signed the Treaty of Greeneville in 1795, the natives permitted the Americans to maintain a trading post and fort at Fort Defiance, although the whites had ceded the right to settle this portion of Ohio. Until the War of 1812, fort Defiance served as one of the western-most outposts in Ohio, guarding citizens from native attacks. William Henry Harrison utilized the fort in his attacks against Indians in the early 1810s as well as a staging area for attacks against the British in the War of 1812. Modern-day Defiance, Ohio, was founded at the fort’s location in 1822. Local Indian tribes had signed away their rights to the surrounding land in 1817.

The canal system was an important part in the development of Defiance. In 1825 construction of the Miami & Erie Canal began and it was completed in 1829. Then, in 1837 construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal began. By 1845, a canal system was completed which connected Defiance with Toledo, Cincinnatti, and Fort Wayne.

The first train came to Defiance in 1852 and by 1860 the train had replaced the canals as the primary source of transportation.

Parts of the canal path as well as parts of several locks can still be seen. From Canals to Railways the transportation industry has always played a key role in Defiance.

The main employer in 1886 was the Turnbull Wagon Company which employed 190 people. Today, General Motors Powertrain carrys on the tradition as the largest employer in the community.

During the twentieth century, Defiance continued to grow. In 2000, 16,465 residents lived in the town. Many of the local businesses continue to serve farmers living in the surrounding contryside. Founded in 1850, Defiance College is also a major institution in the Community.

For additional reading on Defiance look for these resources:

Native American & Early History

Canal Era to Present