Template:Wp-Middlefield, Ohio-History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Once named "Batavia," the village received its current name because it was the midway point between Painesville and Warren. Middlefield was established in 1799 by James Thompson and his father, Isaac Thompson, and incorporated in 1901.

Joseph Johnson settled north of Middlefield on what is now known as Johnson Corners in 1800. In 1818, James Thompson built a hotel. This hotel, later named The Century Inn, is currently the home of the Middlefield Historical Association. The Historical Association operates a small railroad museum in the summers, The Depot, focused on the 1873 narrow gauge railway between Painesville and Warren.^[1]

Middlefield's first manufacturing company was the Johnson Pail Company, founded in 1895.^[1]

The Middlefield Library, a branch of the Geauga County Public Library, was opened in 1942.

In 1965, the Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Plast, established its midwestern campground known as "Pysanyj Kamin" occupying over 150 acres at the easternmost end of Shedd Rd in Middlefield Township. Three-week summer camps draw hundreds of Ukrainian American campers from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., in addition to other North American cities and sometimes Ukraine.

Middlefield realizes more than 80% of its income tax from industrial and commercial business, making this Geauga county's industrial capital. Businesses serving the area include both large and small entities such as Gold Key Processing, Inc., Good News Newspaper, Karl's Jewelry, KraftMaid (Masco) Cabinetry, Sajar Plastics, Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen, Town Tavern, Middlefield Tavern, Middlefield Banking Company, Middlefield Cheese House, Inc., and Mercury Plastics, Inc.

In 2005, Wal-Mart opened a Supercenter in the village. In order to cater to the local Amish population, the Supercenter has an expanded parking lot that includes 37 hitching posts for Amish buggies, and the store is stocked with blocks of ice and fabrics for clothes to be made at home.