History of Nelsonville, Ohio
First settled in 1814 by the Daniel Nelson family, Nelsonville was incorporated in 1838 with Charles Cable as its first mayor.
Nelsonville blossomed into a classic Appalachian town by the mid 1800s, relying on the extractive industries of coal, clay and salt. Like many large mining towns, Nelsonville was home to a large hotel, The Dew House, and a thriving theater, Stuart's Opera House, both located on the Public Square.
Recent years have brought a revival of sorts to Nelsonville, capturing its artistic spirit in an effort to restore the Public Square into an Arts District. Most recently, Nelsonville was admitted into the national Main Street Program, and named a Preserve America Community. Nelsonville is best known for producing Star Brick, and you will see these striking bricks lining the sidewalks throughout the historic district.
Nelsonville owes its existence to the coal mining industry. In more recent years, its main industrial base was the Rocky Shoes & Boots factory, which has since moved out of the country, but continues to maintain the new Rocky Gear Store, set in the recently renovated, original factory next to Rocky Brands corporate offices. Another important employer is Hocking College. Other major employers in Nelsonville include: Tri-County Vocational School, EDMAP (an online book delivery company), Doctors Hospital Nelsonville, Nelsonville-York City Schools, Hocking Correctional Facility, Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, Hocking Valley Residential Center, and SEPTA Center.
Nelsonville is organized around a public square, where, every month, a "Final Friday" celebration is held, with vendors, art show openings, and often shows at the recently-renovated Stuart's Opera House, an old theater from the 1800s. The Public Square is a vibrant, historic downtown and is filled with dozens of art galleries, and unique eating establishments.
The main commercial district is centered on the Canal Street strip that runs from the eastern to western corporation limits. Much development has occurred on Canal Street over the past decade.