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Where the Tracks Began
First came the railroad, and then came the town. It all started in 1850 when a route was needed between Shelby and Galion, a distance of 13 miles, by the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad, or the “Bee Line” as it was known then. The Crestline area, however, wasn’t the first choice by railroad officials for the line – Bucyrus was. However, the leading officials of Bucyrus were interested in a wagon road from Sandusky to Columbus.
The next choice was Mansfield, but the citizens there had recently financed a road to Newark and were not interested in funding a railroad. The next choice was Leesville, but the residents there were afraid the railroad would take business from many of the citizens there who made livings hauling stone for the Leesville Stone Quarry. This left the railroad with no choice but to run the line through open country.
Since there was no town between Shelby and Galion, it was decided that a station should be placed halfway for passenger convenience. The station was constructed where the line crossed the Leesville road.
Crestline Historical Society
Discover the rich history of Crestline by visiting the Crestline Historical Society’s Facebook page!
The Hub of Ohio
This station soon developed into a town, with a general store, post office, and a few homes. Early settlers in the village believed that the town was the watershed of the state, where streams to the north emptied into Lake Erie and those to the south emptied into the Ohio River, thus the name Crest Line. The town was not on the watershed line, but the name stuck and eventually became one word.
Crestline was visited by a journalist named J.A. Crever. Crever said that he “found many large and small houses where a few months ago it was all woods and cultivated fields.” At the time, Crestline had two stores, five groceries, two steam sawmills, several boot and shoe shops, numerous mechanic shops, and a tavern. Crever reported that building timber was seen strewn on every land.
Crestline, originally a railroad community, now thrives from the various businesses and industries located there. Crestline, however, is still considered a railroad community. The two crossing railroads that caused the beginning of the village still remain active there. Crestline really is “the hub of Ohio”.
General Information
Form of Government
Mayor, Council
Police
Crestline Police Dept.
–8 full-time personnel
Public
Crestline Exempted Village Schools
–Grades Preschool-Grade 3:
1 school
–Grades 4-7:
1 school
–Grades 8-12:
1 school
Parochial School
Crestline St. Joseph’s
–1 elementary, grades K-8
Vocational Education
— Pioneer Career & Technology Center
— Advanced Education
— Ohio State University, Mansfield Branch
— Ashland University, Ashland
— North Central State College, Mansfield
— Crestline Public Library
Water – Village of Crestline
Source – 3 wells
Treatment Capacity – 2.2 MGD
Normal Usage – 0.7 MGD
Wastewater – Village of Crestline
Primary and secondary treatment
Capacity – 0.950 MGD
Normal flow – 0.6 MGD
Telephone – Verizon of Ohio, inc.
Gas – Columbia Gas of Ohio, inc.
Electricity – Ohio Edison Company and American Electric Power
Real Estate tax
Assessed at 35% market value
Income Tax
2.0% Village of Crestline – Net profits and wages
Parks – 2 Village owned
Lakes – 3
Ski areas – 1
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Village of Crestline
2020 census: 4,525
15-Mile Commuting Radius – 140,000
Crestline Fire Dept.
–7 full-time personnel, 18 auxiliary
— ISO Rating – 5/9
Banking Institutions
— Combined assets: over $550,000,000
— 16 Protestant, 1 Catholic
— Crestline Advocate, weekly – Circulation 2,300
— Mansfield News Journal
— Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
— Galion Inquirer
— 18 motels with 820 rooms within a 12-mile radius
Highways – I-71, US 30, SR 61, CR 330
Rail – CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroad
— Division point with both north-south and east-west main lines
Air – Commercial, and freight service at Mansfield Lahm Airport, 12 miles, and Galion Airport, 2 miles (United Parcel Service and G.C.S. Air Freight)
PGW Industries – Flat glass fabrication and tempering
TASCO Thompson and Sons Co. – Metal stamping
Fowler Products – Extruded plastic products
Campbell Technological Resources, Inc. – Electronics recycling and sales
Crawford County
21,400 (Census 2000)
Richland County
57,100 (Census 2000)
Lions
Chamber of Commerce
Crestline Community Development Team