Ottawa County was formed on March 6, 1840. There was a 60-year fight between Port Clinton and Oak Harbor as to where the Court House should be located The matter was brought before the State Legislature five times. Each time Port Clinton was selected as the location.
Ottawa is an Indian word meaning “trader.” The Ottawa tribe traded furs and skins with early white settlers.
Ottawa County is located on Lake Erie about 15 miles southeast of Toledo, Ohio. It is situated in the Black Swamp district. The county has a level surface and includes the Portage River. The peninsula extending into the lake has abundant limestone deposits.
