indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Political Subdivision
Usage American Midwest
Meaning & History
The name "Van Wert" has a fascinating blend of Revolutionary War legacy and linguistic evolution.
The city and county of Van Wert in northwest Ohio are named after Isaac Van Wart, one of the three militiamen who captured British spy Major John André in 1780 during the American Revolution. Van Wart was celebrated as a patriot and awarded a Congressional medal for his role in thwarting Benedict Arnold’s treason.
Here’s the twist: when Ohio legislators drafted the act to name the county, they misspelled “Van Wart” as “Van Wert”**—and the error stuck. So the name we see today is actually a historical typo that became permanent.
The area was first settled in 1821 by Captain James Riley, a former sea captain who laid out the town of Willshire, the original county seat. In 1834, his son and two others purchased land for a new town at the county’s center, which became Van Wert. The county seat officially moved there in 1838.
Early settlers were primarily of German, Welsh, and Irish descent, and they faced tough conditions—dense forests, poor drainage, and the infamous Great Black Swamp. Things began to change with the Miami Canal Extension in 1845, which opened up trade and spurred agricultural and industrial growth.
The city and county of Van Wert in northwest Ohio are named after Isaac Van Wart, one of the three militiamen who captured British spy Major John André in 1780 during the American Revolution. Van Wart was celebrated as a patriot and awarded a Congressional medal for his role in thwarting Benedict Arnold’s treason.
Here’s the twist: when Ohio legislators drafted the act to name the county, they misspelled “Van Wart” as “Van Wert”**—and the error stuck. So the name we see today is actually a historical typo that became permanent.
The area was first settled in 1821 by Captain James Riley, a former sea captain who laid out the town of Willshire, the original county seat. In 1834, his son and two others purchased land for a new town at the county’s center, which became Van Wert. The county seat officially moved there in 1838.
Early settlers were primarily of German, Welsh, and Irish descent, and they faced tough conditions—dense forests, poor drainage, and the infamous Great Black Swamp. Things began to change with the Miami Canal Extension in 1845, which opened up trade and spurred agricultural and industrial growth.