From the record
4 National Register listings published here · 24 businesses named in the fire insurance atlases from 1893 to 1916.
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
50 topographic sheets and 28 fire insurance atlases across 5 places.
4 National Register listings published here · 24 businesses named in the fire insurance atlases from 1893 to 1916.
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | First Presbyterian Church | building | 1990 | 90000381 |
![]() | Henry County Courthouse | building | 1973 | 73001477 |
![]() | Henry County Sheriff's Residence and Jail | building | 1981 | 81000439 |
![]() | St. Augustine's Catholic Church | building | 1982 | 82003593 |
Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 2 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.
Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 714 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 36 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.




































The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.
Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.
Every Sanborn volume opens with a printed index naming the town's mills, tanneries, hotels and works by proprietor. Those indexes were read off the scanned sheets by machine and then matched to each other, so a business surveyed four times appears here once, with the years it survived. 4 of these 24 were named in more than one atlas. Each carries a crop of the line it was read from: the spelling is the recogniser's and the 1880s lithographer's, and the scan behind it is the proof.
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 22 of them, burning about 91 acres. None started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 13 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 1 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 April 2019 | Debris and open burning | 58 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15241 |
| 2 March 2019 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15238 |
| 18 October 2020 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15864 |
| 16 October 2020 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15853 |
| 18 November 2020 | Smoking | 4.0 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 16006 |
| 5 July 2020 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15820 |
| 7 November 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 2.0 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15949 |
| 8 March 2020 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 15506 |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 260 reports for this county, causing 5 deaths, 8 injuries and about $3,737,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 173 |
| Hail | 51 |
| Tornado | 19 |
| Flash Flood | 10 |
| Flood | 5 |
| Heavy Rain | 1 |
| Winter Weather | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1953 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 5 killed, 1 hurt | no account filed |
| January 1998 | Winter Weather | Countywide | 4 hurt | no account filed |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napolean | 1 hurt, $50,000 | A tractor-semitrailer was overturned and the trailer destroyed on Route 24. The driver was injured. Trees were downed. |
| July 1992 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 1 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Texas | 1 hurt | Emergency management officials reported a tree was blown down near the intersection of County Road 424 and County Road 4A. The tree was reported to have landed on a car, but no further details were available. |
| May 1983 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| September 1994 | Hail | Hamler | $500,000 | Near Holgate,Large hail, driven by strong winds, broke windows and damaged siding, roofs, and cars. Crops were destroyed. |
| August 1998 | Flash Flood | Napoleon | $150,000 | SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY SUSTAINED THE WORST FLOODING. MANY RURAL COUNTY ROADS WERE WASHED OUT TO SOME DEGREE WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO LOWLAND AGRICULTURAL FARM FIELDS. |
| June 2004 | Tornado (F1) | New Bavaria | $75,000 | NWS storm survey showed a tornado touched down 3 miles south of New Bavaria and traveled close to 4 miles lifting 3 and one half miles east southeast of New Bavaria. The storm was around 50 yards wide and produced F0 to F1 damage along its path destroying 2 barns and damaging several houses. Trees and power poles as well as some smaller structures were also damaged. |
| February 2008 | Flood | Napoleon Henry Co Ar | $50,000 | Emergency management officials reported three areas of water covered roadway on US 24 and Ohio 424 along the Maumee River. Closure of a bridge crossing over Turkey Foot Creek, southeast of Napoleon prompted the closure of County Road P. |
| August 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | $40,000 | A trained spotter reported that several large trees and limbs were down near the intersection of Road 11 and Road S. A large tree was downed and damaged the roof of a barn. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $35,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $30,000 | no account filed |
| August 1989 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1970 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hamler | $20,000 | Photos of various large branches down. Appears to be some siding damage to a home. |
| August 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gerald | $20,000 | Several instances of tree damage and power pole damage across the county, including near the town of Gerald. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $20,000 | Trees and power lines reported down countywide. |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ridgeville Corners | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | $15,000 | Trees were downed and a semi truck was blown over. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $15,000 | Emergency management officials reported uprooted trees and power lines down in and around Napoleon. A work trailer flipped over and was blown onto Scott Street. A tree fell onto a house on Oakwood Avenue. |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | New Bavaria | $15,000 | Power lines as well as a tree were blown down. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Deshler | $10,000 | Report on Facebook of lots tree damage in and around Deshler. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $10,000 | Emergency manager reports two large trees were downed. |
| August 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $10,000 | A private weather station recorded a 56 knot wind gust. Shingles were blown off the roof. |
| April 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $10,000 | A local television station reported several trees were uprooted in the Glenwood Cemetery. Some of the grave markers were moved. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $10,000 | Law enforcement officials reported trees and power lines down in and around Napoleon. |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $10,000 | HIGH WINDS BROKE SEVEN UTILITY POLES ALONG COUNTY ROAD 12. THE CITY WAS ALSO HIT WITH DIME SIZE HAIL FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $6,000 | no account filed |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colton | $5,000 | On CR6 between CR U AND U-4 there is a 1/2 mile stretch of downed trees and powerlines. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | New Bavaria | $5,000 | Powerlines and tree limbs were down on Walnut street. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Deshler | $5,000 | Several trees and power lines down. |
| April 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $5,000 | A roof was ripped off a horse bard and trees and power lines were down north and northeast of Napoleon. . |
| June 1977 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $2,000 | EM reported tree down on power lines at the intersection of CR M2 and 424. Time estimated from radar. |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hamler | $2,000 | Several large trees were blown down. A barn door was also blown in. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Archbold | $2,000 | Large limbs were downed, some on power lines. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | $2,000 | Several trees were downed. Large hail fell but no property damage was reported from it. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ridgeville Corners | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hamler | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ridgeville Corners | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 2026 | Hail | Napoleon | $1,000 | Range of hail sizes, largest stones nickel to quarter sized. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ridgeville Corners | $1,000 | Power lines down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Naomi | $1,000 | Tree down and blocking the road. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon Henry Co Ar | $500 | Large tree limbs down at CR 11c and N. |
| August 2024 | Hail | Liberty Center | $500 | Report from mPING of 0.75 inch hail. |
| March 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | $500 | trees blown down in town. |
| April 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Westhope | - | Emergency manager reports that an barn collapsed from thunderstorm wind. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Holgate | - | Emergency management officials reported trees and power lines down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | - | Tree limbs 3 to 5 inches down just east of Liberty Center, OH. Town is without power. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | - | Tree down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colton | - | Powerlines down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | - | Emergency management officials reported a tree was blown down onto power lines, with the road being blocked. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okolona | - | The public reported via Twitter that a tree was blown down near County Roads P and 17. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ridgeville Corners | - | EM reported power poles leaning and greenhouse roof taken off. Time estimated from radar. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | - | EM reported numerous downed trees in and near Liberty Center. Time estimated from radar. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleon | - | A healthy tree one foot in diameter snapped approximately four feet above ground, and part of another tree fell onto a neighboring house. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | - | EM reports semi truck blown over. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | - | EM reports tree and power lines down on home. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Liberty Center | - | Emergency management officials reported a large tree was blown down onto State Road 109. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 5 workings inside this county. 4 still produce and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Clay | 2 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 2 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerken Dredge | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Napoleon Brick & Tile Works | Clay | Plant | ||
| Napoleon Brick and Tile Pit | Clay | Past Producer | Sedimentary | |
| Own Crews Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Pugh Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Museum specimens collected in and around this county - inside the rectangle that bounds it - and catalogued with a date and a place: 226 of them, by kingdom 200 animalia, 17 plantae, 7 fungi, 2 bacteria. Each is a physical object in a named collection, not a sighting. Held by Ohio State University - Fish Division, Columbus, OH (OSUM), MSU, INHS, Ohio State University - Bird Division, Columbus, OH (OSUM), NYSM, Ohio State University - Amphibian Division, Columbus, OH (OSUM) among others, and each settlement page carries the specimens collected near it.
The oldest of them. A specimen proves something was collected on that day; its absence proves nothing.
| Photograph | Year | Species | Kingdom | Where | Collector | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1893 | Percina maculata (Girard, 1859) | Animalia | Maumee River, at State dam, 4 mi below Defiance | PH Kirsch | UMMZ 212967 |
![]() | 1898 | Dromogomphus spinosus Selys, 1854 | Animalia | Napoleon | J. Hine | USNM USNMENT00482502 |
![]() | 1898 | Dromogomphus spoliatus (Hagen, 1858) | Animalia | Napoleon | J. Hine | USNM USNMENT00482553 |
![]() | 1898 | Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839 | Animalia | Napoleon | J. Hine | USNM USNMENT00484948 |
![]() | 1898 | Perithemis tenera (Say, 1840) | Animalia | Napoleon | J. Hine | USNM USNMENT00486428 |
| 1905 | Cyprinidae | Animalia | Maumee River, within Defiance Co, Defiance County, township n/a | Ruh, R. (Russell) & Handwork, W. (Warren) | Ohio State University - Fish Division, Columbus, OH (OSUM) OSUM 1179 | |
![]() | 1919 | Fusarium culmorum (Wm.G.Sm.) Sacc. | Fungi | Liberty Center | Lewis H. L. | BPI BPI 451935 |
| 1919 | Helminthosporium gramineum Rabenh. ex Schltdl. | Fungi | Ridgeville Corners | Lewis H. L. | BPI BPI 429220 |
Fall of Napoleon devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 2 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.
| Shape and position in the county | Township | Settlements in it | Length | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Township | Gerald, Lueneburg | 51,288 words | 37 | |
| Napoleon Township | Bostelmans Corners, Glenwood Estates, Napoleon, Okolona, Valleybrook Estates | 1,008 words | 4 |
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 5 places that were also surveyed for fire insurance come first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.
Bartlow township · 43516 · Deshler quadrangle
10 sheets, 1956 to 1986
Fire insurance: 7 atlases
Marion township · 43524 · Hamler quadrangle
11 sheets, 1908 to 1986
Fire insurance: 4 atlases
Pleasant township · 43527 · New Bavaria quadrangle
12 sheets, 1908 to 1986
Fire insurance: 6 atlases
Liberty township · 43532 · Napoleon East quadrangle
12 sheets, 1908 to 1986
Fire insurance: 4 atlases
Napoleon township · 43545 · On Oberhaus Creek · Napoleon West quadrangle
11 sheets, 1908 to 1986
Fire insurance: 7 atlases
Liberty township · 43545 · Napoleon East quadrangle
12 sheets, 1908 to 1986
No longer a settlement
Harrison township · 43545 · On Van Hyning Creek · Napoleon East quadrangle
12 sheets, 1908 to 1986
Liberty township · 43545 · Napoleon East quadrangle
12 sheets, 1908 to 1986
No longer a settlement
Napoleon township · 43545 · On Garrett Creek · Napoleon West quadrangle
11 sheets, 1908 to 1986
Ridgeville township · 43555 · Ridgeville Corners quadrangle
12 sheets, 1907 to 1986
Napoleon township · 43545 · On Oberhaus Creek · Napoleon West quadrangle
11 sheets, 1908 to 1986
The vanished settlements of Henry County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
10 topographic sheets and 7 fire insurance atlases, 1895 to 1932
11 topographic sheets and 7 fire insurance atlases, 1884 to 1941
12 topographic sheets and 6 fire insurance atlases, 1895 to 1928
11 topographic sheets and 4 fire insurance atlases, 1901 to 1928
12 topographic sheets and 4 fire insurance atlases, 1905 to 1938
The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.
The vanished settlements of Henry County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.