Centerville is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. A core suburb in Dayton metropolitan area, its population was 24,240 as of the 2020 census.
History
Following the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, which opened the Northwest Territory to settlement, Centerville was first surveyed in February 1796 by Aaron Nutt, Benjamin Archer, and Benjamin Robbins, three brothers-in-law who traveled from New Jersey through Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Their survey of land owned by John Cleves Symmes occurred two months prior to the establishment of Dayton. They each claimed land near the intersection of Main and Franklin Streets. Robbins and two of his brothers chose land in Centerville, with Robbins selecting 160 acres northwest of the town center due to the abundance of springs. Benjamin Robbins named the settlement after his hometown of Centreville, New Jersey, citing its location between two rivers and its proximity to several other communities.
In 1796, Dr. John Hole, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War who served under General Richard Montgomery, arrived in the region. He was the first physician in the area and is credited with naming Montgomery County in honor of the general. Dr. Hole settled northwest of present-day Centerville, in the area that would become Washington Township, where he built a cabin for his family near Holes Creek.
On April 6, 1797, Benjamin Robbins and his family arrived in Centerville from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, after constructing a wagon road over ten days. Robbins built a log cabin for his family, which was later damaged by a storm. His son, Sam Robbins, would later become the first mayor of Centerville.
Centerville was officially recognized by the state in 1803, platted in 1805, and incorporated as a town in 1830.
As more families settled in the area, they cleared land to build homes and establish farms. Early settlers initially constructed log houses, which were later replaced by stone homes made from the region's abundant limestone. At one point in the 19th century, nearly 100 stone buildings lined local streets and homesteads, many of which still exist today.
Because slavery was outlawed in the Northwest Territory, slave owners generally did not settle in Centerville. However, southwest Ohio had several escape routes for enslaved individuals fleeing north after crossing the Ohio River. One route from Cincinnati passed through Lebanon, Springboro and Centerville. Another began in Ripley and traveled through Wilmington and Centerville.
Abolitionist activity was present in Centerville and Washington Township, where historical evidence suggests that four safe houses associated with the Underground Railroad existed. In one instance from the late 1820s, a runaway slave was found and sheltered by the Sunderland family on their farm. The slave worked for the Sunderlands until the Kentucky owner was informed of his location by the suitor of one of the Sunderland daughters. When slave hunters arrived at the farm, the runaway managed to escape.
In 1863, schools in Centerville and Washington Township enrolled approximately 550 students. Enrollment remained in the hundreds until 1955, when it surpassed 1,100. By 1960, the number had doubled, and by 1969, enrollment exceeded 6,800 students. That same year, the district was renamed Centerville City Schools.
In 1900, the U.S. Post Office changed the spelling of the town's name from "Centreville" to "Centerville."
In 1908, the Town Hall Theatre was constructed and originally served as Washington Township's hall and seat of government. It was used for meetings of township trustees and as a venue for various community activities. The building housed the township government offices until 1985. In 1989, the township repurposed the structure into a performing arts center. Between 1992 and 1996, renovations added an auditorium, lobby, rehearsal space, dance studio, and scene shop. In 2019, a dispute emerged between Centerville and Washington Township over the adjacent open space, with the township advocating to maintain it as green space. Both parties submitted bids for the property, and it was acquired by Centerville. In 2023, the Centerville Noon Optimist Club donated 20,000 to the Town Hall Theatre to support renovations that included new seating and improvements to comfort and acoustics. The original facility, completed in October 2007, covered and cost approximately 79.5 million to build. It included a general surgery emergency department with 10 operating rooms and employed around 200 staff, many trained at Miami Valley Hospital. By 2013, the hospital had expanded to a complex with 60 beds, located on a campus adjacent to Interstate 675.
Centerville and Washington Township voted November 5, 2008, on whether to create a merger commission. The proposed merger commission succeeded in the city but failed in the township.
In 2018, Centerville celebrated its 50th anniversary as a municipal corporation.
Geography
thumb|Centerville Municipal Building
Although the city is located primarily in Montgomery County, a small portion is located in Greene County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Centerville has a humid continental climate (Dfa). Summers are typically hot and humid, while winters are cold and dry. Due to its location in the Midwestern United States, Centerville is susceptible to severe weather events, including tornadoes from spring to fall. Floods, blizzards, and severe thunderstorms also occur.