Crawford County is filled with history. From the migration of Route 30 to as far back as the original settlers, people have been living, leaving, and arriving in Crawford County for more than 200 years. Tackling this history can be daunting, but here, I’ve compiled the best places to stay and research your family history.
Places to Stay
There are a lot of smaller hotels and inns that dot Crawford County and the surrounding area, but I would recommend staying in Mansfield. You have easy access to Crawford County and its resources as well as a great local area. There’s a lot more variety in Mansfield than you’ll find in the surrounding areas.
Mansfield also has some great historical landmarks and tours if you’re interested in the history of the region, such as the Mansfield Reformatory, the Carousel Park, and the Shawshank Trail.
That being said, if you do want to stay in Crawford County you can choose from Holiday Inn, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn & Suites, and Hometown Inn. Holiday Inn and Quality Inn are located close to the Crawford County Courthouse, while Sleep Inn and Hometown Inn are located in Galion, a short drive away from Bucyrus.
There are also many nature preserves and reservoirs in the area and several historic landmarks, such as The Galion Big Four Depot. This was the regional headquarters for trains in the area, and it offers self-guided tours.
Of course, there are also several historical museums in the area, such as the Crawford County Historical Society, Bucyrus Historical Society, the Galion History Center, and the Crestline Historical Museum. Some of these places offer tours by appointment, and offer resources for genealogical research! Don’t forget to drive the old Seccaium Park on State Route 19 and see Crawford County’s amusement park remnants!
Where to Research
A mainstay of any genealogical research is the local courthouse. They contain valuable birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates, and Crawford County is no different. The Crawford County Courthouse has two locations, one in Bucyrus, and one in Mansfield, both easily accessible to the public
Another important resource is The Crawford County General Health District. They contain birth and death certificates for everyone after 1909, and you can obtain copies for a fee of $25. If you visit their offices, you can even receive them the same day you order them.
Another great resource is The Crawford Co. Engineer’s Office. This office is in charge of roads, bridges, and engineering projects in Crawford County. In addition to the most recent map of Crawford County, they also have historical maps you can contact them for.
Another mainstay of genealogical research is newspapers, and there are several that dot the region. A few of them are the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum, the Galion Inquirer, the New Washington Herald, and the (Crestline) Advocate. Once you’ve found where the family you’re researching lived, these newspapers will help you gain insight into their lives, friends, and family.
More resources can be found at the region’s public libraries, all of which have their own resources, including the Bucyrus Public Library, the Galion Public Library, the Crestline Public Library, and the New Washington Public Library. They contain records of residents that can help fill in the gaps between the birth and death of a resident.
All these resources will help you research the holes in your family tree and are available to everyone. So, whether you decide to stay in Mansfield and tour the city or drive the country roads of Crawford to find the house your great-grandma was born in, I wish you the best of luck in your research.
“The Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society has been a great resource for furthering my own family history research. I’m so glad I joined.”
– Member Kim Teeple
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