Monroe county was created on May 14,1817 and named after James Monroe who was going to visit the area. The city is located along the western edge of Lake Erie. Toledo was originally part of this county was ceded as a result of the Toledo War in 1835. Early inhabitants to this area were primarily of French descent. The primary migration route was through Canada where people would come from Detroit to the north or across Lake Erie. The Black Swamp in Northwest Ohio limited migration into this area from the south until the 1830's.
