What Town Has The Smallest Population in Ohio?

A Tiny Town with a Giant History: Rendville, Ohio's Smallest Incorporated Village

But its tiny size belies a rich and nationally significant history, particularly in the realms of labor rights and African American leadership.

From Boomtown to Ohio's Smallest:

Rendville's story is a familiar one for many coal towns in the region, but with a remarkable twist.

• The Founding: The town was founded in 1879 by William P. Rend, a progressive Chicago industrialist who established the Ohio Central Coal Company.
• A Diverse Community: Rend's progressive hiring policies, which offered equal pay for Black and white workers, attracted a large and diverse population. By the mid-1880s, the town's population surged to nearly 2,000 residents, a mix of African Americans and European immigrants.
• Decline of Coal: The collapse of the coal industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to a steady out-migration from Rendville, and the once-booming town slowly shrank to its current small size.

A Legacy of "Firsts" and Breaking Barriers:

Despite its small population today, Rendville's legacy is immense. It became a place where African Americans broke the color barrier in Ohio politics and labor.

• First Black Mayor in Ohio: In 1888, Dr. Isaiah Tuppins, the first African American to receive a medical degree in Ohio, was elected mayor of Rendville, making him the first Black mayor in the state.
• Pioneering Labor Leaders: The town was home to influential labor organizers like Richard L. Davis, who helped found the United Mine Workers of America in 1890, organizing thousands of Black and immigrant miners.
• Influential Figures: Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., who would become an influential spiritual leader during the Harlem Renaissance, had a spiritual awakening at the Rendville Baptist Church. Later, Sophia Mitchell became Ohio's first African American woman mayor when she became Rendville's mayor in 1969.

Visiting Rendville Today:

A visit to Rendville is a journey into a quiet, historic village. While few of the original boomtown structures remain, the Rendville Historic Preservation Society is actively working to preserve the town's important legacy. Visitors can see the historic cemetery, the layout of the old Main Street, and feel the quiet resilience of a community with a powerful story.

The village of Rendville holds the unique title of the smallest incorporated town in Ohio, but its historical significance is enormous. More than just a trivia answer, Rendville is a testament to a progressive, integrated community that produced some of the state's most important African American leaders. It stands as a powerful reminder of the rich history that can be found in the quiet corners of the Buckeye State.

Sources:

• Rendville Historic Preservation Society (rendvillehistory.org)
• Ohio History Connection
• U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census Data)
• The West Virginia Encyclopedia (for context on Appalachian history)
• Local Perry County historical records and publications