Introduction to Chardon, Ohio
Chardon, Ohio, in Geauga county, is 10 miles E of Mentor, Ohio (center to center) and 29 miles E of Cleveland, Ohio.
Chardon History
Pioneers arrived in the late 1700s, and Captain Edward Paine, Jr., moved here in 1812. He is considered to the founder of the community of Chardon and served as the region's postmaster, county auditor and recorder. Peter Chardon Brooks, a Boston entrepreneur and landowner, donated land for the town plat. Later, this land became the historic Chardon Square. In 1810, the community was named "Chardon" in his honor. The word is also the French term for "thistle." Over the years, it developed into a quintessential New England town and was incorporated in the 1850s. In 1868, a devastating fire destroyed considerable property in Chardon.
Chardon and Nearby Attractions
- James A. Garfield National Historic Site
- Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse
- Euclid Creek Reservation
- Century Village Museum
- Headlands Beach State Park
- Holden Arboretum
Things To Do In Chardon
James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, used to live in a mansion in Chardon during the 1870s. This home is now a historic landmark. Century Village Museum is a restored Western Reserve community complete with historic homes, marshal's office, a schoolhouse, a train station and a blacksmith shop. The Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse features exhibits of historical importance. Chardon also offers easy access to the Euclid Creek Reservation, South Chagrin Reservation and Holden Arboretum. Facilities for swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing and hiking are provided by the Helen Hazen Wyman Metropolitan Park, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park, Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park and Headlands Beach State Park. Opportunities to play golf are available at the Sand Ridge Golf Club. Residents of Chardon also celebrate the annual Maple Festival in April.
Chardon Transportation
Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport is the closest major airport.
Chardon Higher Education
Nearby colleges include Kent State University - Geauga, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Lake Erie College and Lakeland Community College.