Symmes Purchase
Encyclopedia
The Symmes Purchase
, also known as the Miami Purchase, was an area of land in Southwestern Ohio
in what is now Hamilton
, Butler
, and Warren
Counties. It was purchased by Judge John Cleves Symmes
of New Jersey
from the Continental Congress
. In the 1780s, Benjamin Stites, a friend of Symmes', was visiting Limestone (now Maysville, Kentucky
), and had some of his horses stolen by India
ns. He pursued them through the wilderness of southwestern Ohio as far north as Xenia
. He was so impressed with the fertility of the country he informed Symmes of its prospects and Symmes gathered a syndicate, known as the Miami Company, to buy the land.
The tract is bordered on the south by the Ohio River
, on the west by the Great Miami River
, and on the east by the Little Miami River
. The northern boundary runs through Butler and Warren Counties about twenty-five miles north of the Ohio River. Sections of Todhunter and Garver Roads in Monroe
, Monroe Road in Lebanon
, and Oregonia Road in Turtlecreek Township
run along the boundary.
Unfortunately, the survey conducted by Symmes's men was done poorly, e.g. the surveyors used magnetic north rather than correcting for true north
. Further, Symmes sold much land that he did not own, some as far north as Dayton
, meaning some early settlers found themselves squatters on the public domain
. Symmes also sold some land that he did own more than once.
The Symmes Purchase survey is the only one in the United States where the ranges run from north to south and the townships
from east to west. The section numbering is in accordance with the Land Ordinance of 1785
. The survey here also was done to magnetic north rather than true north. Deeds in this area will refer to the Between the Miami Rivers Survey, M.Rs. and M.R.S. (M.R.S. is also used to describe the "Miami River Survey"
a survey west of the Great Miami River
.
Symmes Purchase
The Symmes Purchase, also known as the Miami Purchase, was an area of land in Southwestern Ohio in what is now Hamilton, Butler, and Warren Counties. It was purchased by Judge John Cleves Symmes of New Jersey from the Continental Congress...
, also known as the Miami Purchase, was an area of land in Southwestern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in what is now Hamilton
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
, Butler
Butler County, Ohio
Butler County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 368,130. Its county seat is Hamilton. It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. Butler's army marched out of Fort Hamilton, where the city of...
, and Warren
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
Counties. It was purchased by Judge John Cleves Symmes
John Cleves Symmes
John Cleves Symmes was a delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey, and later a pioneer in the Northwest Territory. He was also the father-in-law of President William Henry Harrison .-Early biography:He was the son of the Rev...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
from the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. In the 1780s, Benjamin Stites, a friend of Symmes', was visiting Limestone (now Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
), and had some of his horses stolen by India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns. He pursued them through the wilderness of southwestern Ohio as far north as Xenia
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He was so impressed with the fertility of the country he informed Symmes of its prospects and Symmes gathered a syndicate, known as the Miami Company, to buy the land.
The tract is bordered on the south by the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, on the west by the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
, and on the east by the Little Miami River
Little Miami River
The Little Miami River is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States. The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren...
. The northern boundary runs through Butler and Warren Counties about twenty-five miles north of the Ohio River. Sections of Todhunter and Garver Roads in Monroe
Monroe, Ohio
Monroe is a city located in east central Butler and west central Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2007, the city population was 7,655, up from 4,008 in 1990....
, Monroe Road in Lebanon
Lebanon, Ohio
The population at the 2010 census was 20,033. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile . There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile...
, and Oregonia Road in Turtlecreek Township
Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio
Turtlecreek Township is one of the eleven townships of Warren County, Ohio, United States. It is in the central part of the county and surrounds the county seat of Lebanon. Turtlecreek is the largest township in the county, originally containing sixty-three whole and seven fractional sections. ...
run along the boundary.
Unfortunately, the survey conducted by Symmes's men was done poorly, e.g. the surveyors used magnetic north rather than correcting for true north
True north
True north is the direction along the earth's surface towards the geographic North Pole.True geodetic north usually differs from magnetic north , and from grid north...
. Further, Symmes sold much land that he did not own, some as far north as Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, meaning some early settlers found themselves squatters on the public domain
Public domain (land)
Public domain is a term used to describe lands that were not under private or state ownership during the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States, as the country was expanding. These lands were obtained from the 13 original colonies, from Native American tribes, or from purchase from other...
. Symmes also sold some land that he did own more than once.
The Symmes Purchase survey is the only one in the United States where the ranges run from north to south and the townships
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
from east to west. The section numbering is in accordance with the Land Ordinance of 1785
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was adopted by the United States Congress on May 20, 1785. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress did not have the power to raise revenue by direct taxation of the inhabitants of the United States...
. The survey here also was done to magnetic north rather than true north. Deeds in this area will refer to the Between the Miami Rivers Survey, M.Rs. and M.R.S. (M.R.S. is also used to describe the "Miami River Survey"
Congress Lands West of Miami River
The Congress Lands West of Miami River was a land tract in southwest Ohio that was established by the Congress late in the 18th century. It is located south of the Greenville Treaty Line, east of Indiana, and north of the Great Miami River...
a survey west of the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
.