Chillicothe

Located along the Scioto River 45 miles (72 km) south of Columbus, Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio. It is the only city in Ross County and the center of the Chillicothe micropolitan area, which is a part of the Columbus, Ohio Combined Statistical Area. Chillicothe is a designated Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Chillicothe is the birthplace of Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader during the War of 1812. The town was an important waypoint during the American Revolutionary War and American Civil War eras. Indigenous tribes, white settlers, and freed slaves all traversed the area. A number of well-known Ohio politicians, sports stars, and professionals have been native to Chillicothe. The town has a 19th century theater and opera house and hosts a number of summer fairs. Beginning in 1973, a drama, Tecumseh!, has been staged annually in Chillicothe.