Exploring the History of Little York in Northfield

Northfield, Ohio

I used to drive down Olde Route 8 twice a day, to and from work, and one thing always caught my eye: a sign for Little York located on both sides of the road near the intersection with Highland Road. What was Little York? As it turns out, Northfield Center Township annexed several smaller villages in the past, including Little York.

1854 Map Showing the Village of Little York

The History of Little York

The area that became Northfield Center/Little York/Brandywine Village was purchased by Isaac Bacon back in 1806. Settlers began moving into the area shortly afterward and in 1825, Henry Post claimed a parcel of land near the Brandywine River and set up a water-powered sawmill in what became the Village of Little York. No one is quite sure where the name came from.

At the time, Little York was “competing” with nearby Brandywine Village and what eventually became Northfield Center for resources like schools, a post office, and more.

Although Little York was populated by tradesmen, like blacksmiths, a leather tanner, and more, it was vastly overlooked for development. All of the growth at the time took place in Northfield Center, with the exception of a small school built within the confines of Little York.

The Downfall of Little York

Over time, Northfield Center started to grow and eventually annexed the villages of Little York and Brandywine, turning them into part of the thriving city. They even moved the small cemetery at Brandywine, moving the buried dead to the larger Northfield-Macedonia Cemetery at the corners of Valley View Road and Olde 8 in order to prevent it from being paved over by I-271.

In the end, the development of Route 8 and expansion of I-271 into the area wiped out much of what remains of Little York. All that’s really left are a few old memories and a sign on Olde 8 Road.