Oberlin

Oberlin is a small town in Lorain County, Ohio. The place spreads across gently rolling terrain with residential streets, green spaces, and campus buildings that define its appearance.

Two Presbyterian ministers founded the town in 1833 and soon established a college here. The community played a role in slavery debates during the 1850s and attracted people committed to equality.

The town takes its name from Johann Friedrich Oberlin, an Alsatian pastor known for his social reforms during the 18th century. You can still feel the academic character and civic engagement that shape daily life here.

Cleveland lies about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the east and can be reached by road. Bus connections run regularly to nearby areas, and the town itself is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle.

In 1858, local residents freed a fugitive slave from federal marshals who had detained him in a nearby village. The incident led to a trial and drew attention across the country in the years before the Civil War.

Location: Lorain County

Inception: 1833

Elevation above the sea: 248 m

Website: http://cityofoberlin.com

GPS coordinates: 41.28833,-82.21667

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:52