PREBLE COUNTY
County Offices
101 East Main Street
Eaton 937-456-8143
https://www.prebco.org/
Chamber of Commerce
110 West Main Street
Eaton 937-456-4949
https://www.preblecountyohio.com/
Situated between the Dayton metro area’s Montgomery County in Ohio and Wayne County in Indiana, picturesque Preble County features vast acres of farmland and welcoming small communities. The major national thoroughfare of Interstate 70 offers easy access to a world of urban amenities.
Services
Rural Preble County enjoys a strategic location that places a remarkable number of quality educational and healthcare resources within an easy commute from home. Nearby Metropolitan Dayton offers Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, Wilmington College, Wittenberg University, Miami University, and Wright State University among others. Cincinnati adds Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati. Ohio State University, the largest state-supported university campus in Ohio, is located in Columbus. Just across the state border in Indiana is another impressive list of institutions of higher education, including Purdue, Ball State, Butler, and Indiana universities. Some of the nation’s finest resources for vocational and career training are available in the intellectually rich environment that surrounds Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with its advanced scientific and technical research programs. Regardless of your educational need, the regional surrounding Preble County has everything from opportunities for a private education to leading universities with graduate and professional degree programs.
The healthcare services and facilities that surround Preble County are equally outstanding, combining nationally recognized medical centers and hospitals with specialty institutions like the heart hospital and rehabilitation hospital in Dayton. Close to home, the Kettering Health Network provides the Preble Medical Center, a modern facility in Eaton that provides convenient, affordable care for a wide range of routine medical needs. The award-winning Kettering Health Network is especially active throughout Metropolitan Dayton, operating Grandview and Southview hospitals in Dayton as well as the Charles F. Kettering Memorial Hospital in Kettering and the Kettering Medical Center-Sycamore in Miamisburg. The latter is especially well-located to serve the needs of residents of Preble County and has been recognized by HeathGrades with the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence. This rare distinction places the hospital in the top five percent of acute-care hospitals across the nation, measured in the clinical areas of cardiac, orthopedics, pulmonary, stroke, vascular, critical care, and gastro-intestinal specialties. Another HealthGrade award winner, Miami Valley Hospital is home to CareFlight Air and Mobile Services, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, and the birthing center for the majority of the region’s babies.
Lifestyle
Open and scenic, the Preble County landscape is dominated by agricultural activity that blends with thriving manufacturing companies. The county consistently ranks in the top ten for hog and corn production in Ohio, although the majority of residents are employed by local business and industry. The communities are small and the atmosphere is pleasantly rural, yet the county borders some of Ohio’s most vibrant metropolitan centers. The cultural, entertainment, and professional sports attractions in Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis are all accessible to Preble County residents. The face of Preble County is slowly changing, as farmland is giving way to vast acres of prime property for economic growth and diversification. A number of sites have already been zoned for commercial and industrial development, including “green field” areas that border major corridors. The city of Eaton serves as the county seat and hub of urban conveniences, anchoring a number of small villages and a dozen sprawling rural townships.
Preble County residents appreciate the serenity and simple pleasures of country living, from school, community, and church activities to colorful annual events. Some of these celebrations draw visitors from across the county and beyond its borders, including the Preble County Pork Festival and the Preble County Fair. Lewisburg presents the Derby Days Celebration, while West Alexandria is known for Oktoberfest. West Manchester holds Chicken Barbecues twice annually, and Eaton dazzles residents and visitors with its Whispering Christmas. Many festivals center on the area’s agricultural heritage, including Camden’s Black Walnut Festival and the Apple Fest in New Paris. One of Ohio’s finest state parks is in Preble County: Hueston Woods State Park on Acton Lake. This vast park offers everything from rustic camping and breathtaking hiking trails to a modern resort with an 18-hole championship golf course and indoor and outdoor pools. The arts and cultural enrichment are encouraged by the Preble County Art Association in Eaton, combining classes and crafts with exhibitions. The Preble County Historical Society maintains the Farm Center with displays of antiques, artifacts, and memorabilia as well as monthly programs. For a quiet rural life at an ideal distance from big-city bustle, Preble County is the perfect place to call home.
Eaton
City Offices
937-456-4125
https://www.cityofeaton.org/
Chamber of Commerce
937-456-4949
https://www.preblecountyohio.com/
The county seat and hub city of Preble County, Eaton is home to the arts and cultural organizations of the Preble County Art Association and the Preble County Historical Society. The city also offers a modern medical center in the highly respected Kettering Health Network, meeting routine medical needs conveniently close to home. Historic preservation, well-maintained vintage properties, and a strong community spirit are all evident in this quaint city. Images of natural beauty are graced by picturesque reminders of yesterday, including a famous covered bridge. Home to the Preble County Fairgrounds, Eaton hosts many of the special events and festivals around the calendar year. Each December, the city’s Whispering Christmas celebration transforms the town into a breathtaking wonderland of holiday images set in lights. Farmer’s markets, the Preble County Fair, colorful festivals, and community or school events feature prominently in daily life.
Lewisburg
Village Offices
937-962-4377
https://lewisburg.webs.com/
Chamber of Commerce
937-456-4949
https://www.preblecountyohio.com/
The small, welcoming village of Lewisburg claims a surprisingly strong local economy that draws a mix of chemists, engineers, physicians, lawyers, agricultural specialists, and artists to its modest population. Some are employed in local business and industry, while others retreat to homes in the peaceful countryside after a day’s work in regional employment centers. Just 30 minutes from major metropolitan amenities, Lewisburg is well-served by Interstate 70 as well as the Old National Route 40 and State Route 503. Dayton International Airport is just a 20-minute drive. Lewisburg is home to the Derby Days Celebration, although the community spirit is strong and many regularly scheduled and special events fill the annual calendar. Farmer’s markets, antique fairs, the county fair, arts and craft classes, and the vast recreational delights of Hueston Woods State Park with its premier resort facilities are all close to home.
New Paris
Village Offices
937-437-3216
https://www.newparisoh.com/
Chamber of Commerce
937-903-6735
https://www.newparisoh.com/
The small and friendly village of New Paris and surrounding Jefferson Township are nestled in a picturesque valley, offering a scenic landscape for long-established neighborhoods and new-home construction. Volunteerism runs high in this close-knit community where neighbors greet each other by name and wave from front porches. Civic, social, and church organizations play an active role in daily life, sponsoring many of the events that bring friends and family together. Medical care, arts and crafts instruction, commercial conveniences, and many of the county’s largest events are available in the hub city of Eaton, just minutes from home. At the same time, the world-class cultural enrichment, professional sports, and entertainment venues of several metropolitan areas are easily accessible. Hueston Woods State Park adds premier recreational facilities and resources, from rustic camping sites and panoramic trails to a contemporary resort with swimming pools and a championship golf course.
West Alexandria
Village Offices
937-839-4168
Chamber of Commerce
937-456-4949
https://www.preblecountyohio.com/
The small, friendly, and inviting village of West Alexandria is ideally located at the intersections of US 35 and State Route 503 in eastern Preble County, just two miles from the Montgomery Country border. Although this intimate community has remained relatively unchanged over the past several decades, business and educational growth have accelerated in recent years. For example, the construction of a state-of-the-art facility for grades K-12 inside the village limits has helped to place West Alexandria “on the map” in Preble County. Several new businesses have also moved into the village, from manufacturing enterprises to convenient services. As the urban sprawl from Metropolitan Dayton and Montgomery County continues, no doubt the growth and development in quiet rural villages like West Alexandria will continue. School, civic, and social organizations play a significant role in bringing friends and neighbors together in West Alexandria, where Oktoberfest is an especially lively celebration.
