The Story of Toledo: A City Built on Many Roots

Toledo, Ohio—the place I call home—has a history that runs deeper than most of us were ever taught in school. Officially founded in 1837, the city sits on the ancestral lands of the Kiiakapoi, Meškwahki·aša·hina, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Bodwéwadmi, Ottawa, Wyandot, and Myaamia Nations. Long before the railroads and factories, this land carried stories, ceremony, and stewardship from its first people. That history matters—and it's still being lived and reclaimed today.

Toledo’s growth was shaped by its access to the Maumee River and the canal systems, which turned it into a hub for trade, travel, and opportunity. As industry expanded in the 19th and early 20th centuries, neighborhoods like Birmingham and East Toledo began to form their own identities. Waves of immigrants built homes, churches, and schools while weaving their cultures into the fabric of the city. East Toledo alone grew from just a few hundred residents in the 1870s to around 45,000 by the 1920s. That’s wild when you think about it.

Toledo also has deep roots in the labor movement. This city stood up and made noise during pivotal moments like the 1934 Auto-Lite Strike, which helped pave the way for union protections across the country. Leaders like Mayor Sam “Golden Rule” Jones brought humanity into politics with ideas that were way ahead of their time—talking fair wages and dignity when it wasn’t exactly popular.

And then there’s the Black community—resilient, rooted, and powerful. Since Toledo’s early days, Black residents have helped shape its music, politics, businesses, and education systems, all while navigating injustice and pushing for equity. The Library's archives hold so many beautiful snapshots—photos, oral histories, handwritten notes—of our people simply living, thriving, and making Toledo what it is.

I also love that Toledo’s history includes handwritten letters from local soldiers who served in the Civil War and World War I. It makes it feel personal—like someone just down the street lived through those moments and wrote home about it. Their voices echo through time.

This city isn’t perfect—but it’s layered, complicated, and full of soul. And thanks to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s digital collections, we can all explore the stories that built it. The more I learn, the more I fall in love with this place.