Known nationally as Ohio's Little Switzerland, the village of Sugarcreek is located in western Tuscarawas County, close to the Holmes/ Tuscarawas border.

The village traces its history to 1882, soon after the Conotton Valley Railroad went through the Sugar Creek Valley. At that time, the area had only one settlement, named Shanesville.

When a cluster of buildings sprang up around the new railroad depot, the new village was simply called the town east of Shanesville.

In 1888, the little town with no name of its own opened a post office, and it was formally named after the body of water running nearby: Sugarcreek. Eleven years later, just before the turn of the century, Sugarcreek was incorporated.

Because of the extensive clay and coal deposits in the area, the brick and tile industry took off almost immediately in Sugarcreek. The little village flourished, taking over its parent town, Shanesville, both in population and in geography. (Eventually the two villages merged in 1968, and the name Shanesville was dropped.)

Between 1900 and 1911, Sugarcreek received telephone service, electricity and a water system, respectively.

Sugarcreek's newspaper, The Budget, was first printed in 1890 and it has continued to serve the area since that time.

Apart from its local readership, the paper has an international circulation among Mennonites and Amish.

In addition to a large Amish population, Sugarcreek is also home to numerous descendants of Swiss immigrants who settled in the area beginning in the early 1800s. These immigrants opened small factories where they practiced an art native to their homeland - cheesemaking. Their prosperity has led to Sugarcreek's role as the center of Ohio's Swiss cheese industry.

In 1953, Sugarcreek was the setting for the first Ohio Swiss Festival, still a huge annual event. Thousands flock to Sugarcreek each year in early fall to see the Swiss-style buildings, enjoy food, rides and events and visit the town's prominent historical museum on Main Street.

More than two thousand residents call Sugarcreek home today. The village boasts many prosperous restaurants, gift shops and attractions. And of course, the entire village looks forward each year to the unique festival that gives Sugarcreek its proud identity.

Some information taken from the History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 1988, by the Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society. (September 2001 Edition)