What's in a Name?

Western Reserve Land Conservancy

To us, Western Reserve Land Conservancy says so much. When the original colonies were settled, it was not yet clear how far the land expanded to the west, so the boundaries were left open. The land we live on today was originally part of Connecticut. Even when Connecticut was forced to give up some of its western lands in exchange for federal relief of its American Revolution war debt, it held onto more than three million acres in Ohio. This land became known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. However, in 1796, Connecticut sold that land to investors who settled in the region. The name, Western Reserve, remained to describe our region of northeastern Ohio. Our name, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, reflects our dedication to serving our entire region.

 

western reserve land conservancy map

Did you know...The Firelands region has historical connections to Connecticut as well. Huron and Erie counties, as well as portions of Ottawa and Ashland counties, are known as the Firelands because they came from land that was set aside for Connecticut residents who lost their homes in fires set by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. In 1792, the Connecticut legislature set aside 500,000 acres for the "sufferers" of the fires. Even today, many of the communities and townships in the Firelands are named after areas in Connecticut.