City

Diving into the history of how Dublin became a city

Prior to 1987, Dublin, Ohio was a rural village, often described as a “poor farm town.” Now, it boasts 50,000 residents and 4,000+ businesses.

August 4, 2023 • 
Mitch Hooper
The Memorial Tournament in Dublin | Photo via The Memorial Tournament

The opening of the Muirfield Village Golf Club helped put Dublin on the map. | Photo by Ryan Young/PGA TOUR

Thanks to this post, we were reminded August is when Dublin became a city in Ohio. In honor of the its birth month, we’re taking a quick dive into its now 36-year-old history.

  • Pre-1803: Native Americans were the first to live in what is now known as Dublin.
  • 1803-1810: Ludwig Sells + his family settle in Historic Dublin and later establish a village.
  • 1870-1905: While in Dublin, The Sells family created and managed the largest circus in the world at that time for 35 years.
  • 1910-1970: Locals often described Dublin as a “poor farming town” due to vacant and dilapidated buildings.
  • 1967-1972: Ashland Chemical Company relocates to Dublin, I-270 connects to the village, and Muirfield Village Golf Course opens.
  • 1987: Dublin officially becomes a city thanks to more than a decade of business growth.
  • Present: Dublin is home to 50,000+ residents and 4,300+ businesses.