Where is Irwin, Ohio?

There is a coffee shop at my church - St. Paul Lutheran Church. This is in the tiny little hamlet of Chuckery, Ohio. And, though not the subject of my story, this little coffee shop is the reason that I have set out today to learn more about Irwin, Ohio. I drive through Irwin every time I go into Mechanicsburg to buy more coffee for the St. Paul - HeBrews Coffee Shop.


Irwin, Ohio

Irwin, Ohio is a small village in the southwest corner of Union Township in Union County, Ohio. This small village is located at the intersection of State Routes 161 and 4. There is a US Post Office located in this village with a zipcode of 43029. However, the rumor of closing this office and transferring mail delivery to Mechansicsburg, Ohio is currently the talk of the town.

Irwin was founded by John Irwin in 1808. It was first called Irwin Station as a stop on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis Railroad. The village is not and never has been incorporated. It is a platted village, but the plat has never been recorded in the Union County offices. A post office was first established in the village on May 15, 1858. David Clements served as the first postmaster. At its height of prosperity, Irwin boasted a Methodist Church, a post office, a sawmill, a grain elevator, a blacksmith, a grocer, a doctor, a school, and a shoe shop. Today nearly all that remain are houses, a post office, and the quaint Caldwell Memorial United Methodist Church.

There is more to Irwin's importance in Ohio agriculture. But, my time is short today. The story of Irwin's place in Ohio agriculture will have to wait until another day.