SanduskyCoVisitorsPageHYPERLINKS EXPORTED

Fremont originally developed at the site of an historic Wyandot village along the banks of the
Sandusky River. A French trading post was established here in the 1750s. By 1787, the United
States established the Northwest Territory of which this area was included. By the time Ohio
became a state in 1803, this area called Lower Sandusky was defined as Indian Territory.
In the early 1800s as tension built between Great Britain and the United States, the United
States built a fort in this area on the Sandusky River called Fort Sandusky. During the War of
1812, this name was changed to Fort Stephenson. In August 1813, the Battle of Fort
Stephenson was fought at this location. This battle proved to be a major victory for the United
States under the leadership of Major George Croghan. During this battle, Croghan and his
troops held off a British attack with the use of a single cannon called Old Betsy. The cannon still
remains on the site of the battlefield which is where Birchard Public Library is now located.
In 1821, Lower Sandusky was chosen as the County Seat. The name of Lower Sandusky was
changed to Fremont in 1849 in honor of American John C. Fremont, an explorer, politician and
soldier who was instrumental in acquiring California by defeating Mexican forces in the
Mexican-American War.
Photos by
Natural Lance Photography
Sanduskycounty.org Page 4