Zoar Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Zoar Historic District
Why it's listed
Zoar, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, is a small village founded in 1817 by German Separatists who soon organized as a communal society to pay off their land debt and secure their livelihood. Surviving buildings date from 1817 to 1898 and include the 1835 Number One House, a brick Georgian-style residence, along with a garden and greenhouse, a sewing house, a church finished about 1854, a boys' dormitory, a hotel and a canal inn. Sites of a lime kiln, foundry, woolen factory, grist mill and brewery remain as foundations with archaeological potential. Under Joseph Baumeler the community prospered in agriculture and industry, and its holdings were worth over a million dollars when he died in 1853. Economic decline and internal dissension ended the society in 1898. The district was enlarged to protect additional buildings and sites from development, highway and power line projects. Because of its isolation, the village retains much of its early character, and the Ohio Historical Society maintains key buildings.
Significance in brief: Zoar was founded in 1817 by German Separatists who adopted a communal system and built a self-sufficient village with farming and industry. Much of the village nucleus survives nearly intact, and it offers an excellent study of European culture and architecture transplanted to Ohio. The expansion was meant to protect Zoarite buildings and archaeological sites threatened by development, highway and power line projects.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75002124, listed August 11, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Village of Zoar along OH 212, Village of Zoar along OH 212 |
|---|---|
| County | Tuscarawas County |
| Listed | August 11, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75002124 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1817-1898 |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian colonial (Number One House); otherwise mostly vernacular frame and brick buildings |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Agriculture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mostly privately owned residential village; key buildings owned by the State of Ohio and being restored as Zoar State Memorial. The Canal Inn is deteriorated but sound. Only one intrusion, a small brick pumphouse. |
| Acreage | 211 |
| Within district | Zoar Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 40.61099, -81.42320 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75002124.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q49584029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.