Bolivar, OH

Tucked along the Tuscarawas River at the northern edge of the county, Bolivar is a quiet village with an easygoing rhythm. Its past as a 19th-century canal hub is still visible along Canal Street, where historic brick buildings and the old grain mill give the downtown its character. Today, that old waterway serves as part of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, giving residents a shaded, scenic route for morning bike rides, dog walks, and weekend runs right through town.

Right across the river sits Fort Laurens, Ohio's only Revolutionary War fort site. It features a small museum, but locals mostly treat the expansive, grassy grounds as a favorite park for picnics, flying kites, or watching the river flow by. With a friendly community library, local eateries, and a quick connection to Interstate 77 for trips up to Canton, Bolivar is an appealing spot for anyone looking for peaceful small-town living surrounded by green space.