Business View Civil and Municipal | January 2021

94 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL JANUARY 2021 T he City of Norwood, in Hamilton County, Ohio, was first settled in 1809 when Samuel Bowman purchased a plot of land at the crossroads of what is now Montgomery Road and Smith Carthage Ave. He built a tavern on the land, while another man, John Sharp was busy building a general store across the street. This small community was known as Sharpsburg, until Sarah Bolles, who was married to a local proprietor, suggested it be changed to Norwood. She felt this name, which is an abbreviation of HIO Gem of the Highlands “North Wood” would better reflect the beautiful, dense forests in the area. Over time the community grew until officially becoming a city in 1903. Through the years, Norwood has continued to evolve, through periods of growth and times of hardship. With a recent change in leadership, the city has been moving forward in 2020. Mayor Victor Schneider reports, “Norwood has all sorts of excitement going on. This is the