In the spring of 1816 Herman Ely of West Springfield, Massachusetts came to Ohio to look after his estate. He had a dam built and erected a grist and sawmill on the East Branch of the Black River. He returned to Massachusetts in the fall, married and returned with his wife living in a log cabin until his house was built, the first permanent structure of the settlement.

A great of the township has been absorbed by the City of Elyria which is the county seat of Lorain County.

 As of the 2020 census the population was 3,250.

The author of this site has lived in the City of Elyria for over 30 years.