Ohio's Historic Township Is A Nostalgic Vision Of Small-Town America Little Changed For Hundreds Of Years

Just 40 miles from Cleveland, in the heart of pastoral Geauga County, sits the little village of Burton, Ohio.   With a population of about 1,400, Burton is a quintessential small town where kids play outside, everyone knows everyone, and there are strong community ties.

Burton holds the informal title of Pancake Town USA because it has an abundance of maple trees. For nearly 100 years, there has been a maple syrup house right in the center of town which produces locally sourced maple sugar, candy, and syrup. Every Sunday in March, the village holds a special pancake breakfast, with all the trimmings and complete with locally made maple syrup, to raise money for the town's local organizations. You can see the tradition in action when you visit the Burton Chamber log cabin to take a tour and watch people make maple candy.

Typical when it comes to US travel, the easiest way to get to and around Burton is to drive, but if that's not an option for you then you can get a tram or bus part of the way from Cleveland and then get a taxi for the remainder of your journey. There are a few holiday homes and Airbnbs in or near Burton, but you can also camp at Punderson State Park,which is just four miles away. While you're in the area, don't forget to check out more of the most charming small towns in Ohio.

Settled in 1798, Burton was the first long-lasting settlement in Geauga County. Little has changed over the last 100 years in parts of this village, and as you walk through town you will be hit with a nostalgic vision of what small town America used to be like, both in the 1800s and even just a few decades ago.

Scattered across the town, you will find various historical markers telling you local facts. You can take a self-guided historical stroll through the town to soak up the yesteryear vibes. The streets are lined with 19th century federal, Greek revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne architecture, including the old-timey Burton Congregational Church, which was built in 1836.

History buffs will enjoy a visit to Century Village Museum,a collection of 19th-century houses where you can take a tour to learn more about the local history. Many of the buildings are more than 150 years old, and they are well preserved to offer visitors a sense of what life used to look like.

Here, you can pop into Quintealia's Tea Parlor. Located in one of the historic residences, this tea shop gives you the chance to go inside, enjoy the Victorian-style interior design, and have an English afternoon tea experience complete with cute little cakes! You can also visit the school house, which was built in 1872. There is a range of events held in town throughout the year, including civil war reenactments and quaint festivals.

Burton is right in the middle of the countryside, and the second you drive out of town, you will pass farms, woods, nature reserves, and state parks. From Burton, it's less than an hour's drive to Ohio's hidden preserve which is packed with lakes, streams, trails, and forests.

Every fall, Burton's Century Village Museum hosts their annual Apple Butter festival, a super autumnal event where you smell the sweet spices in the air and feel like you've stepped back in time as you watch people toiling away, woodworking and blacksmithing. You can even have a go at these traditional crafts yourself and learn how to make fresh apple butter!

Geauga County is home to the fourth largest population of Amish in the world, and the second-largest population in the state of Ohio. There are also various Amish residences in the countryside around Burton, and it's common to pass by a horse and buggy while out on the road. There are even horse and buggy parking options for the Amish at local stores. Burton is a place where you can see the Amish going about their daily lives alongside other members of the community, and the nearby shops offer a way to learn about their culture. Looking for more?  Sample the scenic, simple life on a charming road trip down Ohio's Amish country byway.