Preble County Ohio A-Z. "E" is for Eaton. 
"E" is for Eaton, county seat of Preble County and the only official city of Preble County. It's really tough to do a blog on Eaton to be honest, because there is so much to offer in this little city that I hesitate to write and inadvertently leave something out. All the same, I'll start with some basic facts and data, and then I'll give you a little bit more meat and potatoes on what the appeal is.
Eaton was founded in 1806 by William Bruce. Eaton derives its name from Gen. William Eaton (1764-1811), the U.S. Consul at Tunis, who led a diverse army in a harrowing march from Egypt to Tripoli to meet the U.S. Naval forces. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles and home to some 9000 residents.
Schools located in the City of Eaton include:
Hollingsworth East Elementary School (grades K-2)
William Bruce Elementary School (grades 3-5)
Eaton Middle School (grades 6-8)
Eaton High School (grades 9-12)
Churches in Eaton include:
Eaton Church of Christ, Eaton First Church of the Nazarene ,Eaton United Church of Christ, Evangel Assembly of God Church, First Baptist Church, First Church of God, First United Presbyterian Church, Saint Paul United Methodist Church, Gateway Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church.
The Eaton school's mascot is the Fighting Eagle and the colors are Purple and Gold. Eaton includes Crystal Lake, Seven Mile Creek, the historical Roberts Bridge, Historical Fort St. Clair and Water Works Park.
2008 cost of living index in Eaton: 78.2 (low, U.S. average is 100). Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $115,486 (it was $83,600 in 2000).
So now let's get to the good stuff shall we?
When I moved to Eaton in 1988, this was a sleepy little town. Over the years the City has experienced controlled growth, and now offers much more diversity, without becoming so big as to compromise the values and pace that the community is used to.
Retail growth has been a bit slow in my opinion, but I do appreciate that the City government wants to protect small business. The problem with big business is that it has a tendency to push out the "mom and pops" of the area. It changes not only the "small town" appeal, but the overall dynamics of the city, from the population to the architecture to the crime rate. So although I do long for things like a shopping mall or some larger restaurants to come to town, I think the costs would ultimately outweigh the benefits.
I'm just going to take the opportunity to name a few of MY favorite things about Eaton. If you would like to add anything, comments are welcome so have at it!!
Places to eat:
Fiesta Charra Mexican Cuisine. Located in the Five Points Centre on N. Barron St. REAL, authentic, cheesy, saucy, hot, delicious Mexican food. HUGE margaritas. Salsa and fresh tortilla chips to die for. Kick butt guacamole. Best part? Cheap!!
Sonic. This just came into Eaton this past spring (2009) so I guess I'm still in the honeymoon phase. But let's be honest; ice cold drinks, really good onion rings, big juicy burgers, ice cream treats...what's not to like?
Taffy's. Located in downtown Eaton, on Main (SR 35). Just east of the Preble County Courthouse is this little gem. If atmosphere is what you crave, Taffy's has it. Intimate setting, coffees, teas and chai oh my, fresh pastries, gourmet sandwiches, home baked desserts. Plus live entertainment, Wi-Fi and more ambiance than 20 Starbucks.
Carmela's Pizza. Recently established. Great pizza and garlic bites to die for.
The Eaton Place. This little place is the talk of the town and has been for as long as I can recall. Simply put, it's a diner. Only opened from 6am to 3 pm, and closed on Sundays. Home cooked hearty food, the local watering hole, a good place for great food and interesting conversation. A place you feel good taking the kids or company.
Jels. THE sports bar of Eaton. Full bar. Cold beers. Big screen TV's. Burgers, steaks, fried mushrooms, and some delicious nachos. Getting hungry just thinking about it!
Peking Palace. Located in the Five Points Centre, a cozy Chinese restaurant. Dark and comfortable. Intimate booths. Full buffet. Bona fide Chinese cuisine.
Places to play:
Fort St Clair. Historical Park. Beautiful wooded park, with paved walking/driving road, trails, playground, covered shelters for picnics and community events. This is a beautiful park, and the "Whispering Christmas" is not to be missed.
Crystal Lake. This lake ties into seven mile creek and offers picturesque spots to lunch, fish, reflect and feed the geese and ducks.
Eaton Soccer Park. Ok, even if you aren't a soccer buff or have kids that play soccer, if you enjoy walking, are an avid runner, or just want to get Fido out for some fresh air, this park has a very nice walking path surrounding the whole area. It also offers a great playground for the little ones.
Lakengren. Eaton's own gated community. Offering lakes, lodge, security, pool, water sports of all kinds, plus spectacular real estate. I've written many blogs about Lakengren. Here is a link to one such blog.
Random places and things I enjoy:
Cato. I'm a shopaholic. This store I REALLY like. Cute clothes, great prices. Enough said.
The Preble County Pork Festival. Held annually every third week in September, this event celebrates all things Pork, plus a craft fair that cant be beat. Here is more info on this festival.
Just Teasin'. This is where I get my hair done. Located in downtown Eaton, this hair salon is contemporary without being pretentious. They cater to women, men and kids of all ages. My hairstylist, Rachel Sawesky is great, but I don't think they have a bad stylist there.
The Eaton YMCA. Opened in February of 2003, the "y" boasts a six lane, 25 yard lap pool, gymnasium, fitness center, indoor walking track and a teen center.
There is honestly just so much more to the City of Eaton that I just don't have the space or time to mention. I might just have to do a "Part II" on this one. So if you have something, someplace or someone you would like mentioned, let me know!
Comments(0)