Founded in 1806 by James Heaton, the settlement was originally named Heaton Furnace and soon after was changed to Nilestown. Heaton is credited with manufacturing the first bar iron in Ohio in 1809; by 1880 Niles had become one of the leading iron manufacturers in the state due to local industrialists. The era of steel and automobile manufacturing brought continued prosperity to the area through the mid-1900s. Learn More...