'The city of Geneva' was formed from a part of Geneva Township, Ashtabula County, OhioGeneva Township, which was a part of Harpersfield Township until 1816. Geneva became its own township when a small group that lived just north of Harpersfield Village decided to withdraw from Harpersfield Township. At the suggestion of Levi Gaylord, they named their new community Geneva after Geneva, New York. With the completion of the Erie Canal in 1820, the introduction of steamboats, and an increase in shipping on Lake Erie, areas north of Harpersfield, especially near the lake, became more attractive for settlement. In Geneva's early years, the south ridge (today transversed by Ohio Route 84) served as its main road. Geneva's first frame school house was erected by its side in 1821. By 1829, Geneva had spread from the south ridge to the north ridge (today U.S. Highway 20), so in 1829 a post office was established on the north ridge for Geneva residents, who originally had to go to Harpersfield for their mail. In 1866, Geneva became an incorporated village, and Dennis Thorp served as its first mayor. In 1896, the town had a population of three thousand. In 1958, Geneva became a city with a new charter system of government, and the first city manager, Robert C. Salisbury, entered office. Geneva Township, Ashtabula County, OhioGeneva Township remains; it surrounds the incorporated area of the city of Geneva. On April 6th, 1966, in celebration of a century from the incorporation of the city of Geneva, Ohio, 35 representatives of its citizenry, “in the presence of God”, signed a “Declaration of Lunar Ownership”. According to Virgiliu Pop, the author of "Unreal Estate: The Men who Sold the Moon", the Ohioans assumed “full possession and complete responsibility” of the Moon, bowing “to no man or State in its sovereign right so to do”. The “Declaration of Lunar Ownership”, unveiled on April 12th in the High School auditorium before over 200 persons, was in fact a stunt aimed at drawing attention to the city’s centennial celebrations, capitalizing on the nation’s fascination with lunar exploration. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva%2C_Ohio