Since pre-historic times, Indigenous peoples of the AmericasNative Americans (notably the Ottawa (tribe)Ottawa) were the first to utilize the rich resources at the present site of Maumee, Ohio, in the Maumee River Valley. Throughout much of the eighteenth century, French, British and American forces struggled for control of the lower Maumee River as a major transportation artery linking East and West. A decisive American victory over the British and their Native American allies at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794 and the conclusion of the War of 1812 opened the way for American expansion and attracted Eastern emigrants intent on making a fortune in western lands. A town plat was laid out in 1817 at the Foot of the Rapids of the Maumee River and within a decade, the settlement was gaining recognition as a major trans-shipment point connecting Lake Erie and the far west. The opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal in 1840 further stimulated the economy and led Jessup Scott, a noted town promoter, to predict that Maumee would become the "great city of the West," surpassing all rivals. By mid-century Maumee was indeed a flourishing center of river trade, commerce and shipbuilding. Nearly twenty mercantile establishments crowded along the three miles of ship docks competing for the retail and wholesale trade. Maumee was chosen as the county seat in 1840 and jurists came from miles around to practice in the imposing Greek Revival Lucas County Courthouse erected by private subscription from local citizens. The federal custom house and post office also were located in Maumee. Dreams of greatness began to fade in the 1850s as larger ships too deep to navigate up river were introduced and the railroad proved a faster and cheaper means of transportation. Population expanded westward and Maumee lost the county seat designation in 1854. A "gas boom" in the 1880s was short lived and Maumee became, as one observer noted, " a sleepy little town." It would be nearly a century later; in the 1970s that Maumee would experience a real economic renaissance. Today, Maumee is home to one of the largest business centers in Northwest Ohio. Together, Arrowhead Business Park and Maumee's historic business community contribute to the 30,000 plus jobs located in the community. Over the years Maumee's original boundaries have expanded and the population has grown from the small group of promoters who applied for a municipal charter in 1838 to over 15,000 residents. Although Maumee has experienced many changes, its neighborhoods retain their small town ambiance and many of the historic homes and buildings of the early residents still grace the tree lined streets of the architectural districts. *http://www.maumeevalleyheritagecorridor.org/ Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maumee%2C_Ohio