Here Are 9 Of The Tiniest Towns Around Cleveland That Are Always Worth A Visit

Chagrin Falls Township and the Village of Chagrin Falls have a combined population of barely over 4,000 residents. Despite this minuscule population, this vibrant community has grown to be revered by tourists and locals alike.

Its iconic Popcorn Shop (pictured) has been appropriately featured in the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, an honorable nod to the town where the comic creator spent his childhood. The community is named for its impressive waterfall at the center of town, a feature that led to the village's early growth in the days of water power.

The above image may not look like much, but this recently restored building is believed to be the oldest remaining tavern building in Ohio. The community of Unionville is named for its location between two counties, and this unique tavern from 1798 interestingly mirrors this concept of unity itself.

The community was staunchly abolitionist throughout the pre-Antebellum period. Milton and Lewis Clarke, two fugitive slaves, addressed crowds at this tavern just one day before Milton was captured and beaten by slave catchers. The abolitionist community saved Milton, then vowed that no fugitive slaves would ever be captured in Lake County again. It is said that this story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe, "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war," during her own stay at the Unionville Tavern.

Though this tiny village has around 750 residents, it's the richest neighborhood in Ohio and one of the richest in the nation. This community is one of five that originally comprised Orange Township and it is filled with grand, gorgeous homes. The land was once populated by indigenous cultures and the first European settlers to discover its pristine beauty were French fur traders. Bridle paths, polo fields, and lovingly tended landscapes make this community one of the area's loveliest.

With a mere 3,000 residents, a community as small as Madison is easy to overlook. However, it abounds with the quaint charms of Northeast Ohio's wine country, and it also hides a unique history.

Frederick Burr Opper is a name you may not recognize, but he's well known in the cartoonist community as one of the pioneers of newspaper comic strips. Opper was born in Madison and started his career at the community newspaper, though he'd go on to accept a job offer from media magnate William Randolph Hearst. He became one of the era's premier cartoonists and would go on to brush elbows with presidents and celebrities. He had a dedicated following in Italy, and one of his characters was the nation's most beloved. And to think Opper was born in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone else!

Hinckley Township is one of Northeast Ohio's most vibrant gems. The community is home to just under 8,000 people, a cluster stretched out over nearly 27 square miles of space. This area is famous for the annual return of the buzzards, a traditional day of celebration linked to a famous and now-fabled historical hunt. The township hosts Hinckley Reservation, the southernmost reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks district, and for the Buzzard Cove mini golf fun park.

Pictured here is the decommissioned Grand River Light, a stunning lighthouse that operated from 1871 to 1925. Now a museum, this is just one of many features in the petite community of Fairport Harbor. Around 3,000 residents call this community home, and it includes alluring attractions like the Finnish Heritage Museum, the modern Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse, and the eternally stunning Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park.

While Geauga County is startling close to home, the area accounts for one of the largest Amish settlements in the world. However, at just under 3,000 residents, this community is as petite and charming as any community in the countryside. You'll find indulgent delights like cheese chalets and chocolate shops in this community, plus you'll be treated to a rolling landscape that's straight out of a fairytale.

Boston Township is located in a portion of Summit County that abounds with natural beauty. Coveted for its location along Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this area abounds with history. Within its expanse, you'll find two villages: Peninsula and Boston Heights. Pictured above is Boston Township Hall, the area's most iconic building on Route 303. It was built in 1887 and designed by John Eisenmann, the same individual that dreamed up Ohio's state flag and crafted the design for the magnificent Cleveland Arcade.

No, you didn't just spot a ghostly Civil War battle; you're just in Bath Township, home to around 9,000 people and the impressionable Hale Farm and Village. The community is stretched across 22 square miles, and 34 of its most historic structures can be found in Hale Farm and Village. This living history museum is practically a town itself, and it will take you back in time with demonstrations of largely forgotten 19th-century trades. If you are lucky, you may even witness a reenactment from our nation's bloodiest battle.