For thousands of years, prior to the coming of the white man, the Plain City area was a favorite hunting and camping locality for prehistoric Indians. The first human beings here were Indians who traveled along Big Darby Creek Valley just after the retreat of the glaciers over 16,000 years ago. The creek itself is named after a Wyandot Indian Chief named Darby.

The Village of Plain City lies in what is known as the Virginia Military District.

Jonathan Alder, who spent his boyhood with the Indians near Zanesfield in Logan County, lived in a number of places along Big Darby, several of which were in the vicinity of Plain City. One of his cabin sights was along the creek east of the present North Avenue. After having moved several times from lands claimed by the first settlers, Alder finally gained title to land south of Plain City on Chillicothe Road where his cabin stood for many years.

Growth was slow and uncertain in the early years of Pleasant Valley. The town had the advantage of being located on Post Road, over which many of the early emigrants moved on their way west. A log building, surrounded with underbrush and thickets of hazel and plum, served as the first hotel. It was known as the “Travelers Inn”.

Council meetings were first held in the local depot. Much of the Council business was concerned with keeping the streets in good condition. Each citizen was obligated to donate two days work with team and wagons per year or else hire someone to do it for him.

By the late 1920’s Plain City had become an important railroad shipping point for livestock. Droves of sheep and cattle were driven through the center of town and down Maple Street (then Railroad Street) to the pens and loading shutes across from the depot.

In the middle thirties the old school building was torn down and a new modern building erected in its place in 1936 and 1937. In 1956 the newly consolidated Jonathan Alder Local School district was in operation.

In 1959 the Big Darby Creek overflowed and Plain City saw the biggest flood in the history of the town. There was also a major flood in June of 1997.

In the middle fifties the municipal light and power plant, owned by the city for over fifty years, was sold to the Ohio Edison Company. The proceeds were used to improve the water system and build the municipal swimming pool.

On July 12, 1966, a tornado, the first in over fifty years, caused widespread damage. In Pastime Park nearly 100 large oak trees were blown down or damaged, including one giant tree estimated to have been over 150 years old.

Many people have come and gone over the years. Some have made their mark on Plain City and others have left little impression. But all of them distinguished or undistinguished have contributed to the total which makes history what it is, the story of Plain City’s past.