By DAN LIGGETT
A 200th birthday bash only comes around once, and Wilmington and Clinton County are making plans for a yearlong blast.

   Next year marks the bicentennial of both Clinton County and its county seat of Wilmington. Well in advance of 2010, the community has been hard at work making plans for a bicentennial blowout.
   The Clinton County Bicentennial Commission has been meeting the past several months to plan and coordinate a series of special events residents and visitors to the county are sure to enjoy, Debbie Stamper, executive director of the Clinton County Visitors and Convention Bureau, said.
   With a few months remaining until 2010, excitement and anticipation is building. Local residents, civic groups and businesses are getting
onboard Clinton County’s bicentennial bandwagon.
   Visitors to bicentennial events will see a community proud of its
rich history, agricultural and business heritage, and strength of
schools and families. And, these events will be a lot of fun.
   The collective goal is to make this bicentennial celebration one for the history books.
   It was on Feb. 19, 1810, that the state of Ohio’s General Assembly established Clinton County. That year, the population of the county was 2,674. In approving establishment of the county, the Legislature laid the foundation for this place that, today, over 46,000 call “home.”
   The county was named for George Clinton, who served as vice president under two United States presidents. He served under President Thomas
Jefferson from 1805 to 1809 and under President James Madison from 1809 to 1812, when Mr. Clinton died in office.
   When the county was founded, a county seat was needed in order to  establish a location to hold courts. According to records maintained by the Clinton County Historical Society, 50 acres were donated by
David Faulkner and 10 acres by Joseph Dean for the establishment of a county seat. In 1810, the highest price paid for a lot was $100 and the lowest price was $4.12.
The small community was initially named Clinton as well, but the county seat would be renamed three times. By Sept. 10, 1810, the name was changed to Armenia. Before year’s end, the community was called Mt. Pleasant. Finally, on Feb. 10, 1811, nearly one year after the county was established, the name of the county seat became Wilmington in honor of the Quaker immigrants who settled in Clinton County from Delaware and North Carolina. The Quaker heritage remains strong in Clinton County to this day.
   In August 1910, Wilmington and Clinton County celebrated its
Centennial Homecoming. That year, the population of the county was 23,680.
   Residents, returning relatives and visitors came to celebrate four days of festivities. Streets, businesses and homes were decorated in red, white and blue flags and bunting. More than 30,000 onlookers enjoyed a parade of decorated automobiles and pony carts, marching bands and floats. The parade also featured 650 members of the Odd
Fellows carrying colorful umbrellas. It was a grand parade in which Wilmington and Clinton County’s villages participated.
   In addition to enjoying the many planned centennial activities, visitors also could shop for the latest clothing styles at Haworth & Cast. They could purchase beautiful glass tumblers for 10 cents at A.C. Stone’s The Famous; a fountain pen for $1 at T.E. Brindle, druggist; or an Invincible Schacht Mobile car at W.H. Smith in Kingman.
   Many more opportunities await visitors to next year’s bicentennial celebration. In between the many special activities and events that are planned, visitors can browse the many stores in Wilmington and in Clinton County’s villages, or enjoy a meal at any one of the numerous
restaurants throughout the county.
   In Wilmington, visitors can shop for the latest styles at Peebles in the east side shopping center or for books or gifts at Books ‘n’ More in the downtown. They can order a fabulous meal at the historically restored General Denver Hotel or The Mediterranean. To satisfy the
sweet tooth, there is no better ice cream than at Gibson’s Goodies in Wilmington. These are only a few of the many local businesses waiting to serve visitors to the county’s bicentennial.
   Here are some of the special bicentennial activities scheduled so far:
n “Hear the Sound,” a bicentennial event planned for the weekend of Feb. 19, 2010, the actual anniversary of the Legislature’s action to establish Clinton County. This collaboration of Larrick Entertainment of Sabina and Wilmington College will feature a live performance of music from the past 200 years.
n Clinton County Barn Quilt Project, encompassing a self-guided driving tour to see numerous quilt designs displayed on barns, connecting the county into one large patchwork quilt. There currently are 23 barn owners committed to the project.
n The Clinton County Bicentennial Parade, which will take place July 4th weekend in the community of Blanchester. Over 100 units, including marching bands and floats, will join in, making it a parade to remember.
n “Clinton County: 200 Years of Whispers” will include a walking tour of “Haunted Historic Wilmington” planned for October and November 2010.
   The one-mile tour will highlight several historic buildings, including the Clinton County Courthouse, Samuel Walker Building and the Clinton County Visitors and Convention Bureau. An investigator of the paranormal will relay the spooky details. The event will include dinner at the historic General Denver Hotel and, after the tour, dessert at Jen’s Deli in downtown Wilmington. These are just a sample of the numerous events in the works.
   Interested persons can refer often to the county’s bicentennial Web site: www.clintoncountybicentennial.com for updated information and a current list of scheduled events and activities.