The township around Louisville
Nimishillen Township is the countryside that surrounds the City of Louisville. It sits in eastern Stark County between Plain Township to the west and Washington Township to the east, with Marlboro to the north and Osnaburg to the south, and a small piece of Canton reaches into its southwest corner. The 2020 census counted 9,354 people across about 31.7 square miles.
It is also the only Nimishillen Township in Ohio. The name comes from Nimishillen Creek, which rises mostly inside the township; the creek’s name came from local Native Americans and combines words for black alder or winterberry and stream.
From timber and clay soil to large-lot homes
The first settlers came between 1805 and 1807 and founded Nimishillentown, and the township was organized on March 16, 1809. The county planning commission says timber, especially poplar and chestnut, drew them, while clay soil and gravel held farming back. By 1833 the township had one gristmill, five sawmills, two tanneries and a store.
Molly Stark Park, on the former grounds of the Molly Stark Hospital at 7900 Columbus Road, sits between Louisville and Harrisburg. The park is named for Molly Stark, wife of Major General John Stark.
Owner-occupied, single-family and mid-century
Nimishillen Township’s housing is mostly owner-occupied detached homes, with a higher value than Louisville inside it. Census estimates for 2020-2024:
| Nimishillen Township | Louisville city | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units | About 3,687 | About 4,560 |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1973 |
| Built 1939 or earlier | About 24% | About 17% |
| Single-family detached | About 94% | About 68% |
| Owner-occupied | About 89% | About 66% |
| Median home value (owner estimate) | About $215,300 | About $193,100 |
Nearly a quarter of township homes predate 1940. A rural house that old may come with a dug or drilled well, an older septic system and outbuildings. A buyer using a mortgage will want all of that inspected, so if your house is updated and shows well, an agent will likely net you more. If you’re the executor of an estate or the house needs a lot, a direct sale removes the inspection back-and-forth. For an estate, see our Stark County probate guide.
Who inspects the septic, and when
The Stark County Health Department has required an inspection of every household sewage treatment system before a property transfers since January 2008. You have two choices for who does it:
- A health department inspector. Allow about a week, longer in summer.
- A registered service provider. The department publishes a current list on its website.
Either way, someone has to be there to let the inspector into the house. The department also has a separate water well evaluation form for houses on private wells. The inspection report is a snapshot of the system on that day; it can’t promise how it will perform later. If the system fails, our page on selling a house with septic problems explains your options.
Schools and local government
Most Nimishillen Township students attend Louisville City Schools, and the far northwest corner is in Plain Local. The Louisville Public Library serves the township. A three-member elected board of trustees and a fiscal officer run the township.
For the city itself, see Louisville; for county-wide rules, the Stark County page. To get a number for your Nimishillen Township house, request a written offer.