Meadville, the seat of Crawford County, is nestled in the lovely French Creek Valley. This creek, named by George Washington in the early 1750s, was once the chief means of shipping local lumber and iron throughout the region. Established in 1789, the town was home to the first white settlement in northwestern Pennsylvania and, like the entire surrounding area, played a part in the French and Indian War. In 1913, the Automatic Hook and Eye Company of Hoboken, later called Talon, came to Meadville and made it the Zipper Capital of the World. Also nicknamed "Tool City, USA" because of its many tool and die shops, Meadville is home to Channellock Tools and Dad's Dog Food. Meadville's historic district includes many fine buildings, including the Market House and the Baldwin-Reynolds House. Conneaut Lake, Pymatuning State Park and the Erie National Wildlife Refuge are wonderful places to appreciate the area's natural beauty. Meadville is also the home of Allegheny College.
