[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 217 (Sunday, December 20, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF MERCER COUNTY'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. ROBERT E. LATTA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 20, 2020

  Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Bicentennial 
of Mercer County, Ohio. The perseverance of pioneers and settlers to 
overcome the challenges faced during the early years of the county's 
history has persisted throughout the past 200 years. The hard work and 
spirit shown by generations of county residents have made Mercer County 
an outstanding example of American ingenuity.
  On February 12, 1820, the Ohio Legislature enacted legislation 
creating fourteen new counties in northwestern Ohio. One of the 
counties was named Mercer, honoring the American Revolutionary hero, 
General Hugh Mercer. Mercer County was established in 1820 and it 
contains roughly 463 square miles, including Grand Lake St. Marys. An 
essential part of Mercer County's history is connected to the lake, 
which was dug between 1837 and 1845 to provide a water source for the 
Miami and Erie Canal. Grand Lake St. Marys was the largest man-made 
lake in the world at the time. Today, it is a major tourist destination 
for all to enjoy. Mercer County has also been an asset to the great 
State of Ohio through its many contributions in the fields of 
agriculture and manufacturing.
  By remembering the 200th Anniversary of Mercer County, community 
members and Ohio residents recognize the outstanding achievements, 
maintain our pioneer attitude, and strive to better our county through 
the principles on which it was founded. Thank you and congratulations 
to Mercer County on this significant milestone.

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