Highland County joins statewide effort to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary
Highland County recently joined the statewide effort to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary as an official America 250-Ohio Community. Highland County’s America 250 Committee is working to plan a celebration for Highland County that will take place July 17-19, 2026. Additionally, this committee will work closely with the America 250-Ohio Commission to create, implement and amplify programming designed to showcase the impact Highland County’s residents have had on our nation’s history. Highland County’s America 250 Committee members are pictured (from left to right): Kyle Barr, Mainstreet Greenfield; Vicki Knauff, Highland County Historical Society; Judge Rocky Coss, Highland County Common Pleas Court; Christine Hamlin, Lynchburg Historical Society; Alice Teeters, Leesburg Historical Society; Rita Smith Daulton, Village of Leesburg; Commissioner Brad Roades, Highland County Commissioner; Ike Hodson, Highland County Clerk of Courts; Ashleigh Willey, Highland County Commissioners’ Office; Megan Blackburn, City of Hillsboro; Julie Bolender, Highland County Economic Development; and Jamie Wheeler, Visitors Bureau of Highland County.
In the lead-up to July 4, 2026, Highland County recently announced it will work in unison with the America 250-Ohio Commission, Ohio’s official state commission charged with creating the celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial, as an official America 250-Ohio Community.
As a partner of the America 250-Ohio commemoration, Highland County will have the opportunity to showcase its commitment to honoring the state's diverse history and cultural heritage. Highland County will receive special recognition and a designation as an official America 250-Ohio Community and have access to a number of resources, including signage, event promotion, planning resources and a network of community leaders throughout the state.
“Highland County is excited to be designated as an official America-250 community and we are actively planning a celebration for Highland County for July 17-19, 2026,” said Jamie Wheeler, Visitors Bureau of Highland County’s Executive Director. “The event will celebrate Highland County’s history and heritage as well as highlight Ohio’s oldest working Courthouse which is in Hillsboro, Ohio.
Planning Committee members for Highland County’s America 250 celebration include:
• Kyle Barr, Mainstreet Greenfield
• Megan Blackburn, City of Hillsboro
• Julie Bolender, Highland County Economic Development
• Judge Rocky Coss, Highland County Common Pleas Court
• Rita Smith Daulton, Village of Leesburg
• Christine Hamlin, Lynchburg Historical Society
• Ike Hodson, Highland County Clerk of Courts
• Vicki Knauff, Highland County Historical Society
• Brad Roades, Highland County Commissioner
• Alice Teeters, Leesburg Historical Society
• Jamie Wheeler, Visitors Bureau of Highland County
• Ashleigh Willey, Highland County Commissioners’ Office.
The America 250-Ohio Community program is a cornerstone of the Commission’s community engagement initiatives, which are designed to foster collaboration across Ohio’s 88 counties as the state prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The program is designed for all levels of municipalities from across the state, and it offers a unique opportunity for Highland County leaders to network, partner and exchange information with the state Commission. Resources made available to America 250-Ohio Communities include:
● Digital toolkits and event planning resources
● Access to an online community platform
● Regular check-ins with other America 250-Ohio Communities
● Statewide recognition of participation in America 250-Ohio programming.
“The goal of bringing Ohioans together to celebrate and commemorate our state’s place in American history is central to the work of the America 250-Ohio Commission,” said Taylor Tomu, community engagement and outreach specialist at America 250-Ohio. “The Commission is thrilled to welcome Highland County as an official partner, and we look forward to working together to make the America 250-Ohio commemoration the biggest in our state’s history.”
For information about America 250-Ohio, visit America250-Ohio.org. Follow America 250-Ohio on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/america250ohio/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/am250ohio/ for updates on programming and ways to get involved. As plans come together for Highland County’s celebration details will be posted on www.VisitHighlandCounty.com.
About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.