The town of Clinton, which Wilmington was originally named, was platted in August of 1810, with more than half of the original 128 lots selling later that year. By 1820, there were 8,085 Clinton County residents. The number steadily increased throughout the century.

Out of 181 surrounding cities and towns surveyed in 1995, Cincinnati Magazine concluded Wilmington was the number one "Most Livable Neighborhood". Our city garnered high marks as ranked by friendliness, environment, shopping, education, transportation, dining, property tax and housing costs.