History

The Township is located in the Chagrin River Valley. The Township contains two distinct governmental units. The incorporated part is the Village of Chagrin Falls. The unincorporated part is commonly called Chagrin Falls Township. The two units together form Chagrin Falls Township.

Falls Road is a scenic and historic brick road on the National Register of Historic Places. Its 1.5 miles wind through Chagrin Falls Township and the villages of Chagrin Falls, Moreland Hills and Hunting Valley. Under restoration with Federal scenic enhancement funds in 2004 and 2005, Falls Road has been identified by the National Trust for Historic Places as the longest existing historic brick road in the country.

The Township was created on March 7, 1845 by the Ohio Legislature out of Orange Township. Much of its original area has been severed or annexed into the Chagrin River Valley villages of Chagrin Falls, Moreland Hills and Bentleyville. What remains of the Township once contained farms and a large pre-Depression private estate.

The unincorporated Township's semi-rural setting offers lush green spaces with meadows, woods and streams for residences on 5-acre lots and now contains approximately .5 square miles, with 38 households. Its dimensions have remained essentially unchanged since 1950 as a large-lot residential community with minimal growth.

The Township is governed by three elected Trustees and an elected Clerk. These officials are elected for four year terms by the voters of both the incorporated and unincorporated portions of the Township. The Trustees appoint a Zoning Inspector, a Building Inspector, a Board of Zoning Appeals and a Zoning (Planning) Commission. The Township contracts for safety services with the Village of Chagrin Falls and for building inspection services with the Village of Moreland Hills. Its children attend the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Public Schools. Township public streets are plowed in winter by the Chagrin Falls Village Street Department, but all other road maintenance is provided by the Cuyahoga County Engineer.

Although located within Chagrin Falls Village, the Township's Town Hall is owned and managed by the Township Trustees. It is the site of community activities and home of the Chagrin Falls Visitors' Center. Town Hall is open to the public and is available for rent by private parties and organizations.