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Eaton is the county seat of Preble County, Ohio. William Bruce established the town in 1806. Residents named the community after General William Eaton, a hero of the American Revolution. The village increased, having approximately one thousand residents in 1846. This growth was primarily due to Eaton's location along two main turnpikes, making it a critical crossroads. Numerous Ohioans also traveled to Eaton to acquire sulfur water, which they believed had some medicinal curatives. In 1846, Eaton comprised three churches, six stores, and at least one newspaper office. Many residents found employment in nearby limestone quarries. During this era, limestone was a common building material. Unfortunately for Eaton residents, in 1849, a cholera epidemic struck the community. Approximately one-half of the residents fled the community. Of the remaining six hundred people, approximately 120 people died. In 1886, two newspaper offices, seven churches, and two banks served the community. Most manufacturing establishments provided services or products to farmers in the surrounding countryside. Many Preble County farmers grew tobacco, and several businesses in Eaton manufactured cigars. F.P. Filbert, a cigar maker, was the town's largest employer, with thirty-five employees. In addition to the city of Eaton, several villages are in the county. These communities are connected and elsewhere by a network of roadways, including I-70, U.S. 127, U.S. 35, U.S. 40, and 10 state routes. There are 18 public schools in the county’s five districts, providing primary and secondary education to nearly 8,000 children. Preble County has a new branch on the campus of Edison State Community College as of January 2019, and several colleges and universities located in nearby counties also provide higher education, including Miami University, Wright State University, Earlham College, University of Dayton, and Sinclair Community College. Nearly three-quarters of Preble County is farmland and consistently ranks in the top ten in hog and corn production for Ohio. Most of the county’s communities remain small, and the atmosphere is pleasantly rural. Annual festivals and events such as the Preble County Fair, livestock shows, and outdoor concerts (check out the Eatonic Music Festival) draw visitors and participants from all over the state and beyond..