The town of New England, which was later renamed Aurora, Ohio, was established in 1818 by settlers from Connecticut. The region's abundant water power drew settlers to the area because of its capacity to produce flour, woolen goods, paper, and machinery.

On the banks of the Black River, early settlers constructed sawmills and grain mills. On both sides of town, a woolen mill and a sawmill were erected in the 1830s, each producing its type of cloth.

Aurora is now a thriving city with a large number of businesses and industries. The town's historic downtown, which contains several historical structures for commercial usage, has around 4,000 people.

Among the many businesses headquartered in Aurora, OH, are:

Bob Evans Farms Inc. is a chain of family restaurants founded in 1939 by Bob Evans that has over 600 restaurants in 18 states and plans to open many more soon. The company's headquarters are now in New Albany, OH, where its world headquarters also are located.

Charles F. Meador, the founder of Meadowbrook Insurance Group, established it in 1927. Since its inception, Meadowbrook has expanded into a statewide agency with ten offices across Ohio and serves almost 20,000 clients. They are located on Main Street in Aurora near the Black River.

American Greetings Corp., Factory Outlet Store The firm has been based in the city since 1906. In 1960, American Greetings acquired a local greeting card maker named David Bradley Co. It currently uses the same building as it did back then on Broad Street, and it also has a Factory Outlet Store located downtown that sells all sorts of cards.

Hometown Ohio, Inc.

The business was formed in 1984 by its president and CEO, Jim Evans of Aurora, who wished to establish a firm that would allow residents of his community to buy local goods without going elsewhere. Today, it's a retail store that specializes in selling goods produced only in Ohio. It is at the historic mill on the Black River and is one of Aurora's most popular attractions.

Businesses and Industries in Aurora, OH, are flourishing. Every year, the town expands.