The forgotten surveyor that founded Ohio's cities

Israel Ludlow was a government surveyor who worked in the Ohio Country in the late 1700s. He is best known for his work on the Seven Ranges survey, and for helping to found several cities in southwest Ohio, including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Hamilton. Born in New Jersey in 1765, Ludlow died in Ohio in 1804. One of two surveyors to stay in settlements near the Ohio River during the harsh winter of 1786–1787, he completed the survey of the seventh range, plats, and notes by August 1787.

Ludlow is also known for his work on Israel Ludlow's Survey, the northern boundary of a large land purchase made by the Ohio Company of Associates. He surveyed a line between the sources of the Scioto and Little Miami rivers to determine the boundary between the Virginia Military District and the Symmes Purchase, which is known as the Ludlow Line. Ludlow played a role in the founding of Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton, and his remains were later moved to Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery.

Ludlow Falls near Dayton is also named after him, as are streets in each of the cities he helped found. Despite his significant contributions, Ludlow is largely forgotten today.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata