Location at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta is considered one of Ohio’s most historic and beautiful cities. Founded in 1788 by a group of Revolutionary War veterans from New England, Marietta became the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory.
Education was important to the pioneers. In 1797 Muskingum Academy was founded. It became Marietta College in 1835. Today, in addition to Marietta City Schools and Marietta College, Marietta and Washington County are served by the Washington County Career Center and Washington State Community College.
Marietta population 14,500, is the county seat for Washington County, population 62,000. Located on the Ohio River at Interstate 77, Marietta is 200 miles east of Cincinnati, 188 miles south of Cleveland, 138 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, 114 miles southeast of Columbus and 100 miles north of Charleston, WV. A Strategically located New England-style town, Marietta is a center for industry, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, services, culture, the arts, recreation and education. Thousands of tourists visit Marietta each year. The community hosts a variety of festivals and popular activities.