The Great Geauga County Fair is the longest continuously operating county fair in Ohio and has long been a major annual gathering for people across the county. Geauga’s settlers brought the idea of the county fair from New England, and its parent organization, the Geauga County Agricultural and Manufacturing Society, began holding fairs on Chardon Square in 1823. Since then, the fair has served as both a gathering place and a form of education, promoting local agriculture and introducing farmers to new farming developments and to one another. Between 1840 and 1854, controversy followed Lake County’s cession as Chardon, Claridon, and Burton competed to become the permanent fairgrounds site. Burton’s proposal was accepted, improvements began immediately, and the fair grew quickly. It continues as a time-honored tradition.