James Franklin Orr founded Orrville in 1842 after arriving in the area with his father. Originally named Orr's Mill, the town grew from Orr's gradual purchase of adjacent lots after he first bought 88 acres. He planned the town to cover one square mile, and it has remained the same since that time. At its center was a town square with all roads leading to it, along with a deep well and watering trough for travelers and their animals. The town included a business complex, sawmill, cotton gin, planing mill, flour mill, grist mill, and two blacksmiths' shops. In the 1850s, Orr donated land for the Orrville Institute, which for many years was regarded as offering the finest education in the area for planter and merchant class children. Like many communities, Orrville grew, prospered, and declined in some respects, and it continues as a vibrant community offering a valuable and meaningful way of life.