Kidron, Ohio is a small village at the North end of Ohio’s Amish Country. Located in Wayne County and Sugar Creek Township, the village is part of the Wooster metro area and not too far away from Cleveland and the gorgeous Lake Erie.

While seemingly unassuming, Kidron could be the perfect place for the next chapter of your life.

This idyllic village can take you away from hustle, bustle, and busy and drop you off in a quiet, calm, and peaceful home. 

If you’re looking to make the move to Kidron, we have all the important things to know coming up:

• Kidron’s History
• The Need to Know on Life in Kidron, Ohio
• Our Best Picks for What to do in Kidron
  

Let’s dive in and see what Kidron has in store for you!

Kidron’s History

Kidron was settled in 1819 by Swiss Mennonites. The Swiss Mennonites left their prior home, Sonnenberg, in the mountains of Switzerland to flee religious persecution and poor farming conditions. 

The settlers were referred to as “the quiet people of the mountain” back in Switzerland and that continues to be true in present day Kidron. The small village has a quiet and homey feel to it.

The settlers originally named their new home Sonnenberg as well, but eventually changed it to Kidron as communities began to combine together. 

Like many other areas of the United States, Kidron came to be by the first group settling and then sending word to friends and daily who saved money and followed. In Kidron, this lasted from the initial settling in 1819 to around 1834 when several communities had formed due to spreading the word back to loved ones in Switzerland. This is when Sonnenberg and surrounding areas were renamed as Kidron.

Some of the original cabins and homes these settlers built and lived in all those years ago continue to survive thanks to the Kidron Historical Society.

The Need to Know on Life in Kidron, Ohio 

Kidron and Amish Country

Kidron is the most popular location in Amish Country for tourism. This is largely because the Amish frequent the village often as it is a major business location for them.

The area has some great opportunities to buy goods from the Amish people who live in the surrounding areas. 

The area of Kidron is actually home to the largest settlement of Amish people in the United States. 

One of the most interesting aspects of Amish Country in Kidron is the general store called Lehman’s, but more on that later.

Life in Kidron

Kidron has a population of ust over 1,000 people. The median age there is only 28.6, so if you’re young and looking to move, don’t be nervous because there will be plenty of people around your age to greet, welcome, and befriend you!

The median income in Kidron is $57,458 with a low unemployment rate of 3.4% which is well below the country’s average of 6.%. If you’re interested in buying a house in Kidron, the median price is $161,100. As a resident, the average commune is roughly 20 minutes.

The cost of living in Kidron is 16.1% lower than the average in the U.S.

Neighboring Areas

While living in Kidron is truly what you are after, there are areas to explore surrounding the village as well. 

Again, Kidron is located in the Wooster metro area, so you can take a quick trip into the city and remind yourself why you want to live in the country (crowds are not for everyone!). 

Cleveland is North of Kidron, another city, though this one has the privilege of being on a Great Lake, Lake Erie. If you’re interested in sailing, old boats, or taking a quick lake trip Cleveland (or areas close by) might be a nice weekend getaway spot for you.

Ohio’s lovely capitol, Columbus, is located Southwest. So whenever you’re feeling that Ohioan pride, take a jump over there and enjoy the place where your state gets all its business done.

K-12 Education in Kidron, Ohio

As a parent, education is always on the mind. The children in Kidron make their way to neighboring Dalton, another village in Wayne County, to attend school. Dalton Local School District has public elementary, middle, and high school for the kids of Kidron to attend.

The elementary school has a student teacher ratio of 18:1 with about 355 students. Niche gave it an overall grade of an A- which is determined by looking through several attributes of the school such as teachers, health and safety, academics, college prep, clubs and activities, sports, and others.

Dalton Middle School has a 19:1 student to teacher ratio with about 260 students. Niche gave them a B+ overall grade. 

The high school received an overall grade of B from Niche. The student to teacher ratio is 16:1 and there are about 250 students there currently. 

There are also several private schools in the area where you can send your children for preschool and kindergarten through twelfth grade.

College Education in Kidron, Ohio

There are several universities near Kidron, Ohio.

Many of these universities are satellite campuses whose main campus is near a large city. For example, nine miles from Kidron is the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. While only eight miles away is the University of Akron Wayne College. 

Satellite campuses such as the previously mentioned two are great options when it comes to college. They are often much less expensive than the main campus and if you love the school but want to stay out of the city then this is the type of place for you!

Another great thing about satellite campuses is your degree still comes from the same university as that of the main campus, meaning you get all the same perks and education of someone who went to the main campus without all the aspects you did not care for. 

Located 11 miles away from Kidron is The College of Wooster which is a private liberal arts college with about 2,000 students. 

The acceptance rate here is 55% and the graduation rate is 75%. The average cost after financial aid comes out to $25,000.

The college has several attractions when it comes to deciding to go there. For starters, there is no application fee and it provides very large merit scholarships.

The college of Wooster is very focused on researching. 100% of their students work one-on-one with a faculty member on at least one research project as an undergraduate. These projects are invaluable when it comes to honing one’s skills in critical analysis, project management, creativity, and communication.

Wooster graduates are well equipped to take on the “real world.” 96% of them are employed or in Grad School within six months of graduating. 91% of them are accepted by their top choice grad school.

The College has so many avenues and areas of study, so there should be no trouble finding something you are interested in and passionate about. Here are just a few of the many options:

• Film Studies
• Spanish
• Sociology
• Public Health
• Physics
• Education
• Museum and Archival Studies
• Global Impacts
• Art History
• Archaeology
• Biology
  

These are only three of the many options you have for higher education if you want to live in or stay close to Kidron.

Our Best Picks for What to do in Kidron

Kidron may be small, but that doesn’t mean there aren't loads to do and try in the village! Here are some of our favorite places to go!

Lehman’s

Lehman’s may be Kidron locals’ favorite spot. Established in 1955 by the Lehmans family, this business’s goal is to help you live the simple life. 

With a shopping experience that is nearly a quarter mile long, it’s no wonder that Lehman’s was voted the best place to visit in Amish Country for five years in a row.

Their promise is to help build you a better future that includes the values of personal connections, integrity, and traditions.

What started as a general store has turned into so much more. There are rooms dedicated to houseware, pantry items (these are plant to plate), a home heating section, and so much more.

4779 Kidron Rd. | lehmans.com

The store prides itself in their kids section as well. The toys are USA made and require no batteries or technology of any kind, what Lehman’s calls “imagination driven.” They also have many multiplayer games to encourage relationships and camaraderie.

Lehman’s has anything you could ever need, especially for those off the grid. They have the necessities for food, light, water, and all essentials for living off the grid.

They offer fresh food as well as locally baked goods, preserved foods in the form of freezing, dehydrating, canning, pickling, and fermenting.

Not only are they a store that offers so many essentials, they also bring you opportunities! Pictured above on their Instagram is one of their goat yoga sessions. You can check these out by clicking here, which will also show you all the other events they have to offer like Pottery demonstrations, farmers markets, and Christmas in July.

Kidron Community Historical Society

The Kidron Community Historical Society is there to maintain Kidron’s unique history. They aspire to collect, preserve, and maintain the history and importance of the Kidron community. 

They operate a museum in downtown Kidron, the Kidron-Sonnenberg Heritage Center. The museum has a display of many items from the local community as well as a large genealogical database research library. This database focuses mostly on Amish and Mennonite ancestry. 

The society also preserves historical buildings on the outskirts of the village. These buildings help display sustainable living with features showcasing renewable energy, green building technology, and sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques. 

Kidron Community Historical Society would be a great place to stop in and visit when you move to the village. With their help and many sites to see, you’ll not only get a feel for Kidron, but you will be able to learn more of it’s interesting history and see how the village came to be.

The society also is home to many well-loved Kidron events like Homecoming. You can find out more about this event and others by clicking here.

The museum is located at 13153 Emerson Rd. and Sonnenberg Village can be found at 13497 Hackett Rd.

Quince Bakery & Cafe

4776 Kidron Rd. | (330) 816-0233

Quince Bakery & Cafe is a staple of Kidron. 

They serve breakfast and lunch and have both vegan and vegetarian options.

Some menu items include artisan breads, pastries, and fresh soups and salads. There is also an option for catering.

“Needed a quick lunch and this place was recommended by the local grocer. Turns out we arrived 10 minutes before closing, they close at 2PM. Had their turkey club on fresh baked seeded whole wheat. Served with freshly fried potato chips. This was an excellent sandwich in a very quaint eatery/bakery. When driving through Kidron, it's in the center of town. If you blink, you'll miss it. Please stop in. Their menu is short, but you'll be happy you stopped.” -Tripadvisor

Oftentimes their Facebook page will show you the week’s specials, so make sure to check it out!

Kidron, Ohio is a quaint village that allows you to live a quiet, peaceful life while still being close by a city (though once you get to Kidron you may never want to leave). 

With beautiful stretches of farmland and great, well-preserved local history, Kidron is the perfect place to find your home.