Welcome to Coventry Township, Ohio

Located in southern Summit County, Ohio, Coventry Township is a vibrant community surrounded by the lakes of Portage Lakes State Park. Home to approximately 10,900 residents, the township is governed by a three-member Board of Trustees and a Township Fiscal Officer along with an Administrator who oversee operations of the Fire Department, Road Department, Parks, and Zoning. Police protection is provided by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

The Coventry Clock Tower, dedicated on July 4, 1999, stands as a historic landmark in the heart of the Portage Lakes area.

 

Coventry Township lies along the natural watershed divide of the United States, where water flows north toward Lake Erie or south toward the Ohio River. Glaciers that covered the region thousands of years ago shaped this landscape, leaving behind a chain of lakes, fertile land, and abundant plant and wildlife. These natural features have played a significant role in the area’s history and development.

 

Native American tribes were well acquainted with this region and regarded it as neutral territory. Canoe travel was the primary mode of transportation, with a key route extending from Lake Erie southward along the Cuyahoga River. At its southernmost point, canoes were carried—or “portaged”—across land to reach another waterway, continuing the journey toward the Ohio River.

 

When white settlers arrived, they recognized the area’s importance to Native Americans. This natural divide was used in treaties to separate tribal lands from state boundaries. The first settlers arrived in what is now Coventry Township in 1806. As part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, Coventry was designated an equalizing township—Town 1, Range 11—often referred to as the “township of lakes.”

 

As settlement expanded, farming became widespread and mills were constructed to harness waterpower. In the 1820s, the Ohio and Erie Canal dramatically transformed the local economy and lifestyle. The canal provided a major transportation route, opening broader markets for agricultural products. To sustain the canal system, additional water was required, leading to the modification of existing lakes at the summit of the watershed divide—forming the Portage Lakes as they are known today.

 

As railroads and other transportation methods emerged, the canal system declined. Its final chapter came with the Great Flood of 1913, which destroyed much of the canal infrastructure and marked the end of the canal era. Nevertheless, the water system remained vital to the region’s industrial growth.

During the 19th century, Coventry remained largely agricultural, with cranberry bogs common near the lakes and coal mining emerging as a significant industry. As population increased, the lakes became a center for recreation. Prominent families from nearby cities built summer homes along the water, and during the Great Depression many cottages were converted into year-round residences. Throughout this growth, township government—established in the early 1800s—continued to provide essential organization and services.

 

Originally, Coventry Township included areas now known as Summit Lake and Rolling Acres, with the Portage Path passing near the township’s center. Over time, significant portions of land were annexed by the cities of Akron and Barberton. In 1995, following seven years of negotiations, Coventry voters approved a landmark agreement with the City of Akron, making Coventry the first township in the United States to halt annexation.

 

Today, the same waterways once traveled by Native Americans remain central to life in the Portage Lakes area. Strong local government, an excellent school system, and the area’s natural beauty continue to carry forward the rich history and enduring character of Coventry Township into the 21st century.