Strongsville was originally organized in 1818 as Strongsville Township, named for its founder, John Stoughton Strong, and comprised of a 25-square-mile area of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The first roads, schools, churches, mills, and taverns emerged soon after, and the township's population grew to 297 by 1820. For 120 years, up until World War II, farming and agriculture characterized the area. Incorporated as a village in 1927 and as a city in 1961, Strongsville underwent dramatic evolution and growth during the last quarter of the 20th century, particularly under the leadership of longtime mayor Walter F. Ehrnfelt. Strongsville has grown from a quiet, rural town into one of northeastern Ohio's largest and most vibrant communities. It is known throughout the Greater Cleveland area as a community that offers its residents all the amenities of a large municipality while maintaining its small-town charm.