Book excerpt: North Olmsteds history began in 1815 with David Johnson Stearns of Vermont. Stearns was followed to the area by other pioneers from New England, and they established a settlement in the wilderness of southwestern Cuyahoga County. North Olmsted went from being an isolated farming community to a village in 1908 and then to a city in 1951. The stage was then set for it to rapidly grow into a thriving suburb in the last half of the 20th century. North Olmsteds rich heritage is illustrated in this book through historic photographs from the Olmsted Historical Society that highlight the citys residents, businesses, social centers, and schools.