The City of Ravenna was founded by Benjamin Tappan, who first arrived here on June 11, 1799. Tappan, born in Northampton Massachusetts May 25, 1773, practiced Law in Connecticut before traveling to Ohio. He served as a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1803 - 1805. In 1809 Tappan moved to Steubenville where he continued to practice law. Tappan served in the War of 1812 under General Elijah Wadsworth. He later served as a United States Senator, representing Ohio from 1839 - 1845. Tappan died on April 20, 1857 in Steubenville, Ohio.

Ravenna was originally included in Franklin Township, which at the time was part of Trumbull County. The first Ravenna mail route was established in 1802 and the first school opened in 1803. It was not until 1807 that Portage County was formed, and on April 22, 1808 Benjamin Tappan filed the town plot. In that same year, Ravenna was established as the County seat.

In 1810 the first Portage County Court house and log jail were constructed. This was later replaced with the first brick courthouse in 1830. This "new" courthouse was later expanded with an addition in 1881. The current Portage County Courthouse was built in the 1950's and still stands today. The structure received a "facelift" in 2000 and 2001 to better blend with the existing downtown architecture.

The first church to be established in Ravenna was the Congregational Church, which was founded in 1822. In 1824 the Methodist Church held it's first meeting, and later formally organized in 1831. The Presbyterian and the Disciple of Christ Churches were organized in 1830. In 1842 the Catholic Church in Ravenna was dedicated.

In 1831 a wagon and buggy business was founded by W.D. Clark. This business would later become the Riddle Coach and Hearse Co. Later, presidents McKinley and Harding would be carried to their grave sites in Riddle Hearses. H. Warner Riddle didn't arrive in Ravenna until 1860. He would become one of Ravenna's greatest businessmen and philanthropists. Many of Ravenna's downtown buildings were built by or named after Riddle.

In 1848 the first glassworks was established in Ravenna. This is now commonly recognized as the first true industry in Ravenna. Rail service first arrived via the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad in 1851. Later, in 1877 the Quaker Oats Company was founded in Ravenna. The familiar Quaker Oats logo was patented in Ravenna in 1879.

Telephones were first introduced in Ravenna in 1882. Later, in 1938 the first "dial" telephone system was installed in Ravenna.

Shortly before the turn of the century, in 1898, Ravenna residents saw the first paved streets, when East and West Main streets received their new surfaces. By 1909, nearly 50 passenger trains arrived in Ravenna each day.

In 1932 the County purchased White Hospital. This was the first step towards today's Robinson Memorial Hospital which is located in Ravenna.

The Ravenna Arsenal opened in 1940. Original predictions slated 8,000 employees for this facility. During WWII this facility provided countless ammunitions to the U.S. troops abroad, as well as provided much needed jobs for the area. The employment trend continued in Ravenna, when in 1947 the city saw an industrial boom with the founding of companies such as Enduro Rubber, Duracote and Allen Aircraft ... all of which still exist today.

In the late 1990's, Ravenna saw a major revival. The downtown area received a $3 million facelift to restore and preserve the town's architecture, history and heritage. Today, Ravenna remains the "heart" of Portage County.