In 1796, the government of the Northwest Territory authorized the creation of Wayne County. Residents named the county in honor General Anthony Wayne, the victor at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. Among the county's earliest residents were members of the Amish Christian religious group. Wayne County's Amish community is now one of the largest in the United States. Many other early settlers were of German origin. It is believed that Wayne County resident August Imgard put up the first Christmas tree in Ohio in 1847.

Wayne County is located in northeastern Ohio. It is predominantly rural, with less than two percent of the county's 555 square miles consisting of urban areas. The county seat is Wooster.

Manufacturing businesses employ the largest number of workers in Wayne County, but farming is a close second. Within Ohio, Wayne County farmers rank first in oat and hay production. Wayne County is the home of the Ohio Research and Development Center for Agriculture.

Wayne County’s largest city is Wooster where most of the manufacturing jobs are located.

Wooster is a bustling city and people generally travel on a daily basis between the Wooster,Masillon and Canton areas.