1917 Map of Xenia

Beyond the urban center, a network of rural schools and small settlements such as Paintersville and Cedarville are connected by historical thoroughfares like Military Road and Federal Road. This era was defined by a highly decentralized social structure, evidenced by the numerous named schoolhouses—including the Caesar Creek High School and Oldtown Creek School—located every few miles to serve the surrounding agricultural families. The terrain is deeply etched by the Little Miami River and its many tributaries, such as Caesar Creek, which provided the drainage and water source for the region's farms and the Xenia Water Works.