Western Reserve

a portion of the Northwest Territory reserved by the State of Connecticut. It is known also as Connecticut Reserve. Connecticut ceded all claim to western sovereignty to the general government, but retained property ownership in a tract in northeastern Ohio. The reserve extended along the southern shore of Lake Erie for 100 miles westward from the Pennsylvania line, and ran from the 41st parallel of latitude northward to the lake. In 1795-6 Connecticut sold these lands, save 500,000 acres, to the Connecticut Land Company which promoted settlements. An industrious population flowed in, chiefly from New England. Thirteen counties were formed in whole or in part from the territory of the Reserve. Cleveland is the largest city. The designation, "Western Reserve," has been perpetuated by the university of that name located at Cleveland. The money received from the sale of lands was invested by Connecticut in a school fund. The interest is used in maintaining public instruction.