Wakeman and Florence Townships began with the American Revolution. The federal government set aside land in Ohio for people from Connecticut whose lands were destroyed by the war. These "fire sufferers" were granted land tracts in the Western Reserve area known as the Firelands. People industrious or brave enough to travel to the untamed wilderness of Ohio in the early 1800s must have been captivated by the fertile farmland, vegetation, and peaceful river that flowed through the area. The Village of Wakeman was founded in 1817 and still rests in a beautiful location along the Vermilion River. The unincorporated village of Birmingham, in Florence Township, is also located on the Vermilion River. Farming, community, and the enjoyment of the scenery are still important parts of life in Wakeman and Florence Townships.