Nestled on the banks of the Tuscarawas River, is the charming Village of Navarre. It is delightfully reminiscent of long ago. It was in southeastern Bethlehem Township where a missionary, Revered Christian Frederick Post, built the first dwelling, a log cabin within the present boundaries of Ohio in 1761.

Originally, Navarre was three separate villages, each having their own square. It was an amalgamation of the three hamlets: Bethlehem, Rochester, and Navarre. The eastern section, Bethlehem, was the oldest, laid out in 1806 by Jonathan Condy, Rochester to the west was next, established in 1833 by Nathan McGrew. Navarre forming the center, came last in 1834.  It was founded by James Duncan. A financial depression resulted in fierce competition between the three villages and caused a rivalry which was intense and bitter. In 1872, the wise businessmen of the community decided to incorporate the villages and name it Navarre.