Believed to be the oldest planned suburban subdivision in America, Glendale, Ohio began in 1851. It was incorporated in 1855 as a planned railroad commuter town. In the early years, residents rode the train from downtown Cincinnati to this rural retreat for wealthy industrialists. The neighborhood is highly desirable for its many well preserved Victorian homes and charming gaslights, its winding streets and vast green spaces. It boasts one of the area’s top school systems and holds the distinction of being Ohio’s only national landmark community. Glendale was a station on the Underground Railroad. Eliza, the model for the character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, is believed to have come here after crossing the ice in Ripley, Ohio. In 2005, Glendale celebrated its sesquicentennial with a musical drama, a juried art show and an antique car show. (A documentary about African-American history in Glendale was planned to be part of the celebration, but didn’t get done. It is now resurrected.) Planned here is a 1,500-unit retirement, straddling Evendale and Glendale, where 60 percent of the units will be located (and will add to the Population: of the village). Glendale is home to such fi ne restaurants such as Grand Finale, Iron Horse Inn and Gaslight Café.