Milestones in Public Health

The history of public health and boards of health reflects the growth and urbanization of Ohio.

1834	Cincinnati and Columbus formally established boards of health.
1852	Any Ohio city permitted to establish a board of health and city councils allowed to formulate regulations.
1875	Township trustees given limited authority to prevent spread of small pox through quarantine.
1886	State Board of Health organized.
1893	All municipalities required to establish a board of health.
1919	Hughes Act and Griswold Amendment creates city and general health districts with varying restrictions on fulltime and part-time personnel including health commissioners and nurses.
1963	State director of health to be appointed by governor and term to be concurrent with the governor.
1985	Standards established for local health departments.
1987	Local health departments permitted to charge costs for all state-required environmental health programs.