The city was founded in 1803 by the Scioto Company led by James Kilbourne, who was later elected to the United States House of Representatives, and was named in honor of Thomas Worthington, future governor of Ohio. On February 20, 1808 the Worthington Academy was incorporated by the Ohio legislature and a brick building was constructed facing the northeast quadrant of the public square. In 1866 the Bishop House was converted to the Union Hotel (Worthington Inn) by the Lewis family.
