Editing Wilberforce, Ohio (section)

==History==
After [[Wilberforce University|Wilberforce College]] was established in 1856, the community was also named for the English statesman [[William Wilberforce]], who worked for the [[Abolitionism in the United Kingdom|abolition]] of slavery and achieved the end of the [[History of slavery|slave trade]] in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[British Empire|its empire]].<ref>{{cite book| last1=Mangus| first1=Michael| last2=Herman| first2=Jennifer L.| title=Ohio Encyclopedia| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bndxn4Qlt4EC&pg=PA576| year=2008| publisher=North American Book Dist LLC| isbn=978-1-878592-68-2| page=576}}</ref> The small community served as an important stop for refugee slaves on the [[Underground Railroad]] before the [[American Civil War]], as it had seven stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paper Trails - Documents Tell the Story of Wilberforce |url=https://www.ohiohistory.org/paper-trails-documents-tell-the-story-of-wilberforce/ |publisher=Ohio History Connection |date=22 February 2011}}</ref>

The [[Ohio Historical Society]] operates the [[National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center]], which provides exhibits and learning opportunities for the regional community. The [[Association of African American Museums]], also located in Wilberforce and supported by the private university, works to build professional capacity among smaller museums.

On April 3, 1974, during the [[1974 Super Outbreak]], a [[1974 Xenia tornado|destructive F5 tornado]] moved through the area after exiting the nearby city of [[Xenia, Ohio|Xenia]], where it destroyed many homes and businesses. The tornado severely damaged several structures in Wilberforce, including multiple campus and residential buildings of [[Wilberforce University]]. [[Central State University]] also sustained significant damage, and a water tower was toppled. As a result of the tornado, 32 people were killed, and about 1,150 people were injured.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ohio Historical Society |title=April 3, 1974: Xenia Tornado |url=http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1974_tornado.htm |publisher=Ohiohistory.org |access-date=2024-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707005507/https://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1974_tornado.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2012 }}</ref>