Editing Circleville, Ohio (section)

===Squaring the circle===
Over time, residents grew dissatisfied with Circleville's unusual layout. Some believed the design was kept only due to "childish sentimentalism", while others complained that the lots were irregular and inconvenient, and that a circular plan wasted space that could otherwise be used to generate revenue. Additionally, the space around the central courthouse had become unpresentable. People from the countryside would hitch their horses around the courthouse, which would draw hogs and domestic animals to the area and surrounding city.<ref name="VanCleaf"/>{{rp|34}}

In March 1837, at the request of the town, the Ohio General Assembly authorized the requested alterations given the consent of all property owners in the circle. In March 1838, after no activity, the assembly authorized alterations to any quadrant given consent from property owners in the quarter.<ref name="VanCleaf"/>{{rp|34}} The "Circleville Squaring Company" was created to convert the town plan into a squared grid, as was the typical style of platted towns.<ref name=History>{{cite web|url= http://www.ci.circleville.oh.us/205/History-of-Circleville|title=History of Circleville|publisher=City of Circleville|website=ci.circleville.oh.us|access-date=May 11, 2015}}</ref> The southeast corner was the first to be altered later in March, followed by the northwest quarter in September. The northeast corner was only squared in 1849, and the southwest was reformed in 1856. This process required intense construction work, such as destroying, moving, or constructing buildings and grading and repaving roads. Due to these changes, no traces of the original earthworks remain aside from a section of elevated ground at the corner of Pickaway and Franklin streets.<ref name="VanCleaf"/>{{rp|34–5}}
A history of the county makes note that the citizens of Circleville regret the rare circular layout of the town was ever changed.<ref name="VanCleaf"/>{{rp|34}}

The only drawings of Circleville before its squaring were made by G. F. Wittich. He made sketches of the courthouse, the circle, and the other buildings in 1836. Wittich used these drawings along with information from residents to create a map around 1860, of which he produced a watercolour rendition in 1870.<ref name="VanCleaf"/>{{rp|36}}