In 1870 Joseph Crooks purchased a small strip of land near the railroad and set up a general store. At this time, the nearest post offices were at McCluney and Roseville, there was no mail route passing through. Some person would usually visit the post office once a week and bring back the neighbors' mail along with theirs. Because of this Joseph Crooks circulated the necessary petition to submit to the Federal Government in hopes of having a post office established to be known as "Reeds Post Office". At the same time, he made application for the appointment of the office of Postmaster. The Post Office Department in Washington reported back favorably to the establishment of a post office and Mr. Crooks appointment as postmaster, but advised that due to the fact that there was already a "Reeds Post Office" in Ohio, it would have to be given some other name. They suggested that the office be known as "Crooksville". According to the book History of Crooksville by Guy E. Crooks, son of Joseph: "This suggestion was pleasing to my father."

In 1894 the population of Crooksville had grown to approximately 800 and the residents took the necessary steps to have the Village incorporated.

Crooksville has continued to thrive for the past 126 years. Located off State Rt. 93 in Perry County, the Village has worked diligently over the years to keep the environment friendly for families and business. Their efforts have been rewarded with the 2001 Governor's Award for Partnership in the Arts, and Tree City Status since 1996.

A traditional municipal government, the Village is governed by a full time Mayor, six members Council, Clerk/Treasurer and a Village Administrator under the guidelines of the Ohio Revised Code.

Community committees that operate with the assistance of Council include the Crooksville Arts Council, Tree Commission, Historical Commission, Recreation Committee, The Clay Valley Foundation and The Moxahala Watershed Committee. Crooksville is an active member of the Perry County Chamber of Commerce.

Despite a population of only about 3,000 people, Crooksville is home to a recreation center that hosts a world-class archery program, one of the largest climbing walls in the state, a full schedule of basketball, volleyball, soccer and other intramural sports. A top-notch computer lab and a full weight room are also located at the Crooksville Recreation Center. Three parks are located within the corporation limits. Village Park on the north side of town contains an Olympic sized pool, tennis courts, baseball fields, a playground and "the pond", a seasonal stop for a variety of ducks, geese and fish. South Park is home to the Youth Softball program and peewee baseball. It also has a playground for the younger kids and is part of the Village's Historic Tree Program. In the center of town the newly constructed Reed's Station Park is found. Named for the Village's Founder it's a quiet place to rest and watch the traffic go by.

history of Crooksville