06/18/2025
This week’s is about the phrase “The Most Popular Fair on Earth”
Have you ever thought about why the Hillsdale County Fair has been coined “The Most Popular Fair on Earth”? While it’s not pinpointed when the phrase began being used, there are plenty of reasons to understand why no one really questions it after visiting.
In 1950, the Hillsdale Daily News published a story of a Chicago man describing his experience with the phrase. He recalled riding the train through Hillsdale County on his way to wherever he needed to conduct his business, and seeing the words “The Most Popular Fair on Earth” on the side of a building on the grounds. At first he thought it was “egotistical” of Hillsdale County Fair to call themselves as such, but after asking the train conductor about it, the Chicago man felt the need to experience it himself.
The conductor talked about the excursions he would take during fair week and how far people would come. In Indiana, people came from Elkhart and Fort Wayne, from Michigan they came as far as Ypsilanti, Lansing and Jackson. The conductor talked about doubling from Toledo and back with all the people who wanted to see the Hillsdale County Fair. He talked about how busy it would be at the station, stating “...the depot is sometimes quite a hindrance to us. Often they are so crowded they have to pass the last station or two without stopping, and then back up and get the crowd. Egotistical - NO I don’t think so.”
You can read more at hillsdalecountyfair.org
