It is a principal city in the New Philadelphia–Dover micropolitan area, approximately 70 miles (110 km) south of Cleveland.

In 1772, the Moravian Christians founded the community of Schoenbrunn in the area, which was the first settlement of the Northwest Territory.

[8] After the area was resettled in 1804, because of the presence of coal and clay, early industry in the city centered on mining interests and the manufacture of steel, canned goods, roofing tile, sewer pipe, bricks, vacuum cleaners, stovepipes, carriages, flour, brooms, and pressed, stamped, and enameled goods.

[10] The settlement grew to include sixty dwellings and more than 300 inhabitants, both Munsee and Germans, who drew up Ohio's first civil code and built its first Christian church and schoolhouse.

[11][12] John Knisely, who was from Pennsylvania, wanted to settle in a location where game was more plentiful and was welcomed by the Christian Indians of Goshen; he returned to Ohio in 1804 with his family and 33 other pioneers, hiring surveyor John Wells to plot out the modern city of New Philadelphia in the same grid style as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[13] In 1833, New Philadelphia contained county buildings, a printing office, several stores, and five taverns.

The Main Library is located at 121 Fair Avenue just off of North Broadway Street.

The SEO Service Center, located in Caldwell, is a branch of the State Library of Ohio, which supports a consortium of 98 library systems at 268 service points throughout 49 counties across Ohio using the OPLIN network.

[24][25] Tuscora Park is a municipal park that features a carousel, ferris wheel, miniature railroad, roller coaster, swing ride, and kiddie rides, along with miniature golf, playgrounds, a swimming pool, and batting cages.

Events at the park include a Summer Showcase and the annual First Town Days festival.

Events at the amphitheater include Sunday church services, plays and concerts featuring local talent.

The First Town Days, which includes a Grand Parade and fireworks display, runs on the weekend leading up to the Fourth of July.

[28] The company that manages Tuscora Park is a non-profit, RTY Inc.[29] The organization frequently hires high school and college students to operate rides and sell tickets.

The campus, which now covers 180 acres (73 ha) and four buildings, opened in 1968 and, as of September 2016, had an enrollment of 2,066 students.

Harry Clever Field (FAA designation PHD) is a city owned airport 2 miles SE of the city center, adjacent to the Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus and Schoenbrunn Village.

It is open to small aircraft and has maintenance and fueling services on site, as well as an airport courtesy car.

Into the early 1950s the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ran a six day a week passenger train from Wheeling, West Virginia through New Philadelphia en route to Akron and Cleveland.