The village was developed on both sides of the Ottawa River (Ohio) and serves as a bedroom community and suburb of Toledo.

John North Willys, president of the Overland Company, acquired approximately 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) beginning at the intersection of Bancroft Street and Indian Road and extending along the Ottawa River to Central Avenue.

He started development that year, as reported by The Toledo Times: Landscape architects, city planning engineers, landscape gardeners, and other experts, backed by an army of workmen equipment with the latest machinery and tools have been steadily at work on the tract for over a year.

This is at the intersection of Bancroft Street, Secor and Indian Roads, a 20 minute ride from the business district.

--The Toledo Times, August 1, 1915 John North Willys turned to the E. H. Close Realty Company for the development of Ottawa Hills.

The E. H. Close Realty Company had developed more than 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land in Toledo and the surrounding area.

Planners, engineers, and architects with national reputations were involved in the layout and design of the Village.

They were also established various restrictive covenants to assure proper quality development and construction of homes.

[citation needed] Several annexations have substantially changed the shape of the village from the original 1,200 acres (4.9 km2).

Much of the early development of the village conforms to the original plans that date back to 1915.

The portion of the village adjacent to Secor Road and south of Bancroft Street, Plat 1, is very similar in layout and design to the original plans.

The median price of a house in Ottawa Hills is approximately $254,800, with 30% of the homes having been built before 1939.