The economic impact of the canal was just as significant on local commerce as most people had predicted. Besides the obvious benefit of providing access to markets for locally produced goods, as pointed out earlier, state funds paid to canal contractors and laborers meant an influx of customers for local goods who had cash. An unexpected benefit, however, was the rapid development of towns along the canal.

• Fort Loramie and Newport
• Lockington
• Port Jefferson
• Towns that Never Were