Fredonia held the county seat from 1822 until 1843.[3]: 54 Although it was prominent in its early years — Crawford County's first brick building was constructed in Fredonia — an 1889 county history observed that the community was never prosperous, and "The old houses are fast tumbling down and going to decay".[3]: 60 This lack of prosperity was due largely to its location: although it lies along the Ohio River, Fredonia has no landing, unlike other Crawford County settlements such as Leavenworth.[3]: 54
A post office was established at Fredonia in 1819, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1965.[4]
