It was founded by Ebenezer Zane. Zane had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio. He settled in the area in 1797 with his son-in-law, John McIntire. They put the town at the point where Zane's Trace met the Muskingum River.
From 1810-1812, the city was the second state capital of Ohio.[6] The National Road runs through Zanesville as U.S. Route 40. NovelistZane Grey, a descendant of the Zane family, was born in the city.