Venedocia, Ohio, is distinctively tied to Welsh immigration in the mid-19th century. The village traces its roots back to April 1848, when three founding families from North Wales—the Bebbs, the Jervises, and the Morrises—arrived in Van Wert County to establish a new settlement. They traveled by way of the Miami-Erie Canal and chose an area within York Township, which was officially organized nearly a decade earlier in 1839. These early settlers quickly established their culture; religious services were held entirely in the Welsh language in a log cabin on their very first Sunday. This strong Welsh identity was central to the community, and records show that all regular church services remained exclusively in Welsh until 1895, with Salem Presbyterian Church (founded in 1848) publishing its annual reports in Welsh until 1917. The village, which was formally incorporated in 1897, became an enduring cultural island focused on agriculture and religious life, far from the bustling railroad lines that shaped other Ohio towns.

Despite its small size—covering only about a quarter square mile—Venedocia has maintained its unique heritage into the modern era. The village's most famous tradition is the annual Gymanfa Ganu, a Welsh festival of song featuring four-part harmony hymn singing. This tradition, with origins tracing back to 12th-century Wales, has been an annual community event since at least 1915 and continues to draw people from across the country every Labor Day weekend, temporarily swelling Venedocia’s population of roughly 140 residents (as of the 2020 Census). The founders' dedication to the community also reached beyond the village limits; one of the early Bebbs’ descendants, William Bebb, grew up to become the 19th Governor of Ohio. Today, Venedocia remains a quiet, agricultural community in northwest Ohio, its small-town character preserved by its distance from major infrastructure, yet its historical identity is loudly celebrated through the annual Welsh hymns that echo across the county.