Central State University is a historically black university (HBCU) located in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. It is the only public HBCU in Ohio. In a sense Central State University's history began when Wilberforce College was privately established in Tawawa Springs, Ohio, in 1856. This was founded as a collaboration between the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME); leaders of both races comprised the board of trustees. In 1887, the Ohio General Assembly enacted legislation to create the Combined Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce College, to provide training for teachers of lower grades and vocational education. This department operated as part of Wilberforce University, since 1863 owned and operated by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. A separately appointed board of trustees governed the state-financed operations. This arrangement allowed state legislators to sponsor scholarship students at the university and brought other forms of financial aid. In 1941 the Normal and Industrial Department expanded from a two- to a four-year program.