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Amherst, Ohio facts for kids

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Amherst
"Sandstone Center of the World"
"Sandstone Center of the World"
Nickname(s): 
Hurst
Location in Greater Cleveland
Location in Greater Cleveland
Amherst, Ohio is located in Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Country United States
State Ohio
County Lorain
Area
 • Total 7.14 sq mi (18.50 km2)
 • Land 7.08 sq mi (18.35 km2)
 • Water 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation
689 ft (210 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 12,021
 • Estimate 
(2019)
12,219
 • Density 1,724.87/sq mi (665.97/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
44001
Area code(s) 440
FIPS code 39-01798
GNIS feature ID 1064320
Website http://www.amherstohio.org/

Amherst is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. It is located 28 miles (45 km) west of Cleveland. The population was 12,681 at the 2020 census.

History

Church Street, looking South in Amherst, Ohio, 1910s.jpg
  • The original village which eventually became known as Amherst, was established by pioneer settler Josiah Harris (who relocated to this area about 1818), although the original tiny village was first known only as "Amherst Corners" in the early-1830s. When the village was officially established by Josiah Harris in 1836, it was named "Amherstville", but was later changed to "North Amherst", until finally simply 'Amherst' in 1909. [The original 1820s postal-name of the village's first post-office was "Plato"; and the village's post-office retained that postal-name into the 1840s, even after the local-government name of the village officially became 'Amherstville' in the 1830s. ]

The village is often said to have had its beginnings as early as 1812, because land which was settled by pioneer Jacob Shupe, about a mile north of the original village site, was eventually (at a much later time) included into the Amherst city-limits. However, the actual original village-plat did not encompass Shupe's site (although Shupe's pioneering efforts within the township, which included constructing his own grist-mill and distillery, certainly added to the area's desirability for later pioneers to settle here). By the latter 1800's, Amherst acquired the title Sandstone Center of the World. Many early buildings are constructed of native sandstone, and the quarries were also an important source of grindstones. There were nine sandstone quarries in the area operating at the peak of production. Cleveland Quarries Company, established in 1868, no longer quarries in Amherst but is still actively quarrying Berea Sandstone.

Geography

Amherst, part of the Greater Cleveland area, is located at 41°24′0″N 82°13′34″W / 41.40000°N 82.22611°W / 41.40000; -82.22611 (41.399993, -82.226201). The elevation is 689 feet (210 m) above sea level. Amherst is located 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Lake Erie. According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 7.12 square miles (18.4 km2), of which 7.06 square miles (18.3 km2) (or 99.16%) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) (or 0.84%) is water.

Climate

Amherst possesses a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) / Borderline humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa), typical of much of the Central United States, with very warm to hot, humid summers and cold winters with moderate snow.

Amherst is located in Hardiness Zone 6a/6b. A recent trend since the Hardiness rezoning is the discovery that certain tropical plants like the Needle Palm, Chinese Windmill Palm and Fiber Banana trees can grow in Amherst with some protection.

Climate data for Amherst, Ohio
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 34
(1)
36
(2)
47
(8)
58
(14)
69
(21)
80
(27)
84
(29)
81
(27)
75
(24)
65
(18)
52
(11)
39
(4)
60
(16)
Average low °F (°C) 19
(−7)
21
(−6)
28
(−2)
39
(4)
48
(9)
58
(14)
62
(17)
61
(16)
55
(13)
45
(7)
37
(3)
25
(−4)
42
(5)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 2.3
(58)
2.1
(53)
2.7
(69)
3.3
(84)
3.5
(89)
3.9
(99)
3.7
(94)
3.6
(91)
3.3
(84)
2.5
(64)
3.1
(79)
2.7
(69)
36.7
(930)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 13.2
(34)
11.8
(30)
7.0
(18)
1.1
(2.8)
0.1
(0.25)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.1
(0.25)
3.0
(7.6)
11.0
(28)
45.0
(114)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 1,542
1890 1,648 6.9%
1900 1,758 6.7%
1910 2,106 19.8%
1920 2,485 18.0%
1930 2,844 14.4%
1940 2,896 1.8%
1950 3,542 22.3%
1960 6,750 90.6%
1970 9,902 46.7%
1980 10,620 7.3%
1990 10,332 −2.7%
2000 11,797 14.2%
2010 12,021 1.9%
2019 (est.) 12,219 1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,021 people, 4,772 households, and 3,463 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,702.7 inhabitants per square mile (657.4/km2). There were 5,031 housing units at an average density of 712.6 per square mile (275.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 0.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population.

There were 4,772 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.4% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 45 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 32.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

Transportation

Amherst Ohio Main Street
Main Street in Amherst

By far the most common mode of transportation to, from or within Amherst is by car. However the downtown area is walkable. State Route 2 runs west to east through the northern portion of Amherst providing access to downtown Cleveland (38 minutes), its suburbs and Sandusky, Ohio. There are two exit/entrance ramps in the city (Oak Point Road and State Route 58). The Ohio Turnpike also runs west to east along the City's southern border and there is one (exit/entrance) ramp just south of the city in Amherst Township at State Route 58. Parts of the city are also served by the Lorain County Transit system. Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) is the nearest International airport; it is located approximately 35 minutes east of the city.

Business

Amherst is home to a Nordson factory that manufactures various products, as well as KTM-Sportmotorcycle America's Corporate office. In the city's scenic downtown section, Ben Franklin's dime store sells many types of fish and aquarium accessories, model cars, puzzles, and the like. Amherst is also home to Ziggy's, a bar and grill that President Obama visited in 2012.

Growth

Amherst has been growing steadily since the early 1980s. A recent housing boom has created demand for new retail areas in Amherst. Target has recently opened inside the city limits.

Notable people

  • Mike Finley, author of over 110 books
  • Jim Hayford, basketball head coach, Seattle University
  • Joel Hills Johnson, inventor, Mormon pioneer, published poet and gospel hymn writer, politician and judge
  • Mika Johnson, filmmaker and musician
  • Jerry Lawler, professional wrestler and commentator
  • John Penton, motorcycle enduro racer and member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
  • Ryan Rua, professional baseball player
  • Henry Dwight Stratton, founder of Bryant & Stratton College

See also

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