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East Liverpool, Ohio
City of East Liverpool
East Fifth Street Historic District
East Fifth Street Historic District
Nickname(s): 
Pottery Capital of the World, Crockery City
Motto(s): 
"We're Open for Business"
Location of East Liverpool in Columbiana County and in the State of Ohio
Location of East Liverpool in Columbiana County and in the State of Ohio
Country United States
State Ohio
County Columbiana
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
Area
 • Total 4.90 sq mi (12.68 km2)
 • Land 4.70 sq mi (12.18 km2)
 • Water 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2)
Elevation
768 ft (234 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,958
 • Density 2,032.24/sq mi (785.33/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
43920
Area code 330, 234
FIPS code 39-23730
GNIS feature ID 1061038
School District East Liverpool City
Website http://www.eastliverpool.com/

East Liverpool is a city in southern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 9,958 at the 2020 census. It lies along the Ohio River within the Upper Ohio Valley and borders Pennsylvania to the east and West Virginia to the south. East Liverpool is included in the Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, about 40 miles (64 km) from both Youngstown and downtown Pittsburgh.

Historically, East Liverpool was known as the "Pottery Capital" of the United States due to its large number of potteries, but due to changes in the ceramics industry, only two remain in the area. The city is also known as the hometown of former NCAA Division I football coach Lou Holtz. The Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey is just east of the city center, on the OhioPennsylvania border. Because of its role in the ceramics industry, the town is one of the settings in author Holly Black's award-winning middle-grade novel Doll Bones.

History

East Liverpool traces its European-American settlement to 1798 when Thomas Fawcett purchased 1,100 acres of land along the Ohio River in what was then Jefferson County. In 1802 he platted the town of St. Clair, named for Arthur St. Clair, who at that time was Governor of the Northwest Territory. It was called Fawcettstown for a time by the residents. In 1816, they changed the name to Liverpool. It was incorporated as East Liverpool in 1834 when Liverpool Township in Medina County objected to possible confusion.

The Hall China Company visitor entrance
The Hall China Company.

James Bennett, an English potter, established the pottery industry in East Liverpool, and it became the community's leading employer. East Liverpool became known as "The Crockery City." From 1870 through 1890, the US Census showed that the city more than doubled in population each decade, as it attracted new industrial workers with the growth of the pottery industry. By 1910, it had more than 20,000 people. East Liverpool once produced more than half of the United States's annual ceramics output. Throughout East Liverpool's ceramics history, there were more than 300 potteries.

Of these potteries, three continue to operate in this area: The Hall China Company, the Homer Laughlin China Company (located across the Ohio River in Newell, West Virginia), and Pioneer Pottery. In the mid-19th century, East Liverpool also produced most of the yellowware pottery used in the United States. Among the most famous of East Liverpool's ceramics was the porcelain known as Lotus Ware. Produced by Knowles, Taylor & Knowles in the 1890s, this Moorish- and Persian-influenced artware swept the competition at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. It is generally considered to be the finest porcelain ever produced in the US. The Museum of Ceramics in downtown East Liverpool has the world's largest public display of Lotus Ware.

As of 1914, East Liverpool was served by the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad.

The city reached its peak population of more than 26,000 in 1970, but East Liverpool's pottery industry had already begun its decline by the mid-1960s or so. As with other industries, production moved to developing countries where labor costs were cheaper. This cost many jobs and, ultimately, population in the Ohio/West Virginia area, as people moved away in search of work.

In the mid-1990s, the city renovated its downtown district. To improve its urban design, it installed Great Depression-era lightposts, developed a new center called Devon's Diamond, and reconstructed the old high school's clocktower. This building is now the home of the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association.

Areas and neighborhoods

  • Downtown – East Liverpool's centralized business district, located on the "flats" in the river valley. Downtown is considered to lie between Ohio State Routes 7/11/39/U.S. Route 30 in the west, College and Walnut streets in the east, West 2nd Street in the South, and Moore and Grant streets in the North. The heart of the business center during the first half of the nineteenth century was located between the Ohio River and 3rd Street. However, during the second half of the century, as East Liverpool attracted more industry and the population grew, the center of business moved north between 4th and 6th Streets. Business remained near the river until the regional economic depression beginning in the 1960s. a freeway was constructed between the river and downtown, leading to demolition of much of the original business center between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Only a few residents, a few small industries, and the Broadway Wharf remain near 2nd Street and the river, both now geographically separated from Downtown by the highway.
  • West End – The western end of the city is located between the Ohio State Routes 7/11/39/U.S. Route 30 freeway in the east, Shadyside Road in the west, Riverside Park in the south and Hazel Street in the north. Until the freeway project in the 1960s and '70s, the West End was "connected" to Downtown. However, like the riverfront area of Downtown, it is now geographically isolated on the other side of the freeway. It is home to Westgate Middle School and Patterson Field, the city's football stadium. The West End has two distinct small neighborhoods:
    • Sunnyside – Between Lisbon and West 9th streets to the south and Hazel Street in the north.
    • Jethro – South of West 8th Street, between Gaston Avenue in the east and Edwards Street in the west. Before the rapid growth of the city in the second half of the nineteenth century, Jethro was a separate village. It was later incorporated into the city. Residents used to live in the low-lying area to its west known as Jethro Hollow, but most have since moved out due to flood risks from the river.
  • East End – The East End is within the city limits, but it is almost entirely isolated from the rest of East Liverpool, connected only by River Road and the Route 11/39 freeway. East End is considered to be all of the flats between St. George and State streets in the west and the border with Pennsylvania in the east. Similar to Jethro in the West End, East End originated as a few separate satellite communities that were absorbed in the nineteenth century by the growing city .
  • Pleasant Heights – A neighborhood situated on top of a plateau above the West End to the south and the freeway to the east, Pleasant Heights surrounds Lisbon Street (Ohio State Route 267). Its southernmost point is the dead end of Oakwood Street, and it extends north to Myler Road. Pleasant Heights was one of the several neighborhoods developed during East Liverpool's expansion "up the hill" in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
  • Fisher Park – A self-contained neighborhood, all between South and North Shadylane drives on the east side of Lisbon Street. Named for the Fisher Farm located in the area, the farm house can still be found along Lisbon Street as a private residence.
  • Beechwood – The neighborhood situated below Maine Boulevard between Anderson Boulevard and Park Way.
  • Thompson – This neighborhood borders the east end of Downtown. It extends east from College and Walnut streets and goes "up the hill" above the freeway. Its northern end is Morton and Bank streets, and extends to the edge of the hill at Thompson Avenue and Vine Street.

Satellite communities

Though not located within the city limits, there are a few communities that share East Liverpool's 43920 ZIP code and have an East Liverpool mailing address. They are the census-designated places of Calcutta, Glenmoor and La Croft and the unincorporated community of Fredericktown.

Neighboring communities

In the bordering states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the communities of Chester and Newell, West Virginia and Glasgow, Pennsylvania developed and grew in relation to the growth of the pottery industry and expansion of East Liverpool in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Transportation

Highways

The following highways pass through East Liverpool:

  • US 30.svg U.S. Route 30
  • OH-7.svg State Route 7
  • OH-11.svg State Route 11
  • OH-39.svg State Route 39
  • OH-170.svg State Route 170
  • OH-267.svg State Route 267

Airports

The Columbiana County Airport is four miles northwest of the city.

Bridges

Since the 1890s, East Liverpool and the West Virginia communities of Chester and Newell have been connected by three different bridges spanning the Ohio River.

  • Chester Bridge (1896–1969) – Connected College Street in East Liverpool with 1st Street in Chester. It was the original bridge to carry U.S. Route 30. The bridge closed on May 14, 1969, and was demolished in 1970.
  • Newell Bridge (1905–present) – Connects West 5th Street near East Liverpool City Hospital with West Virginia State Route 2. It is the only privately owned toll bridge on the Ohio River, owned and operated by the Homer Laughlin China Company out of Newell.
  • Jennings Randolph Bridge (1977–present) – Replaced the demolished Chester Bridge in the 1970s as the span connecting East Liverpool and Chester, and carrying Route 30 over the river. Named for West Virginia congressman/senator Jennings Randolph (in office 1933–1947 and 1958–1985, respectively).

Recreation

Golf course

The East Liverpool Country Club has a 9-hole golf course that was designed by Willie Park, Jr. and opened on July 14, 1921. Calcutta also features the 18-hole Turkana Golf Course.

Parks

There are two public parks located within East Liverpool city limits.

  • Thompson Park – After Will Lamartine Thompson donated 100 acres of land to the city of East Liverpool in 1899, Thompson Park opened in 1900 as a green space to get away from the industry of the city. It has been open ever since, and amenities include picnic pavilions, a swimming pool, a football field, a baseball field, a disc golf course, a playground and walking trails. The main entrance to Thompson Park is located on Park Way at the end of Park Boulevard. There is also a back entrance on Anderson Boulevard.
  • Broadway Wharf – A small public park/boat launch near the Ohio River. Located near the ends of Broadway, East 2nd Street and River Road.

Additionally, Beaver Creek State Park is located outside the city limits but partially within the 43920 ZIP code area.

Athletics

Because of its size, East Liverpool has never had a major professional sports team. However, during the city's heyday, many semipro and company teams, and city and area leagues were thriving. Baseball, basketball and American football were all popular among residents, and games attracted many patrons. The semipro East Liverpool Potters basketball team of the Central Basketball League played in the city from 1906 to 1909. No semipro or company teams exist in the city today.

East Liverpool High School athletics have been consistently popular among students and residents in the past 100-plus years. All of the teams are known as the Potters. The school fields American football, baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country running, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling teams. Most of these teams have had team and/or individual successes in their existences. Athletic facilities include:

  • Patterson Field – football stadium, opened 1924 (current concrete bleachers constructed in 1934). Located near East Liverpool Middle School at 810 West 8th Street.
  • Potter Fieldhouse – home of Potters basketball, volleyball and wrestling. Located next to East Liverpool High School at 100 Maine Boulevard.
  • ELHS Baseball Field – located between the high school and Trinity Presbyterian Church on Maine Boulevard.

Geography

EastLiverpool01
Spliced panoramic photo of East Liverpool, Ohio, from the east, taken August 11, 2000.

East Liverpool is located at 40°37′43″N 80°34′9″W / 40.62861°N 80.56917°W / 40.62861; -80.56917 (40.628510, -80.569063). It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.76 square miles (12.33 km2), of which 4.56 square miles (11.81 km2) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 136
1840 503 269.9%
1850 987 96.2%
1860 1,308 32.5%
1870 2,105 60.9%
1880 5,568 164.5%
1890 10,956 96.8%
1900 16,485 50.5%
1910 20,387 23.7%
1920 21,411 5.0%
1930 23,329 9.0%
1940 23,555 1.0%
1950 24,217 2.8%
1960 22,306 −7.9%
1970 26,243 17.6%
1980 16,517 −37.1%
1990 13,654 −17.3%
2000 13,089 −4.1%
2010 11,195 −14.5%
2020 9,958 −11.0%
Sources:

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,195 people, 4,601 households, and 2,892 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,455.0 inhabitants per square mile (947.9/km2). There were 5,316 housing units at an average density of 1,165.8 per square mile (450.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.7% White, 4.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 4,601 households, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 37.6 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

Education

Carnegie Public Library, East Liverpool
Carnegie Public Library was the first philanthropic Carnegie library funded in Ohio.

Primary and secondary

Children in East Liverpool (and immediate surrounding areas in Liverpool Township) are served by the public East Liverpool City School District. The current schools in the district are:

  • La Croft Elementary School – grades K-4
  • North Elementary School – grades K-4
  • Westgate Middle School – grades 5–6
  • East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School – grades 7–12

Private schools include the East Liverpool Christian School for grades K-12 and the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School for grades 7–12. In addition, two online schools, Buckeye Online School for Success and Quaker Digital Academy, operate out of downtown.

St. Aloysius School (K-8) operated for 130 years as a Roman Catholic School in the Diocese of Youngstown before closing on June 6, 2015.

Postsecondary

Kent State University has been operating a satellite campus, Kent State University at East Liverpool, since 1965. It is clustered around 4th Street in Downtown, and grants associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees. A trade school, New Castle School of Trades, opened in Downtown in 2016. East Ohio College in nearby Calcutta also focuses on associate degrees and job training programs.

Notable people

Images for kids

See also

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