East Liverpool, Ohio

East Liverpool, Ohio
—  City  —
East Liverpool from the air, looking south.
Nickname(s): The Pottery Capital of the World
Location of East Liverpool, Ohio
Coordinates: 40°37′43″N 80°34′9″W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Columbiana
Government
• Mayor	James P. Swoger
Area
• Total	4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2)
• Land	4.3 sq mi (11.3 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation	768 ft (234 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	11,195
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	43920
Area code(s)	330, 234
FIPS code	39-23730
GNIS feature ID	1061038
Website	http://www.eastliverpool.com/

East Liverpool is a city in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,195 at the time of the 2010 census. It is located along the Ohio River and borders the states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. East Liverpool is a principal city of the East Liverpool–Salem Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Columbiana County.

Long known as the "Pottery Capital of the World," East Liverpool and the immediate area are still home to three major potteries. The city is perhaps best known as the hometown of former University of Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, and as the city to which the body of bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd was taken for embalming. The Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey is just east of the city center, on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

History

East Liverpool was originally named St. Clair by Thomas Fawcett, one of the earliest land owners, in 1800 after Arthur St. Clair, who at that time was Governor of the Northwest Territory. It was called Fawcettstown for a time by the residents. It was incorporated as East Liverpool in 1834 when a Liverpool in western Ohio (now defunct) protested the use of its name by this newer town.

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." 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, three remain: The Hall China Company, the Homer Laughlin China Company (located across the Ohio River in Newell, West Virginia) and Pioneer Pottery.

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 country's largest public display of Lotus Ware.

Since the mid-1960s or so, East Liverpool's pottery industry has steadily declined. This has been because pottery workers in less-developed countries—among them China, South Korea and Taiwan--are paid a small fraction of the wage of American workers.

In the mid-1990s, the city renovated its downtown district, with Great Depression-era lightposts, a new center of town called Devon's Diamond, and the reconstruction of the old High School's clocktower, which is now 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 ninteenth 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. Building of the freeway resulted in the 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 aptly-named western end of the city, all 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. It is home to East Liverpool Middle School and Patterson Field, the city's football stadium. The West End has two distinct small neighborhoods located within it:
  • 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 ninteenth 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.
• East End - The also aptly-named eastern end of the city. Even though East End is within the city limits, it is almost enitrely isolated from the rest of East Liverpool, connected only by River Road and the 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 by the growing city in the ninteenth century.
• Pleasant Heights - A neigborhood 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 that resulted from East Liverpool's expansion "up the hill" in the late ninteenth and early twentieth centuries.
• La Croft - Although the census-designated place of La Croft, Ohio lies directly outside of the city limits, part the area considered to be La Croft by locals extends into the city. Therefore, this portion of it can be considered a city neighborhood. The La Croft neighborhood extends along Lisbon Street from South Shadylane Drive out to the city limits. La Croft contains one small neighborhood within it:
  • 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 neighboorhood 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 therfore have an East Liverpool mailing address. They are the census-designated places of Calcutta, Glenmoor and La Croft and the unincorporated community of Fredericktown.

Education

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

• La Croft Elementary School - 2460 Boring Lane (located immediately outside the city limits in La Croft, Ohio), grades K-4.
• North Elementary School - 100 Maine Boulevard, grades K-4.
• East Liverpool Middle School - 810 West 8th Street, grades 5-6. Also the location of the administrative offices.
• East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School - 100 Maine Boulevard, grades 7-12.

Kent State University opened a regional campus, Kent State University at East Liverpool, in 1965. It is located at 400 East 4th Street, in the old East Liverpool High School building. There is an additional building, the Mary Patterson Building, located down the street.

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, as it is 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

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 ammenities 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 existed. 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. Currently, 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

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 (40.628510, -80.569063).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km²), of which 4.3 square miles (11 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (3.97%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	2,105		—
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%
Est. 2008	11,996		−8.4%

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,089 people, 5,261 households, and 3,424 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,010.3 people per square mile (1,161.8/km²). There were 5,743 housing units at an average density of 1,320.8 per square mile (509.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.85% White, 4.81% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 5,261 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,138, and the median income for a family was $27,500. Males had a median income of $27,346 versus $18,990 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,656. About 21.5% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and residents

• Dan Adkins - comic book artist for Marvel and other companies grew up in East Liverpool
• Bernie Allen - professional baseball player: second baseman for the Minnesota Twins, the Washington Senators, the New York Yankees, and the Montreal Expos
• Charles King Boyd - posthumously decorated with the Dutch Military Order of William (the Dutch equivalent of the Medal of Honor) for his actions in Operation Market Garden
• John Caparulo - stand-up comedian and host of CMT's Mobile Home Disaster
• Jane Louise Curry - writer for children
• Robert Jack Eardley, M.D. - former Chief of Psychiatry for the Federal Bureau of Prisons
• Ben Feldman (1912–1993) - one of the most prolific salespeople in world history
• Lou Holtz - author, television commentator, motivational speaker, and former NCAA football head coach
• George P. Ikirt - physician and U.S. Representative from Ohio
• Aric Long - decathlete at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
• Bob McFadden- American voice actor.
• O. O. McIntyre - feature writer for East Liverpool Morning Tribune before going on to reach 7,000,000 readers daily with his syndicated column
• Hy Myers - major league baseball player, led the National League in RBIs and slugging percentage in 1919 while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers
• Ruth Crawford Seeger - famous composer and first woman to receive the Guggenheim Fellowship.
• Will Lamartine Thompson - noted American composer, best known for his hymns
• Norm Van Lier - star basketball point guard, played at Saint Francis University and in the NBA for the Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s
• Jabez Vodrey - prominent early potter

See also

• List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
• Jennings Randolph Bridge
• Ohio River Trail

References

Adler, Jerry. “It’s not easy being green.” Newsweek 28 Feb. 1992. EBSCOhost. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.

Jones, Arthur. “Toxic-waste incinerator in the backyard: White House and church steer clear in Ohio.” National Catholic Reporter 18 Feb. 1994: 5+. Academic OneFile. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.

Rembert, Tracey C. “Terri Swearingen: the long war with WTI.” E Nov.-Dec. 1997: 10+. Academic OneFile. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.

Swearingen, Terri. “’We’re losing our democracy.’.”Earth Island Journal Summer 1997: 38+. Academic OneFile.Web. 17 Apr. 2010.

External links

• Official City of East Liverpool website
• Official East Liverpool Facebook fan page
• East Liverpool Area Chamber of Commerce
• East Liverpool City Schools