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 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 Ohio–Pennsylvania 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
Native American petroglyphs exist in the area surrounding East Liverpool, including on Babbs Island and near the Little Beaver Creek. The Public Land Survey System of the United States was established by Congressional legislation in 1785, in order to provide an orderly mechanism for opening the Northwest Territory for settlement. The ordinance directed the Geographer of the United States, Thomas Hutchins, to survey an initial east–west base line. Hutchins began in 1786, using as his starting point a stake on north bank of the Ohio River placed by a 1785 survey team from Virginia and Pennsylvania to fix their common north–south boundary. Hutchins' work, completed in 1787, established the Seven Ranges, with a baseline about line. This survey is believed to be "the first mathematically designed system and nationally conducted cadastral survey in any modern country."
Before settlement by Americans, Mingo, Lenape, and Wyandot peoples lived in the area until the Battle of Fallen Timbers led to the Ohio Country's settlement. East Liverpool traces its founding 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 Governor Arthur St. Clair of the Northwest Territory. It was called Fawcettstown for a time. In 1816, the name changed to Liverpool.
Over its first few decades, a grist mill, multiple stores, and wharves opened in the town. The first schoolhouse opened in 1820, and the first religious center opened in 1834 when the Episcopalians erected a building on a 4th Street site provided by town developers. Liverpool was incorporated as East Liverpool in 1834 when Liverpool Township in Medina County objected to possible confusion.
The arrival of English potter James Bennett in 1839 brought the establishment of the first bottle kiln site in East Liverpool, launching its industry. In 1905, the first city hospital opened. As of 1914, East Liverpool was served by the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad.
In the 1960s, much of downtown was cleared to make way for the 4-lane expansion of Ohio State Route 11. The city reached its peak population of more than 26,000 in 1970, but its pottery industry had already begun to decline by the mid-1960s. As with other industries, production moved to developing countries where labor costs were cheaper. This cost many jobs and, ultimately, population in the Upper Ohio Valley 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 Depression-era lightposts, developed a new center called Devon's Diamond, and reconstructed the old high school's clock tower. This building is now the home of the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association.
Pottery industry
The potteries of East Liverpool became the national center of ceramic toilet and table wares, with 85 firms operating at one time or another making two-thirds of the national output from 1880 to 1950. East Liverpool's pottery district encompasses East Liverpool and the surrounding towns of Wellsville, Ohio, and Chester and Newell, West Virginia, directly across the Ohio River. In 1887, East Liverpool had 21 general ware potteries that employed 2,558 operatives. By 1923 the 17 firms had 7,000 employees and operated 270 kilns, with $25,000,000 in annual output.
Englishman James Bennett established the industry in 1839, making use of good transportation and rich local clays. It quickly became the community's leading industry. East Liverpool became known as "The Crockery City." Potters from Staffordshire, England, began pouring into East Liverpool, attracted by higher wages and the prospect of land ownership. By 1879, there were 24 potteries in East Liverpool, nearly all operated by English immigrants. As late as 1900, East Liverpool remained "essentially a transplanted potting town of Englishmen". Until the turn of the century about 85% percent of the population could trace its heritage to England. After the English, the second largest ethnic group in East Liverpool were German settlers. From 1870 to 1890, the city more than doubled in population each decade as it attracted new industrial workers with the growth of the pottery industry. By 1910, its population exceeded 20,000. At various times, some of the largest potteries included the East Liverpool Pottery, Knowles, Taylor & Knowles; Taylor, Smith & Taylor; The Hall China Company, and Homer Laughlin China Company.
Of these potteries, two continue to operate in the area: the American Mug & Stein Company and the Fiesta Tableware Company, formerly Homer Laughlin. 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. The Museum of Ceramics in downtown East Liverpool has the world's largest public display of Lotus Ware.
National Register of Historic Places listings
Due to being the home of a large industry with many wealthy business owners, there are today 16 different properties and 3 districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in addition to the Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey, the only National Historic Landmark in Columbiana County.
Historic districts
The Diamond Historic District is at the one-sided traffic diamond between Market Street and East Sixth Street. The area is triangular, bounded by three roads. Buildings at the Diamond date back to 1884. The East Fifth Street Historic District consists of three blocks of downtown East Liverpool along East Fifth street between Market Street and Broadway, listed due to its examples of Neoclassical architecture. East Liverpool Downtown Historic District covers the whole of downtown in 22 acres, and is noted for its Italianate and Second Empire architecture as well as its prominence as a commercial center in East Liverpool's history.
Historic structures
Many historic properties in East Liverpool were the homesteads of prominent business owners throughout the late 19th century. These include the Cassius Clark Thompson House (1876), Ikirt House (1888), Homer Laughlin House (1882), Godwin-Knowles House (1890), and the Richard L. Cawood Residence (1923), all of unique architectural styles.
The remaining structures on the listing are large, multi-story businesses that had historical significance in East Liverpool's economy and community during the 20th century, such as the original East Liverpool Post Office (1909), East Liverpool Pottery (1844), Andrew Carnegie's Public Library (1902), the original YMCA (1913), the Civil Works Administration's City Hall (1934), the Elks Club building (1916), Odd Fellows Temple (1907), Mary A. Patterson Memorial building (1924), Potters Savings and Loan (1904), the first Potters National Bank (1881), and the Travelers Hotel (1907).
Areas and neighborhoods
Beechwood – The neighborhood situated above Maine Boulevard between Anderson Boulevard and Park Way.
Downtown – East Liverpool's centralized business district, on the "flats" in the river valley. Downtown is considered to lie between 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 19th century was between the Ohio River and 3rd Street, but 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.
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. Like Jethro in the West End, East End originated as a few separate satellite communities that were absorbed in the 19th century by the growing city.
Fisher Park – A self-contained neighborhood between South and North Shadylane drives on the east side of Lisbon Street. Named for the Fisher Farm in the area, the farmhouse can still be found along Lisbon Street as a private residence.
Klondyke – Overlaps with Thompson neighborhood in central East Liverpool.
Pleasant Heights – A neighborhood 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 in early 20th century.
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 Bradshaw Avenue, and extends to the edge of the hill at Thompson Avenue and Vine Street.
West End – The western end of the city is between U.S. Route 30 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, the West End was connected to Downtown, but 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 19th 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.
Satellite communities
Though not within the city limits, a few communities share East Liverpool's 43920 ZIP code and have East Liverpool mailing addresses, including the census-designated places of Calcutta, Glenmoor and La Croft, and the unincorporated community of Fredericktown.
Geography
300px|thumb|Spliced panoramic photo of East Liverpool, Ohio, from the east, taken August 11, 2000.
East Liverpool is located at (40.628510, −80.569063). It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
Demographics
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 . There were 5,316 housing units at an average density of . 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.
2000 census
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.
Government
East Liverpool operates under a mayor–council government. Eight council members are elected as a legislature for 2-year terms, comprising four separate wards, three at-large districts, and a council president. In addition, an independently elected mayor serves as an executive. The current mayor is Gregory T. Bricker, and the current council president is John A. Torma. The mayor, auditor, treasurer, and law director are all elected to 4-year terms.
Education
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.
Transportation
Highways
The following highways pass through East Liverpool:
U.S. Route 30
State Route 7
State Route 11
State Route 39
State Route 170
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
There are two public parks 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 is at the intersection of Park Way and Park Boulevard.
Broadway Wharf – A small public park and boat launch on the Ohio River at the end of Broadway.
Additionally, Beaver Creek State Park is outside the city limits but within the 43920 ZIP code.
The East Liverpool Country Club has a 9-hole golf course designed by Willie Park, Jr., that opened on July 14, 1921.
Athletics
Because of its size, East Liverpool has never had a major professional sports team, but during its heyday, many semipro and company teams and city and area leagues thrived. 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 for the past 100-plus years. All 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. Athletic facilities include Patterson Field, a football stadium opened in 1924 on the Ohio River, and the Potter Fieldhouse next to the high school.
Media
East Liverpool was once home to several newspapers in the 1800s, but most were consolidated into The Review, which today serves chiefly southern Columbiana County and northern Hancock County. Additionally, the Morning Journal out of Lisbon reports in the area.
The radio station WOHI 1490 AM has broadcast from the city since December 1, 1949, and is marketed as a classic hits station. The city also had a station on the FM dial 104.3, WOGI, but its license was moved to Moon Township, Pennsylvania, in 2000 and now serves the Pittsburgh radio market. Both stations were launched by the former East Liverpool Broadcasting Company.
Notable people
Dan Adkins – comic book artist for Marvel Comics
Bernie Allen – former Major League Baseball second baseman
Dick Booth – former National Football League halfback
Less Browne – former United States Football League and Canadian Football League defensive back
John Caparulo – stand-up comedian
Jane Louise Curry – children's novel author
Ben Feldman – prolific life insurance salesman
Benedict Charles Franzetta – former Catholic bishop
John Godwin – former Major League Baseball player
Lou Holtz – author, television commentator, motivational speaker, and former NCAA football coach
George P. Ikirt – physician and U.S. representative
John Leslie – pornographic film actor, director, and producer
Bob McFadden – voice actor
O. O. McIntyre – columnist of New York Day by Day
Hy Myers – former Major League Baseball player, led the National League in RBIs and slugging percentage in 1919 while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Sally Johnston Reid – composer, educator and former president of the International Alliance for Women in Music
Elaine Riley – actress with Paramount Pictures
Ruth Crawford Seeger – composer and first woman to receive the Guggenheim Fellowship
George Smith – 13th lieutenant governor of Missouri
Josh Stansbury – Mixed martial artist, former UFC light heavyweight division fighter
Josiah Thompson – author of Six Seconds in Dallas
Will Lamartine Thompson – composer of hymns and gospel music
Norm Van Lier – former National Basketball Association point guard
Jabez Vodrey – prominent early potter
Peter Wooley – former Hollywood film producer and Emmy Award nominated art director
Sister cities
East Liverpool has one sister city:
Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom
