East Liverpool, Ohio

The local potteries 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 1880 to 1950. The East Liverpool pottery district encompasses East Liverpool and the towns of Wellsville, Ohio, and Chester and Newell, West Virginia, directly across the Ohio River. In 1887 East Liverpool boasted 21 general ware potteries which employed 2,558 operatives. By 1923 the 17 firms had 7,000 employees and operated 270 kilns, with $25,000,000 in annual output.[10]

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. They were attracted mostly by higher wages, but also by the prospect of land ownership. By 1879, there were 24 potteries in East Liverpool, nearly all of whom were operated by English immigrants. As late as 1900, East Liverpool remained "essentially a transplanted potting town of Englishmen".[11] Up until the turn of the century probably 85% percent of the population could trace its heritage to English background.[12] After the English, the second largest ethnic group in East Liverpool were German settlers.[13] 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 the area: the American Mug & Stein Company, the Hall China Company, and the Homer Laughlin China Company. 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.[14]

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.

The Richard L. Cawood Residence, 1923; an example of Renaissance architecture.

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.[15]

The Diamond Historic District is located 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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[17]

Many of the 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.[15]

The remaining structures on the listing are examples of large, multi-story businesses that had historical significance in East Liverpool's economy and community during the 20th century. Listings include 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).[15]

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, including the census-designated places of Calcutta, Glenmoor and La Croft, and the unincorporated community of Fredericktown.

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.

In its most liberal definition, the East Liverpool area extends as far north as Negley, as far west as Salineville, as far east as Midland, Pennsylvania, and as far south as New Cumberland, West Virginia. The United States Census Bureau defines communities in this region as being parts of the Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, or Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, although the area as a whole is considered part of the Greater Pittsburgh Region.

Children in East Liverpool (and immediate surrounding areas in Liverpool Township) 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), grades K-4
• North Elementary School – 100 Maine Boulevard, grades K-4
• Westgate Middle School – 810 West 8th Street, grades 5-6
• East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School – 100 Maine Boulevard, grades 7-12

The East Liverpool Christian School also serves grades K-12 as the primary area private school option. In addition, an online school, Buckeye Online School for Success, operates out of downtown.

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

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. The Ohio Valley College of Technology in nearby Calcutta also focuses on job training.

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

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

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.[18]
• 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.[19]
• 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).[19]

The East Liverpool Country Club has a 9-hole golf course that was designed by Willie Park, Jr. and opened on July 14, 1921. Courses in the 43920 vicinity include the 18-hole Turkana Golf Course in Calcutta, the 9-hole Highland Country Club in Glenmoor and the 18-hole Beaver Creek Meadows Golf Course in Williamsport.

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,[20] Thompson Park opened in 1900 as a green space to get away from the industry of the city.[19] 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.

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.

East Liverpool was once home to several newspapers, but only The Review survives, serving chiefly southern Columbiana County and northern Hancock County. Additionally, the Morning Journal reports in the area.

The radio station WOHI 1490 AM has broadcast from the city since December 1, 1949. The city also had a station on the FM dial 104.3, WOGI, but its city of license was moved to Moon Township, Pennsylvania and now serves the Pittsburgh radio market. The following radio stations can be received in East Liverpool:

• WKBN 570 AM, News/Talk
• WRQX 600 AM, Country
• WHLO 640 AM, News/Talk
• WPIT 730 AM, Religious
• KDKA 1020 AM, News/Talk
• WKST 1200 AM, News/Talk
• WOHI 1490 AM, Classic Hits

Though East Liverpool has never had a local television station of its own, the area receives the following stations from Pittsburgh, Youngstown and Steubenville.

As of the census[4] 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.

As of the census[6] 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.