Native Americanpetroglyphs exist in the area surrounding East Liverpool, including on Babbs Island and near the Little Beaver Creek.[8] Before the arrival of European Americans, Mingo, Lenape, and Wyandot peoples lived in the area until the Battle of Fallen Timbers led to the Ohio Country's settlement. 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. This survey is believed to be "the first mathematically designed system and nationally conducted cadastral survey in any modern country."[9]
East Liverpool traces its founding to 1798, when Irish immigrant 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.[10] It was called Fawcettstown for a time, before being renamed Liverpool in 1816, after Liverpool, England. However, The local postal service added "East" to the town's name to avoid mail mix-ups with a "Liverpool" in Medina County.[11] Over its first few decades, a grist mill, multiple stores, and wharves opened in the town.[12] The first schoolhouse opened in 1820, and the first religious center opened in 1834 when an Episcopal Church was established on a 4th Street site provided by town developers.[12] Liverpool was incorporated as East Liverpool in 1834 when Liverpool Township in Medina County objected to possible confusion.[12]
Although Pittsburgh-based entrepreneurs invested in the town, it was smaller during this period than nearby New Lisbon and Wellsville. The arrival of English potter James Bennett in 1839 brought the establishment of the first bottle kiln site in East Liverpool, launching the town's largest industry and bringing in multiple waves of Western European immigration throughout the late 19th century.[12] Another large employer outside of that industry was the Crucible Steel Company in nearby Midland, Pennsylvania. By 1880, East Liverpool had grown to be the largest city in the county.[5] In 1905, the first city hospital opened.[13] As of 1914, East Liverpool was served by the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad.[14] On October 22, 1934, local police and FBI agents led by Melvin Purvis shot and killed notorious bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd in a cornfield north of town after Floyd fled East Liverpool, and his body was returned to the town for embalming.
In the 1960s, much of the downtown area was cleared to make way for the 4-lane expansion of Ohio State Route 11.[15] 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. Furthermore, many of the city's downtown businesses withdrew to strip malls in nearby Calcutta or left the area outright.
In 1963, a toxic waste incinerator was erected at an S. H. Bell Company warehouse in East Liverpool. Local investors believed the incinerator could be an alternative to the declining ceramics industry.[16] In 2008, concerns were raised about toxic particles affecting East Liverpool residents' health,[17] particularly manganese,[17] which was found in high concentrations.[17] East Liverpool residents were found to have higher than normal levels of manganese, cadmium, and lead in their blood,[18] and the community was considered to be in a health crisis due to the presence of these toxic elements.[19][20][21] Government agencies worked with S. H. Bell to decrease the toxic metals being released into the surrounding air and land, and from 2006 to 2013 air quality improved. In 2014, hazardous and toxic particles in air quality assessments increased.[22] Activism to reduce the toxic waste began.[23][24] In 2005, the EPA declared the area surrounding the incinerator a "potential environmental justice area".[24]
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.[citation needed] In 2010, East Liverpool lost its position as the most populous city in the county to Salem after 130 years and was later withdrawn from being a principal city in the micropolitan area.[5]
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.[25]
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".[26] Until the turn of the century about 85% percent of the population could trace its heritage to England.[27] After the English, the second largest ethnic group in East Liverpool were German settlers.[28] 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.
Holly Black's ceramic-themed novel Doll Bones is set in East Liverpool due to its history in the industry.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an 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.[29]
As of the census[32] 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.
2000 census
As of the census[5] 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 inhabitants per square mile (1,162.3/km2). There were 5,743 housing units at an average density of 1,320.8 per square mile (510.0/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.
East Liverpool viewed from the east
Arts and culture
Since 1970, the annual Tri-State Pottery Festival in June has celebrated the local ceramics industry with local pottery exhibits, games, amusement rides, food vendors, and live entertainment.[33] Starting in 2021, the First Fridays on Fifth event series has taken place on the first Friday of each month from May to October, hosting local crafts, musicians, and food vendors.[34]
The Carnegie Public Library was funded by industrialist and philanthropistAndrew Carnegie, whose uncle lived in East Liverpool. Along with the Steubenville library, it was the first of the Carnegie libraries in Ohio.[35] Designed by the local A. W. Scott, it was built with Roman mottled buff-brown brick trimmed with white tile, with construction starting in 1900.[35] The lobby is of ceramic mosaic, the wainscoting of Italian marble and the solid brass hardware. The library opened on May 8, 1902, with Gertrude A. Baker of Mount Vernon, Ohio serving as its first librarian. The library underwent two renovations over the 1950s and early 1990s.[35]
There are two public parks within East Liverpool city limits. Thompson Park was established after composer Will Lamartine Thompson donated 100 acres of land to the city in 1899.[39] It opened in 1900 as a green space to get away from the industry of the city.[40] 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 Broadway Wharf on the Ohio River includes a small public park and boat launch.[41]
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.[1] In addition, an independently elected mayor serves as an executive.[1] As of 2024, the mayor is Robert J. Smith and the council president is John A. Torma.[1] The mayor, auditor, treasurer, and law director are all elected to 4-year terms.
Education
Primary and secondary
Children in East Liverpool are served by the public East Liverpool City School District. The current schools serving the city are La Croft Elementary School (grades K-4), North Elementary School (grades K-4), Westgate Middle School (grades 5-6), and 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.[44]
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.[46]
Transportation
Highways
The following highways pass through East Liverpool:
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.[47]
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).[40]
^Beach, Chandler B.; McMurry, Frank Morton, eds. (1914). The New Student's Reference Work. Chicago: F.E. Compton and Company. p. 577. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
^Gates, William C.; Ormerod, Dana E. (1982). "The East Liverpool pottery district: Identification of manufacturers and marks". Historical Archaeology. 16 (1): 1–323. doi:10.1007/BF03374026. S2CID163404422.
^William E. Van Vugt. British Buckeyes: The English, Scots, and Welsh in Ohio, 1700–1900. pp. 135–136, 137.
Gates, William C.; Ormerod, Dana E. (1982). "East Liverpool Pottery District: Identification of Manufacturers and Marks, 1840-1970". Historical Archaeology. 16 (1/2): 1–358. doi:10.1007/BF03374026. JSTOR25615422. S2CID163404422.