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Coordinates: 41°26′54″N 82°10′8″W / 41.44833°N 82.16889°W / 41.44833; -82.16889
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lorain, Ohio
City
City of Lorain
From top left: Lorain central business district; Lorain Palace Theater; the Lorain lighthouse; Charles Berry Bridge in the Lorain Harbor.
Nickname: 
"Lorain City" "International City" "Steel City"
Location within the state of Ohio and in Lorain County
Location within the state of Ohio and in Lorain County
Coordinates: 41°26′54″N 82°10′8″W / 41.44833°N 82.16889°W / 41.44833; -82.16889
Country United States of America
State Ohio
County Lorain
Founded1807
IncorporatedFebruary, 1817
IncorporatedJuly 16, 1834 (township)[1]
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • BodyLorain City Council
 • MayorChase M. Ritenauer (D)
Area
[2]
 • Total62.52 km2 (24.14 sq mi)
 • Land61.31 km2 (23.67 sq mi)
 • Water1.22 km2 (0.47 sq mi)
Elevation
186 m (610 ft)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total64,097
 • Estimate 
(2012[4])
63,707
 • Density1,045.5/km2 (2,707.9/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code(s)
44052-44053-44054-44055
Area code440
FIPS code39-44856
GNIS feature ID1077529[5]
Websitehttp://www.cityoflorain.org

Lorain (pronounced /ləˈreɪn/) is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland.

As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 64,097,[6] making it Ohio's tenth largest city. Incorporated 1874 (see 'History', below).

History[edit]

The City of Lorain is located in the Western Reserve and was occupied by Native Americans until the consummation of the Treaty of Fort Industry in 1805. The treaty, between the U.S. government and the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippewa, Munsee, Delaware, Shawnee, and, Pottawattamie, seceded the land west of the Cuyahoga River to the Connecticut Western Reserve. In notes from surveyor Abraham Tappan, land west of the Cuyahoga River was entirely void of permanent settlement from any people, meaning that all aboriginal people evacuated all 3,336,000 acres of land by the time Tappan arrived near the Black River in 1807.

The area now known as the City of Lorain witnessed its first settlers in 1807 with the arrival of Nathan Perry and his wife. From the period of settlement until the War of 1812 a slow, steady flow of settlers arrived from New England. In 1812, James Reid built a large house to be used as a dwelling and tavern known simply as the Reid House. Following the construction of the Reid House, a new post office and office for the first Justice of the Peace was erected at the site that was known as "Mouth of Black River." Following the War of 1812, the settlement was used a stopping point for immigrants continuing their journey to other sections of the United States.

Eventually the settlement used the advantageous Black River as the basis for its first industry, shipbuilding. The first ship to be built in the Black River was the General Huntington, built of local hardwood found near the river by F. Church, and was launched in 1819. The early shipbuilding industry consisted primarily of small, wooden sailing vessels and eventually boomed into the American Ship Building Company by the 20th century. Grist and saw mills were the first manufacturing industries in the county and depended on the strong currents from the Black River near the mouth and Cascade Park near the waterfalls.

Geography[edit]

Lorain, part of the Cleveland–Elyria–Mentor metropolitan area, is located at 41°26′54″N 82°10′8″W / 41.44833°N 82.16889°W / 41.44833; -82.16889 (41.448241, -82.168862).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.14 square miles (62.52 km2), of which 23.67 square miles (61.31 km2) is land and 0.47 square miles (1.22 km2) is water.[2]

The Charles Berry Bridge is located in Lorain, and is the second-largest bascule bridge in the world.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,595—
18904,863204.9%
190016,028229.6%
191028,88380.2%
192037,20528.8%
193044,51219.6%
194044,125−0.9%
195051,20216.0%
196068,93234.6%
197078,18513.4%
198075,416−3.5%
199071,245−5.5%
200068,652−3.6%
201064,097−6.6%
2014 (est.)63,776[8]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
2012 Estimate[10]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 64,097 people, 25,529 households, and 16,368 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,707.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,045.5/km2). There were 29,144 housing units at an average density of 1,231.3 per square mile (475.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 67.9% White, 17.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 8.3% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.2% of the population.

There were 25,529 households of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

Demographic Origins[edit]

African-American[edit]

As early as 1866, the first African-American settlers came to the area. Demographics of African-Americans in Lorain typically follow the trends of the Second Great Migration movement, effectively raising the nonwhite proportion in 1940 at less than 2% to very near 5% by the 1950 census. The 2010 census shows Lorain at 17.6% for persons whom identify as Black or African American alone, and 5.4% that identify as two or more races.[11]

Britain[edit]

British ancestry in the city of Lorain can be divided into the following three sections:

English[edit]

English-born men came from across the United States to Lorain starting in 1871 with some families coming directly from the west of England in 1881. Though some were Anglicans, they attended the only English-speaking church at the time which was Methodist and converted soon after.

English immigrants in Lorain were largely unaware of the anti-British feeling that was rising in old colonial stocks of Britain following two world wars, the difference in language, and outlook that several generations of the New World frontier had served to create. Many English immigrants to the city found it shocking to feel treated as foreigners and that their dialect of English was viewed as alien. English immigrants were mindful of the possibility of returning to England and did not think they could fight against England in the event of a third world war. Therefore, many were slow in seeking American citizenship.

The English immigrants gave the church a distinctly British Methodist slant, to the resent of old pioneer members, before the founding of the Congregational Church in 1872. This caused a rivalry between the Methodist and Congregational Churches for over three decades before the Methodist became more denominationally Methodist with the Presbyterian period completely disavowed.

Irish[edit]

Irish immigrants from South Ireland migrated to the area from across the country until the arrival of the railroad, which brought more families directly from Ireland. In number, they were about equal to the combined English and Manx immigrant populations. In 1878, they helped to found the first Roman Catholic church in the community, St. Mary's Church.

Manx[edit]

Manx immigrants came to Lorain because of the railroad industry and settled on the east side of the Black River. Though most were sailors, another approximately half-dozen families also settled in Lorain, later comprising most of the membership of the East Side Methodist Church, which was known as the Manx church in its early days. Children and grandchildren of Manx immigrants have made it clear that they do not want to be considered a part of the English immigration.

Scottish[edit]

Immigrants from Scotland also came to Lorain in search of jobs at the steel mill. They were instrumental in the creation of the Presbyterian Church.

Croatia[edit]

The first Croatians migrated to Lorain in 1890. In 1908, about 250 families had settled in Lorain. However, most Croatians immigrated to Lorain following World War I. They came in search of finding a new home in another nation after the continuous transfer of loyalties from one nation to another.

Most Croatians settled in South Lorain, near East 32nd Street. In 1923, after 14 years of petitioning for a separate, Croatian parish, St. Vitus Church was founded and became the, “center of Croatian cultural and social activity.” The American Croatian Club was also started in 1923 by twelve men dedicated to, “the Americanization of Croatians.” This club continues to serve the Croatian community of Lorain today.

Germany[edit]

Immigration from Germany began with the arrival of liberal Evangelical Hessian farmers. Many German Lorainites emigrated from Hessen following the defeat of liberalism there in 1830. They settled on farms outside of the original town but had little to do with the community. Nearly a half dozen large families arrived from the Hesse-Cassel area and settled as a group in the community in 1850; the following year, they opened the first foreign-language church in town.

The Hessian immigrants were not actual political refugees; however, they were a group of people alarmed at the Prussian conquests and made careful plans for emigration. Descendants of native Germans in the area were among the first local people to genuinely be alarmed by the rise of Adolf Hitler and of the Nazi Party.

Hungary[edit]

Although not many were considered Hungarian in Europe, as immigrants came from Austria-Hungary to the United States they were all considered Hungarian. The “Hungarian” immigrants included Slavish people from Slovakia, Ruthenian from Galicia, Bohemians, and people who came from Dalmatia. With all of these immigrants included, Hungarian was the largest immigrant group to come to Lorain by the 1950s.

News spread quickly in Austria-Hungary as Hungarian immigrants wrote home to tell of news of jobs in Lorain. Hungarians came to Lorain, as well as other similar cities around the country, for the mining, iron, and automobile industries, leaving the, “wars, foreign oppression and feudalistic exploitations,” of their home country. There was a large Hungarian migration to the United States at the turn of the century, after World War II, and at the 1956 Revolution.

Many young, Hungarian, immigrant women worked as maids in American homes in Lorain. This helped bridge the gap between many “old” families and Hungarian immigrants.

The Hungarian Reform Church was established by the Magyar Protestants in 1902. It was the first church established by the Hungarian immigrants. The following year, St. Michael’s Greek Catholic Church was founded by the Greek Catholic community. In 1904, Magyar Hungarians established St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Parish. The Ruthenians from Galicia formed their own Greek Catholic group as well.

Israel[edit]

In 1948, the modern state of Israel was established. After no independent Jewish state existed for almost 1900 years, “today Israel exists as a homeland for Jews around the world.” Jews first came to Lorain more than 100 years ago. In 1925, three Jewish congregations merged to form the Agudath B’nai Israel Congregation. Their first synagogue was located on 9th and Reid.

Italy[edit]

Italian immigrants first came to Lorain in the late 1880s and early 1890s when a small number came from Sicily and southern Italy. Many were employed by the Cleveland, Lorain, Baltimore, and Wheeling railroad companies. The Italians of Lorain built the Church of St. Peter in 1914. In 1946, the community found the Italian American Veterans Post No. 1 with the goals of, “aiding and assisting veterans and their families and fostering social, civic, historical, athletic, patriotic, musical and scientific activities, and more.”

Macedonia[edit]

The first Macedonian settlers came to Lorain during the 1920s. In the 1930s, Lorain saw large groups of Macedonian immigrants coming to work at the steel industry. With the unrest in the Balkan region after World War II, Macedonians continued to immigrate to Lorain. They established homes mainly in South Lorain between Pearl Avenue and Grove Avenue and between 29th Street and 37th Street.

Mexico[edit]

The first Mexican settlers came to Lorain in 1921 to find better wages and working conditions. Having an established reputation of being good and reliable workers, when the steel mill was experiencing a shortage of workers, they recruited Mexicans. The first group arrived in late 1923. By the end of 1924, 1300 men had been recruited. They settled primarily in South Lorain. During the depression of the 1930’s, many returned back to Mexico. However, with another shortage of workers in the 1940’s, another wave of Mexican immigrants came to Lorain.

Native American[edit]

Many Native Americans came to Cleveland because of the 1956 Relocation Act. They soon found their home in Lorain because they were attracted to a small city that offered employment through Ford Motor Company, U.S. Steel, and American Ship Building. In 1988, Lorain had Native Americans from 22 different tribes. In 1972, the Native American Center was formed.

Poland[edit]

Poland immigrants first came to Lorain as an extension of German immigration. Most of the first Polish immigrants were from German Poland. However, when the news reached Poland that they're were jobs and opportunity, all types of Poles came to Lorain. The last wave of Polish immigrants came from Russian Poland and the Baltic provinces of Russia.

The Polish community in Lorain had a lot of diversity as there were Polish immigrants who had been educated in Germany to those from Russian-Poland who had zero education. At first, Polish immigrants lived in slum-like conditions with a family of ten or more living in a single, rented room. But thirty years later, these same Polish immigrants would live in single family homes with their children attending high school.

In 1900, the Poles in Lorain formed their own Polish-language ethnic parish, Church of Nativity, and by 1909 a second Polish parish, St. Stanislaus, was formed.

Puerto Rico[edit]

People from Puerto Rico found their origins in Lorain in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Following World War II, U.S. Steel faced a worker shortage after the creation of the National Tube Company. National Tube Company built barracks for the first arrival of men to work in the steel mill and approximately 1,000 arrived between October, 1947 and June, 1948.They were recruited for not only having a reputation for being excellent workers, but also because they could stand the heat of the steel mill from their tolerance of hot sun and temperatures in the sugarcane and coffee fields of Puerto Rico.[12] Soon the wives, children, friends, and relatives of these men came to Lorain too, and in 1951, a thousand Puerto Ricans were arriving per week. By 1955, there were approximately 2,000 families, roughly 7% of the population.[13]

With a new community of Puerto Ricans in Lorain, new churches and social organizations were formed. Sacred Hearts Chapel were founded in 1952. Hogar Puertorriqueno and El Centro de Servicios Sociales were also started by Puerto Rican community of Lorain.

Slovakia[edit]

Slovakians first came to Lorain in the late 1880s. Many Slovakian immigrants entered Lorain as Hungarian nationals. However in 1903, the Slovak community was so large they formed their own church, the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and by 1905, the Slovak Protestants formed the Slovak Lutheran Church. Many Slovakian immigrants settled east of the Black River. They found work in a variety of places including C.L. & W. (B.&O) railroad, shipyards, ore docks, or at National Tube company. In 1935, the American Slovak Club was founded for the Slovakian community of Lorain.

Slovenia[edit]

The Slovenians first came to Lorain in 1894. Slovenian immigration followed the Austro-Hungarian immigration. They left their home countries of repression, and found work at The Johnson Steel Company. Mainly living in South Lorain, many of their homes were located between Vine and Grove Avenue. In 1906, the Slovenian community in Lorain founded their own separate Slovene foreign-language Roman Catholic Parish.

Ukraine[edit]

The Ukrainian people of Lorain have made a large impact on the city over the years. In the early 1920’s, the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants built St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Another group of Ukrainian immigrants came to Lorain after failing to gain independence from the Union of Soviet Socialistic Republic. In 1947, St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church was built. The Ukrainian community also had the honor of seeing Irene Kychun, the Ukrainian Princess in 1967, be named the first Queen of the International Festival.

Government[edit]

See also: List of mayors of Lorain, Ohio

Lorain is a statutory city as set by laws and regulations from the Ohio Constitution. The form of government in the city is Mayor-council.


The Mayor of the City of Lorain fulfills the purposes of the Executive Branch.

The Legislative Branch of the city government is an eleven member city council. Three members of the Lorain City Council serve at-large while eight members serve individual wards. All members of the council serve terms of two years at a time. Lorain City Council fixes the salaries of city officials and employees; the Council also enacts ordinances and resolutions, including, but not limited to, public service, tax levies, appropriations, loans, licensing, regulations, trade, and other municipal purposes.[14]

The Lorain Municipal Court fulfills the Judicial Branch needs for the cities of Lorain, Black River Township, Sheffield Lake, and Sheffield Township.[15]


Economy[edit]

CenturyTel of Ohio is based in Lorain.

Top employers[edit]

According to the City's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [16] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of employees
1 Mercy Health 1,657
2 Lorain City School District 870
3 Lorain Tubular 796
4 Republic Steel 633
5 CAMACO, Inc. 500
6 The City Of Lorain 468
7 Grace Management Services 314
8 Cleveland Clinic 300
9 The Nord Center 228
10 Walmart 211

Buildings[edit]

Parks and Recreation[edit]

Lakeview Park[edit]

Lorain is the site of Lakeview Park. The park is bisected by Erie Avenue (US Route 6). The south side of the park is managed by the City of Lorain; the north side of the park, on Lake Erie, is managed by Lorain County Metro Parks. The park features swimming, a historical rose garden, a fountain, and a restaurant.[17] In the summer, beach volleyball tournaments, concerts, and weddings are held at the park.

Culture[edit]

Over 70 different nationalities live in the Lorain area. Many were originally attracted by work in the steel mills and ship yards. Lorain is sometimes referred to as Steel City mainly because of its well-known steel mill. Downtown Lorain was devastated by a tornado in 1924 and as part of an initiative to rebuild the downtown several historic buildings were constructed, including the Lorain Palace Theatre which opened in 1928 and continues to operate today.[18] One of the highlights of the summer season is the Lorain International Festival.

Notable people[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • Broadway, looking north, about 1908
    Broadway, looking north, about 1908
  • Aerial view, looking north, 1908-1918
    Aerial view, looking north, 1908-1918
  • "At the loop", 1913
    "At the loop", 1913
  • Aerial view of the harbor at Lorain, Ohio. View is to the southeast.
    Aerial view of the harbor at Lorain, Ohio. View is to the southeast.
  • Broadway, Downtown
    Broadway, Downtown

References[edit]

  1. ^ Remarkable Ohio http://remarkableohio.org/picture.php?/5444/category/912. Retrieved 1 June 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  4. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ "American FactFinder2". Retrieved 2010-03-20.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  11. ^ United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/3944856. Retrieved 2 June 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ Bell Ferrer, Dorothy. "From Yauco to Cleveland: A Brief History of Puerto Ricans in Cleveland, Ohio". La Respuesta. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  13. ^ Gregg, Catherine (1955). Comparative Social Assimilation. Ivy Press. p. 40. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  14. ^ Greer, Nancy. "About City Council". CityofLorain.org. Lorain City Council. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  15. ^ "Municipal Courts Generally Chapter 19 of the Ohio Revised Code" (PDF). Ohio Association of Municipal/County Court Clerks. Ohio Association of Municipal/County Court Clerks. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  16. ^ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: Year Ended December 31, 2013" (PDF). City of Lorain. p. 187.
  17. ^ "Lakeview Park at Lorain County Metro Parks". www.metroparks.cc. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  18. ^ http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1042/
  19. ^ Martin, Douglas. "Robert Galambos, Neuroscientist Who Showed How Bats Navigate, Dies at 96", The New York Times, July 15, 2010. Accessed July 16, 2010.

External links[edit]

Wikisource has the text of the 1920 Encyclopedia Americana article Lorain.

Category:Populated places established in 1807

Category:Cities in Lorain County, Ohio

Category:Populated places on the Great Lakes

Category:Puerto Rican culture in Ohio

Category:Cleveland metropolitan area

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