Willoughby, Ohio

Willoughby is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States and is a suburb of Cleveland. The population was 22,268 at the 2010 census.[1]

Willoughby, Ohio
City
Downtown Willoughby
Motto(s): 
"The Courtesy City"
Location of Willoughby, Ohio
Location of Willoughby in Lake County
Coordinates: 41°38′45″N 81°24′35″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyLake
Government
 • MayorRobert Fiala
Area
 • Total10.34 sq mi (26.78 km2)
 • Land10.25 sq mi (26.55 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation659 ft (201 m)
Population
 • Total22,268
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
22,977
 • Density2,241.88/sq mi (865.56/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
44094-44097
Area code(s)440
FIPS code39-85484[6]
GNIS feature ID1061788[3]
Websitewww.willoughbyohio.com

History
View north down Erie Street in downtown Willoughby

Willoughby's first permanent settler was David Abbott in 1798, who operated a gristmill.[7] Abbott and his family were said to have had close relations with a band of Indians along the banks of the local river, which the Indians called the "Sha-ga-rin" meaning "Clear Water." This river was later called the Chagrin River, though the origin of the name remains in dispute.

In 1835, the village was permanently named "Willoughby" in honor of Dr. Westel Willoughby, Jr., a public health official that the founders of a short-lived Medical College, which was based in the city, hoped to attract to the area.[8] Many historical buildings from this period survive to this date, affording the downtown Willoughby area some outstanding specimens of 19th century architecture.

In World War I, the U.S. Army chose Willoughby as the site for a chemical weapons plant producing lewisite.[9]

Over time, Willoughby sent citizens into every major U.S. military conflict. Several memorials and historical relics are displayed in Wes Point Park, the center of downtown Willoughby, to honor those that have served.

Willoughby is the only town in America that has belonged, at one time or other, to six counties (Washington, Jefferson, Trumbull, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Lake).[10]

Geography

Willoughby is located at 41°38′45″N 81°24′35″W (41.645915, -81.408515).[1][11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.34 square miles (26.78 km2), of which 10.25 square miles (26.55 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) is water.[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1840390—
1860589—
187086747.2%
18801,00115.5%
18901,21921.8%
19001,75343.8%
19102,07218.2%
19202,65628.2%
19304,25260.1%
19404,3642.6%
19505,60228.4%
196015,058168.8%
197018,63423.7%
198019,2903.5%
199020,5106.3%
200022,62110.3%
201022,268−1.6%
Est. 201922,977[5]3.2%
Sources:[6][13][14]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 22,268 people in 10,413 households, including 5,716 families, in the city. The population density was 2,172.5 inhabitants per square mile (838.8/km2). There were 11,387 housing units at an average density of 1,110.9 per square mile (428.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.6% White, 3.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3%.[4]

Of the 10,413 households 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.1% were non-families. 38.4% of households were one person and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age was 43.6 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 22,621 people in 10,265 households, including 5,892 families, in the city. The population density was 2,225.3 people per square mile (858.8/km2). There were 10,700 housing units at an average density of 1,052.6 per square mile (406.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.47% White, 1.14% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71%.[6] 19.0% were of German, 15.8% Italian, 13.3% Irish, 8.2% English, 5.6% Polish, 5.6% American and 5.4% Slovene ancestry according to Census 2000.

Of the 10,265 households 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.6% were non-families. 36.6% of households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.[15]

The median household income was $43,387 and the median family income was $53,677. Males had a median income of $38,711 versus $30,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,653. About 4.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Two public high schools are located in Willoughby: Willoughby South High School and Willoughby-Eastlake Technical Center, both of which are a part of the Willoughby-Eastlake School District. Students in the ninth through twelfth grades are enrolled at Willoughby South High School, which opened its doors at its present location in 2019. Previously, Willoughby South High School and current rival Eastlake North High were housed in the same building called Union High, but following the division, the then-abandoned Union High became the location of Willoughby Junior High School until 1972. It then housed the Willoughby-Eastlake Technical Center, located in downtown Willoughby. In 2011, the proposed Five-Year Facilities Plan would add 2 new buildings to the district, a new Longfellow Elementary, a new Eastlake North High School, renovate Willoughby South High School, add a new school to the building as well as move Willoughby Middle School to the previous building. Construction for these buildings began in Fall 2016 and ended Fall 2019. The demolition of the old Willoughby Middle, Longfellow Elementary, and North High School began and ended Summer 2019.[16]

The Andrews Osborne Academy is also located in Willoughby.

Willoughby is served by a branch of the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library.[17]

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[18] the top employers in the city were:

# Employer # of employees
1 Lake Health 669
2 Willoughby-Eastlake City School District 458
3 Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services 450
4 Momentive Performance Materials 377
5 Marous Brothers Construction 263
6 City of Willoughby 237
7 Windsor-Laurelwood 225
8 Deepwood Industries 205
9 Giant Eagle 180
10 Bescast 141

News and media

The News-Herald, a Lake County newspaper, has been headquartered in Willoughby since its inception.

Willoughby Today is an online news website founded in August 2010 for Willoughby.

Lake County Gazette (Gazette Newspapers Inc.) also features Willoughby news in print and online.

WINT 1330AM is licensed to Willoughby and serves the surrounding area.

Notable people

References
  1. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files: Places: Ohio". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 876. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  8. Taddeo, Ronald J. "How Willoughby Got Its Name". City of Willoughby website. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  9. Hershberg, James G. (1993). James B. Conant : Harvard to Hiroshima and the making of the nuclear age. Stanford, Cal.: Stanford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 0-8047-2619-1.
  10. "Willoughby, Ohio - Ohio History Central". www.ohiohistorycentral.org. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  13. "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  14. "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  15. "The City of Willoughby - 1 Public Square • Willoughby, OH 44094 • 440.951.2800". The City of Willoughby. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  16. "Five-Year Facilities Plan" (PDF). Willoughby-Eastlake School District. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  17. "Locations and Hours". Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  18. City of Willoughby CAFR

Further reading
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