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Willoughby, Ohio facts for kids

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Willoughby
Downtown Willoughby
Downtown Willoughby
Motto(s): 
"The Courtesy City"
Location in Greater Cleveland
Location in Greater Cleveland
Willoughby is located in Ohio
Willoughby
Willoughby
Location in Ohio
Country United States
State Ohio
County Lake
Area
 • Total 10.34 sq mi (26.78 km2)
 • Land 10.25 sq mi (26.55 km2)
 • Water 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
659 ft (201 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 22,268
 • Estimate 
(2019)
22,977
 • Density 2,241.88/sq mi (865.56/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
44094-44097
Area code(s) 440
FIPS code 39-85484
GNIS feature ID 1061788

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.

History

Willoughby's first permanent settler was David Abbott in 1798, who operated a gristmill. Abbott and his family had close relations to the local tribe of Erie Indians along the banks of the river the Indians called the "Sha-ga-rin" or Clear Water. This river was later called the Chagrin River, though the derivation 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. 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.

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).

Geography

Willoughby is located at 41°38′45″N 81°24′35″W / 41.645915°N 81.409681°W / 41.645915; -81.409681 (41.645915, -81.408515).

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.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 390
1860 589
1870 867 47.2%
1880 1,001 15.5%
1890 1,219 21.8%
1900 1,753 43.8%
1910 2,072 18.2%
1920 2,656 28.2%
1930 4,252 60.1%
1940 4,364 2.6%
1950 5,602 28.4%
1960 15,058 168.8%
1970 18,634 23.7%
1980 19,290 3.5%
1990 20,510 6.3%
2000 22,621 10.3%
2010 22,268 −1.6%
2019 (est.) 22,977 3.2%
Sources:

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%.

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.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 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, Media & Sports

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.

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.

The Andrews Osborne Academy is also located in Willoughby.

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

Notable people

  • Tim Conway, actor
  • Ethan Carter III, professional wrestler
  • Greg Harbaugh, NASA
  • Kareem Hunt, professional football player
  • Katie McGregor, athlete
  • Ricky Stanzi, professional football player
  • Lyn St. James, auto racer
  • Betty Thomas, actress, director, writer
  • Elizabeth Augustus Whitehead, archaeologist and philanthropist

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Willoughby (Ohio) para niños

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