East Liverpool is a city in southeastern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States.
[7] Native American petroglyphs 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 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.
"[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.
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.
[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.
The western downtown area was cleared in the 1960s to make way for the 4-lane expansion of Ohio State Route 11.
This cost many jobs and, ultimately, population in the Upper Ohio Valley area, as people moved away in search of work.
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.
[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.
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.
[25] Englishman James Bennett established the industry in 1839, making use of good transportation and rich local clays.
Potters from Staffordshire, England, began pouring into East Liverpool, attracted by higher wages and the prospect of land ownership.
As late as 1900, East Liverpool remained "essentially a transplanted potting town of Englishmen".
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.
[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.
[38] Many historic properties in East Liverpool were the homesteads of prominent business owners throughout the late 19th century.
[36] The remaining structures on the listing are large, multi-story businesses that had historical significance in East Liverpool's economy and community during the 20th century, such as 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).
The Broadway Wharf on the Ohio River includes a small public park and boat launch.
The East Liverpool Country Club has a 9-hole golf course designed by Willie Park, Jr., that opened on July 14, 1921.
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.