Elyria (/əˈlɪəriə/ ə-LEER-ee-ə[6]) is a city in, and the county seat of, Lorain County, Ohio, United States, located at the forks of the Black River in Northeast Ohio 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Cleveland.

Ely began to build more houses to accommodate European-American settlers migrating to what was, at that time, within Huron County, Ohio.

In the first half of the 20th century, the town developed some manufacturing, as well as a range of retail businesses.

[12] Industrial restructuring meant that good jobs left the area, and poverty increased.

Three major car plant closings in the area led to economic stagnation and joblessness in the 1970s and 1980s that affected numerous communities.

In the 1990s, Elyria experienced a minor revival with construction of some new roads and housing.

It serves as a residential, suburban "bedroom community" for Cleveland, where new businesses and industries are developing with an increase in new jobs.

[citation needed] To prepare for this, voters passed Issue 6 in March 2016.

With the reconstruction of State Route 57 on the city's northwest side by Midway Mall, traffic flow was improved.

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[17] the top employers in the city were: Elyria has a large number of parks and recreational centers that include a variety of activities such as baseball and playground equipment.

The four recreational centers are named after their locations: North, East, South, and West.

[citation needed] There are two main parks, Cascade and Elywood, which are connected by an elevated pedestrian bridge in the center.

[citation needed] The park is located in a ravine carved by the same glaciers that created the Great Lakes.

The park used to have three captive black bears, held in cages attached to a rock.

[citation needed] Elyria is also home to the Open Door Christian School.