Editing Clarington, Ohio (section)

==History==
Clarington was described in 1833 as having two stores, one tavern, one physician and ten residential houses. According to Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio, "It was laid out in 1822 by David Pierson, who named it after his daughter Clarinda."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Howe |first=Henry |title=Historical Collections of Ohio in Two Volumes |publisher=The Laning Printing Company |year=1896 |edition= |location=Norwalk, Ohio |pages=Vol. II pg.269 |language=English}}</ref>

During the mid-1800s, Clarington grew considerably and soon was a booming river port town with nearly 1,500 residents. The village boasted a cigar factory, blacksmith shop, restaurants, lodgings, and employed many residents at the local boat yard. Mozena Brothers Boat Yard designed and built many western river steam "packet-boats" on site in Clarington near the mouth of Sunfish Creek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/519453/Monroe-County-river-museum-coming.html|title=Monroe County river museum coming - MariettaTimes.com - News, Sports, Jobs, Ohio, Community Information - The Marietta Times|publisher=|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref> Most famous of these boats was the 1912 built Liberty. A mural of the boat by artist Ruston Baker can be seen in town. By the late 1920s, boat building was on the decline and Mozena Brothers sold out to Cook Brothers & Thomas Boat Yard. Barges, small gas powered ferries, and other craft continued to be built in Clarington up to 1941. Geographically, Clarington was the last port on the Ohio River before crossing the [[Mason–Dixon line]] just a few miles south of the village.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiovalleyrivermuseum.org|title=History of the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio|publisher=|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref> Noted author, river historian, and educator J. Mack Gamble was a lifelong resident of the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wetzelchronicle.com/page/content.detail/id/524209/Sunfish-Creek-Festival-Will-Be-Held-Saturday.html?nav=5001|title=Sunfish Creek Festival Will Be Held Saturday - WetzelChronicle.com - News, information, New Martinsville and Wetzel County WV - Wetzel Chronicle|publisher=|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref>

The non-profit [[List of museums in Ohio|Ohio Valley River Museum]] in Clarington serves to preserve and promote the history of Clarington's past, western river steamboats, the impact of river industries, and the role it plays in future development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wetzelchronicle.com/page/content.detail/id/524070/Ohio-Valley-River-Museum.html?nav=5042|title=Ohio Valley River Museum - WetzelChronicle.com - News, information, New Martinsville and Wetzel County WV - Wetzel Chronicle|publisher=|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref> The current museum president is Taylor Abbott. Barbara Rush serves as director. The museum is operated by a nine-member board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiovalleyrivermuseum.org/|title=History of the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio|publisher=|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref>

In recent years, Clarington has become an epicenter of oil and gas activity after drilling discoveries of Utica and Marcellus gas formations. As of late 2014, Appalachian Resins had signed a letter of intent to lease 50 acres in Clarington. The Houston-based company plans to construct a $1 billion plant on the site that will use ethane, a component of natural gas, from the nearby Utica and Marcellus formations and break it down into ethylene. The project is considered a major development and boost to the economy of Monroe County following the closure of the Ormet aluminum plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/08/29/cracker-plant-in-the-works-for-monroe-county.html|title='Cracker' plant in the works for Monroe County|publisher=|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref>