Editing Kirtland, Ohio (section)

===1838 to present===
After the majority of the Latter Day Saints departed Kirtland in 1837–38, and during the latter part of the 19th century, Kirtland's population diminished and life was typical of that of the region. Crary recalls the last rattlesnakes being killed on [[Gildersleeve Mountain]] in the 1830s.<ref name="Roots web"/> During this period most of the wooded areas near Kirtland were cleared for agriculture, with corn and apples being the predominant crops.

In the early 20th century, Kirtland School (now Kirtland Elementary) was built to consolidate three school houses. One of the old school houses can still be found at the corner of Baldwin and Booth Roads in [[Kirtland Hills, Ohio|Kirtland Hills]]. Kirtland saw few changes until after [[World War II]] when several residential subdivisions were built. In 1957 a high school was built and in 1961, Gildersleeve Elementary was built along Chardon Road ([[U.S. Route 6 in Ohio|US&nbsp;6]]). In 1968 a middle school was completed for grades 6–8.

The 1960s saw an influx and expansion of local businesses. A shopping center was built, which combined the hardware, drug store, grocery, barber shop, plus the local doctor and dentist in one building. By 1965, [[Interstate 90 in Ohio|Interstate 90]] was open, allowing a quicker trip into [[Cleveland]]. In 1968 the citizens of Kirtland voted in a special election to incorporate the township. James Naughton was the first mayor of the village, which became a city when the [[United States Census, 1970|1970 census]] showed population exceeded 5,000. Naughton was succeeded as mayor by Doug Guy, Wesley Phillips, Mario Marcopoli, Edward Podajol, and Mark Tyler. Kirtland continued to grow in population slowly through the 1970s and 1980s.

In April 1989, [[Jeffrey Lundgren]], a religious extremist, coerced some in his [[cult]] into murdering a family of five and hiding their bodies in a pit dug inside a barn,<ref>{{cite news|first=Betsy|last=Scott|title=Site of cult murders demolished|url=http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20071114/NEWS/311149980|work=The News-Herald|date=November 14, 2007|access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref> on Chardon Road ([[U.S. 6]]). Those of Lundgren's cult who participated in the murders were sentenced to life in prison; Lundgren was executed on October 24, 2006. The site of the murders was converted from a privately owned home into a church beginning in 2007. New Promise Church opened in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newpromisechurch.com/about-us/our-story/|title=Our Story - New Promise Church - Kirtland, OH|website=newpromisechurch.com|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:NK Whitney Store.jpg|thumb|right|The N. K. Whitney Store]]
The LDS Church purchased the N.K. Whitney Store in 1979 and restored it in 1984, operating it as a historic site open to tours. The Whitney home, across the street, was acquired soon after and was used for many years as a visitor center. By the late 1990s, Kirtland was becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, so the creation of [[Historic Kirtland Village]] was announced in April 2000, located in the Kirtland flats along the East Branch of the Chagrin River, to provide insight into what life was like during the 1830s when Kirtland was the home of Joseph Smith, [[Brigham Young]], and other founders of Mormonism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Church to Restore Historic Landmarks in Kirtland |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/07/news-of-the-church/church-to-restore-historic-landmarks-in-kirtland?lang=eng |work=Ensign |publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] |access-date=March 28, 2024 |date=July 2000}}</ref> As part of the project, to create a pedestrian-friendly area, Kirtland-Chardon Road was rerouted along the eastern side of the site, while [[Ohio State Route 615]] was rerouted around the northern side, eliminating what had been a busy intersection right in front of the Whitney home and store. The Whitney home was restored to its 1830s appearance, while historically accurate replicas of the original [[John Johnson (Latter Day Saints)|John Johnson]] Inn, schoolhouse, sawmill, and ashery were researched and constructed on or near their original sites, along with a new visitor center. The project was completed and dedicated in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Kirtland Visitors' Center, Restored Whitney Home and Johnson Inn Open to Public |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-kirtland-visitors--center,-restored-whitney-home-and-johnson-inn-open-to-public |date=June 28, 2002 |access-date=March 28, 2024 |work=Church News |publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=President Hinckley Dedicates Kirtland Historic Sites |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2003/08/news-of-the-church/president-hinckley-dedicates-kirtland-historic-sites?lang=eng |work=Ensign |publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] |access-date=March 28, 2024 |date=August 2003 |author1=Chapman, Teresa |author2=Chapman, Alan}}</ref> In 2023, the church completed and dedicated the restored Joseph and Emma Smith home on Chillicothe Road, just north of the Kirtland Temple.<ref>{{cite news |title=Restored Joseph Smith home in Kirtland opening on Aug. 29 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/restored-joseph-smith-home-kirtland-184600205.html |author=Podolak, Janet |date=August 25, 2023 |newspaper=[[The News-Herald (Ohio)|The News-Herald]]|access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> From 2004 through 2016, a group of volunteers produced an annual [[musical theater]] production celebrating the city's Latter Day Saint history called "This Is Kirtland!", which was held at the nearby LDS [[meetinghouse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thisiskirtland.com/|title=This is Kirtland Musical|website=thisiskirtland.com|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>

In 2003, Schupp's farm and orchard, on Hobart Road, became inactive leaving Rock's farm on Chillicothe Road, the only active for-profit farm in the city. As of 2006, there are still active cattle and horse farming in the city and some commercial nursery activity. [[Maple syrup|Sugaring]] still occurs, with at least two active sugar bushes other than the large scale Bicknell Sugar Bush at the [[Holden Arboretum]].

Kirtland has been visited by two sitting [[President of the United States|Presidents of the United States]], including [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bush pitches reform in a relaxed setting|url=http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20050418/NEWS/304189998|work=The News-Herald|date=April 18, 2005|access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=John Arthur|last=Hutchison|title=Bush visits Lake|url=http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20060803/bush-visits-lake|work=The News-Herald|date=August 3, 2006|access-date=September 3, 2017}}</ref>