Editing Ironton, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Ironton, Ohio
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Ironton_Ohio.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Downtown Ironton looking southwest from [[U.S. Route 52]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Lawrence County Ohio Ironton highlighted.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Lawrence County and the State of [[Ohio]]
|pushpin_map              = Ohio#USA
|pushpin_relief           = yes
|pushpin_label            = Ironton
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Ohio]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Lawrence County, Ohio|Lawrence]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Sam Cramblit
|established_title        = Founded
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1849
|established_date2        = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.75
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 12.31
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.47
|area_land_km2            = 11.58
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.28
|area_water_km2           = 0.74
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_total         = 10571
|population_metro         = 288648
|population_density_km2   = 913.22
|population_density_sq_mi = 2365.41
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|30|56|N|82|39|50|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 558
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 45638
|area_code                = [[Area code 740|740]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 39-37464<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2395438<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395438}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = [http://www.ironton-ohio.com/ ironton-ohio.com]
|unit_pref                = Imperial
}}
'''Ironton''' is a city in [[Lawrence County, Ohio]], United States, and its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> Its population was 10,571 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Located in [[southern Ohio|southernmost Ohio]] along the [[Ohio River]], it is {{convert|20|mi}} northwest of [[Huntington, West Virginia]], within the [[Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area]]. The city's name is a contraction of "iron town", stemming from its long ties to the [[Ferrous metallurgy|iron industry]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA166 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=166}}</ref> It also had one of the first [[Professional American and Canadian football#U.S. professional football history|professional football]] teams, the [[Ironton Tanks]].

== History ==
[[File:Historical Collections of Ohio- An Encyclopedia of the State; History Both General and Local, Geography with Descriptions of Its Counties, Cities and Villages, Its Agricultural, Manufacturing, Mining (14586376590).jpg|thumb|left|Ironton in 1887]]
Ironton was founded in 1849 by John Campbell,<ref name="IrontonGen">{{cite news|last=Malloy |first=David E. |title=Ironton |newspaper=Herald-Dispatch |date=September 27, 2006 |url=http://www.putnamherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/COMMUN/604200307/1069 |location=Huntington, WV }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> a prominent [[pig iron]] manufacturer in the area. He chose the location of Ironton because of its site along the [[Ohio River]], which would allow for water transport of iron ore to markets downriver.

Between 1850 and 1890, Ironton was one of the foremost producers of [[iron]] in the world. [[England]], [[France]], and [[Russia]] all purchased iron for warships from here due to the quality. Iron produced here was used for the [[USS Monitor|USS ''Monitor'']], the United States' first ironclad ship.<ref name="IrontonGen"/>  More than 90 furnaces were operating at the peak of production in the late 19th century.<ref name="IrontonGen"/>

The iron industry generated revenues that were invested in new industries, such as soap and nail production.  The [[Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad]] was constructed through two states, carrying iron to [[Henry Ford]]'s automaking plants in [[Michigan]].  The city had a street railway, the [[Ironton Petersburg Street Railway]], four daily newspapers, and a few foreign-language publications.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-07-25|title=Lawrence County: A proud past|url=https://www.irontontribune.com/2010/07/24/lawrence-county-a-proud-past/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=The Tribune}}</ref>  Ironton was also known for its accommodating attitude toward [[sin]] and [[vice]] associated with the mine and ironworkers.{{according to whom|date=September 2023}}

=== Underground Railroad and Civil War ===
With its location on the Ohio River, Ironton became a destination on the [[Underground Railroad]] for refugee slaves seeking freedom in the North. John Campbell and some other city leaders sheltered slaves in their homes during their journeys.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/communities/x407923223/Lawrence-County-Ohio-Community-known-for-its-rich-history-in-iron-and-for-its-role-in-helping-slaves-escape-via-the-Underground-Railroad |title=Lawrence County, Ohio: Community known for its rich history in iron and for its role in helping slaves escape via the Underground Railroad |publisher=The Herald-Dispatch |date=7 July 2013 |access-date=January 1, 2014}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War]], local military [[regiment]]s were mustered, quartered, and trained at [[Camp Ironton]], a military post located at the county fairgrounds.

=== Changing economics of the iron industry ===
The downfall of Ironton came as the market for iron changed.  Also, the nation was making the transition from a demand for iron to steel.  After a nationwide economic recession in the late 19th century, Ironton was no longer growing.

The [[Norfolk and Western Railway]] built [[Ironton Norfolk and Western Depot|a new railroad station]] downtown in 1906, and it continued in operation into the mid-20th century.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Owen, Lorrie K.|title=Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places|volume= 2|location=St. Clair Shores, Michigan|publisher= Somerset|year= 1999|page= 857}}</ref> Two major floods (1917, 1937) caused extensive damage to the city and its industries. The second flood came during the Great Depression; together with the shift in the iron industry, it devastated the city. The iron industry declined, affecting other industries, as well.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Benita|last=Heath|date=2012-01-29|title=The 1937 Flood|url=https://www.irontontribune.com/2012/01/29/the-1937-flood/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=The Tribune}}</ref> As the iron industries closed, Ironton had little with which to replace them.

An industrial city, Ironton worked to attract other heavy industry to the region. Companies such as Allied Signal and Alpha Portland Cement did build in town. The region has had difficulty creating an alternate economy.<ref name="PayneThesis">{{cite web | url=https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=osu1392657460&disposition=inline | title=Modernity Lost: Ironton, Ohio in Industrial and Post-Industrial America | date=1994 | access-date=7 September 2016 | author=Payne, Phillip Gene | archive-date=September 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917073238/https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=osu1392657460&disposition=inline | url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2004, both Alpha Portland Cement and Allied Signal were gone, and Ironton had shrunk by nearly 30% from its peak population in 1950. (See US Census table below.)

=== Professional football and Thanksgiving Day football tradition ===
Ironton had one of the first professional football teams in the United States, called the [[Ironton Tanks]].  The team was organized in 1919 and played through 1930. The football field previously used by the Tanks is now home to the Ironton High School Football team, the Ironton Fighting Tigers.

The Tanks began what is now the [[National Football League]]'s Thanksgiving Day Game tradition of the Detroit Lions. The Tanks played a game in 1920, the day after Thanksgiving, with the Lombards, a crosstown rival, winning 26–0. In 1922, they played and defeated the Huntington Boosters 12–0 on Thanksgiving Day, Nov 30. The Tanks continued playing on this national holiday each year through 1930, which was the Tanks' final season. Several Tanks players (including Glenn Presnell) continued their football careers by joining the nearby Portsmouth Spartans, which continued the annual tradition until their demise after the 1933 season.

The Spartans' assets were acquired by businessman G.A. Richards and moved to Detroit, where they were renamed the Lions.  Asked by Richards about ways to improve ticket sales, the players replied that they always got a good turnout on Thanksgiving Day. He promptly scheduled the first Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit.<ref>{{cite book|title=Home & Away: Rise & Fall Of Professional Football On Banks Of Ohio|first= Carl |last=Becker |year=1998|chapter=Detroit Lions - History of the Thanksgiving day game|isbn=9780821412374|publisher=Ohio University Press}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.46|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.30|sqmi|sqkm|2|abbr=on}} is covered by water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref>

===Climate===
Ironton is located within the northern limits of a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Koppen ''Cfa''), which is typical of southern [[Ohio]] and northern [[Kentucky]]. The region experiences four distinct seasons. Winters are cool to cold with mild periods, and summers are generally hot and humid, with significant precipitation year-round. Ironton is largely transitional in its flora, sharing traditionally northern trees in landscaping, such as the [[blue spruce]] along with [[magnolia]] and the occasional [[needle palm]] from the [[Upland South]].

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3691
|1870= 5686
|1880= 8857
|1890= 10939
|1900= 11868
|1910= 13147
|1920= 14007
|1930= 16021
|1940= 15851
|1950= 16333
|1960= 15745
|1970= 15030
|1980= 14178
|1990= 12751
|2000= 11211
|2010= 11129
|2020= 10571
|estyear=2021
|estimate=10434
|estref=
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=26 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/irontoncityohio,US/PST045221|title=Ironton city, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=July 1, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the 2010 [[census]],<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref> 11,129 people, 4,817 households, and 2,882 families resided in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2675.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The 5,382 housing units had an average density of {{convert|1293.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race (U.S. Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 92.6% White, 4.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.5% of the population.

Of the 4,817 households, 28.1% had children under 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were not families. About 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23, and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 42.1 years. The city's age distribution was 21.1% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% were 65  or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

=== 2000 census ===
As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> 11,211 people, 4,906 households, and 3,022 families lived in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,711.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 5,507 housing units had an average density of {{convert|1,331.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.33% White, 5.24% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. spanic Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.51% of the population.

Of the 4,906 households, 25.9% had children under 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were not families. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the age distribution was 21.8% under 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,585, and for a family was $35,014. Males had a median income of $31,702 versus $24,190 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,391. About 17.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.4% of those under 18 and 17.0% of those 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Lawrence County Courthouse, Ohio.jpg|thumb|Lawrence County Courthouse]]

===Library===
Ironton has a public library, a branch of Briggs Lawrence County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.briggslibrary.com/branches/BRANCHHOURS.pdf | title=Branch hours | publisher=Briggs Lawrence County Public Library | access-date=26 February 2018 | archive-date=August 22, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822214538/http://www.briggslibrary.com/branches/BRANCHHOURS.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Downtown Historic District===
The [[Downtown Ironton Historic District]], listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Ohio]], includes [[Early Commercial architecture]] and [[Modern architecture]] representing periods from 1850 through 1974. The buildings include businesses, City Hall, financial institutions, meeting halls, United States Post Office buildings, professional service buildings, and railroad industry-related structures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/oh/Lawrence/state.html |work=National Register of Historical Places |title=Ohio (OH), Lawrence County |publisher=Nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com |access-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref>

===Memorial Day===
[[Memorial Day]] events include Charity Fair, offering carnival games, crafts, inflatable rides, food, and musical acts.  The Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade, founded in 1868, is the United States' oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade.<ref name="IrontonGen"/>

== Government ==
The city is managed by a seven-member city council, the current members of which include Chairman Craig Harvey, Chris Perry, Nate Kline, Bob Cleary, Chris Haney, Robbie Brown, and Jacob Hock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ironton-ohio.com/city-council|title=City Council|website=ironton-ohio|access-date=April 27, 2020|archive-date=May 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518122859/https://www.ironton-ohio.com/city-council|url-status=dead}}</ref> Former mayor Katrina Keith was defeated in the November 2019 election by a total of 2,082 votes to 827 votes, but filed suit claiming that the winner of the election, Sam Cramblit, was not qualified to hold office in the city under state law;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irontontribune.com/2019/11/06/cramblit-wins-ironton-mayor-race/|title=Cramblit wins Ironton mayor race|date=November 6, 2019|website=The Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/cramblit-unseats-ironton-mayor/article_bbe9160b-f033-5946-87be-8111a843e82e.html|title=Cramblit unseats Ironton mayor|first=David|last=Malloy|website=The Herald-Dispatch}}</ref> the suit was dismissed by the Ohio Supreme Court in late November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ohio-supreme-court-dismisses-ironton-mayors-election-challenge/article_4566c34a-9764-5853-ade2-38d22efc6f1d.html|title=Ohio Supreme Court dismisses Ironton mayor's election challenge|first=David|last=Malloy|website=The Herald-Dispatch}}</ref>

[[File:Ohio University Southern Campus.jpg|thumb|[[Ohio University Southern Campus]]]]

== Education ==
Public education in Ironton is provided by the Ironton City School District. This includes [[Ironton High School]] (grades 9-12), Ironton Middle School (grades 6-8), and Ironton Elementary School (kindergarten - grade 5).

Private education includes [[Saint Joseph Central High School (Ironton, Ohio)|Saint Joseph Central High School]] and Saint Lawrence Central Elementary School.

[[Ohio University Southern Campus]], the largest branch of [[Ohio University]], is based in Ironton.<ref name="IrontonGen"/>

==Healthcare==
In 2012, [[St. Mary's Medical Center (Huntington)|St. Mary's Medical Center]] in [[Huntington, West Virginia]], opened a campus in Ironton that includes an emergency department, imaging service, laboratory services, ambulance service, and a helipad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statejournal.com/story/18990487/st-marys-expands-into-ohio-with-new-campus-in-ironton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316083150/http://www.statejournal.com/story/18990487/st-marys-expands-into-ohio-with-new-campus-in-ironton|title=St. Mary's Expands into Ohio With New Campus in Ironton|archive-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Coy Bacon]], 3x [[Pro Bowl]]er and member of the [[Black College Football Hall of Fame]]
*[[Bobby Bare]], country music singer
*[[Ritter Collett]], Dayton sportswriter, winner of [[Spink Award]] from baseball's Hall of Fame
*[[Terry Enyart]], baseball player
*[[Emily Jordan Folger]], co-founder of the [[Folger Shakespeare Library]]
*[[Ken Fritz]], football player
*[[Harlan Hatcher]], eighth president of the [[University of Michigan]]
*[[Elza Jeffords]], member of the [[United States House of Representatives|US House of Representatives]] from Mississippi
*[[Mary Augusta Jordan]], longtime English professor at [[Smith College]]
*[[Joseph Kimball]] (1836-1909), Civil War recipient of the [[Medal of Honor]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/2068|title=Joseph Kimball|access-date=July 4, 2014|website=MilitarTimes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714110243/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=2068|archive-date=July 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*[[William C. Lambert]], achieved the second-highest air victory totals for an American [[flying ace]] in [[World War I]]
*[[David Lively]], concert pianist
*[[Bob Lutz (American football)|Bob Lutz]], former football head coach
*[[George McAfee]], member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
*[[W. Terry McBrayer]], Kentucky state legislature and politician
*[[Clint McElroy]], podcaster, comic book writer, radio personality
*[[Butch Miles]], legendary jazz drummer
*[[Betty Neumar]], dubbed the "Black Widow" by the media for the murder of five of her husbands
*[[William Henry Powell (Medal of Honor)|William Henry Powell]] (1825-1904), Civil War recipient of the Medal of Honor; born in Wales and entered service in Ironton<ref>{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/3307|title=Joseph Kimball|access-date=July 4, 2014|website=MilitaryTimes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225437/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3307|archive-date=July 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*[[Gardner Rea]], cartoonist
*[[James Ancil Shipton]], senior US Army officer
*[[Kelli Sobonya]], politician
*[[Marion Tinsley]] (1927-1995), mathematician and checkers player; widely considered the greatest player of all-time
*[[Terry Waldo]], pianist, bandleader and [[ragtime]] musician
*[[Nannie Kelly Wright]], only known female [[ironmaster]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{NSRW Poster|Ironton}}
* {{Official website|www.ironton-ohio.com}}

{{Lawrence County, Ohio}}
{{Huntington-Ashland-Ironton MSA}}
{{Ohio county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ironton, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Lawrence County, Ohio]]
[[Category:County seats in Ohio]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1849]]
[[Category:Ohio populated places on the Ohio River]]