Lorain County bicentennial is for the people

The Lorain County Bicentennial Committee deserves credit for its formation to ensure that the bicentennial of Lorain County and its governmental seat are properly celebrated.

Members of the Lorain County Bicentennial Committee are up to the task of an 18-month journey researching the origins of Lorain County and sharing the information with residents.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the committee wants to get it right honoring Lorain County’s past, present and future.

The committee includes: Elyria Ward 1 Councilman Andrew Lipian, who is chair: Vice Chairman Garry Gibbs; Secretary Theresa Upton; Kerri Broome, executive director of the Lorain County Historical Society; Jacob Smith, executive director of the Lorain County Veterans Association; and Lorain County Recorder Mike Doran.

Two hundred years ago, Heman Ely, the founder of Elyria, launched a campaign for the city to serve as Lorain County seat.

On horseback, Ely made multiple trips to Columbus, and of course, his diligence paid off.

On Dec. 26, 1822, the Ohio Legislature formed Lorain County after a lengthy process.

Elyria was chosen as the county seat Feb. 14, 1823, and Lorain County organized its first three-panel commission board in April 1824.

The Lorain County Bicentennial Committee plans to celebrate each of the important milestones in the county’s history, with the festivities culminating May 24, 2024, with hopes to have Lorain County commissioners meet on that date, 200 years from the county’s first-ever meeting.

Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield recognized the city’s bicentennial milestone Feb. 14 along with Lorain County Commissioner David Moore, committee members Lipian, Smith and Pastor Nathan Russell in Ely Square with a proclamation.

Whitfield, who is the first Black elected mayor of Elyria, reflected about the leadership and dedication that Ely displayed for the city to have this honor.

Whitfield pointed out that he and others are proud that Elyria is the capital of the county, with all the responsibility that comes with it.

Now, for two centuries, Elyria has been the bustling epicenter of Lorain County politics and government.

Elyria is just six miles from Lake Erie and 20 miles from Cleveland.

The city has Ely Square in downtown, which is between two forks of the Black River, and a stone’s throw from Elyria and Lorain County governments.

In the 1800s, Ely quickly recognized the area’s unique potential and beauty because it reminded him of the pleasant times he spent in the Lorraine region of France.

The industries such as shipbuilding, steelmaking and fishing attracted people, money and railroads to the area.

A growing local economy attracted more residents, and in 1822, Lorain County was formed from parts of Cuyahoga, Medina and Huron counties.

The steel mills in Lorain spurred further development in what would become known as the International City.

This area around the steel mills was called South Lorain and was home to incoming steelworkers and their families.

And yes, decades later, some of these families still claim South Lorain as their home.

As we know, some of the original industries still exist, but are much smaller.

But, look at all of the expansion, which is occurring in just about every enclave of Lorain County.

New businesses constantly are opening, and housing starts are up in Elyria, Lorain, Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville, Sheffield Lake, Sheffield Village, Vermilion and Amherst.

Expansion is everywhere. Lorain County also has the distinction as the only county along the 241-mile toll road with four exit ramps.

With this infrastructure in place, Lorain County still is prime for economic expansion for goods to be manufactured and transported across the country.

Lorain County has Lorain County Community College, with its large Elyria campus and offshoots in Sheffield Village and North Ridgeville and satellite classes in Lorain and North Ridgeville.

Lorain County has Oberlin College, which has the worldfamous Conservatory of Music, and was the first college in the country to admit both men and women as well as Blacks to degree programs.

This 18-month celebration will highlight how Lorain County’s 30 political subdivisions — townships, villages and municipalities — worked together to make the county successful.

It’s going to be a wonderful bicentennial.