Steubenville, Ohio

Steubenville, Ohio
City
City of Steubenville
Jefferson County Courthouse
Seal
Nickname(s):  "City of Murals"[1]
Motto(s):  Where you always have a home
Location of Steubenville in Jefferson County and state of Ohio.
Coordinates: 40°21′30″N 80°37′0″W / 40.35833°N 80.61667°W / 40.35833; -80.61667Coordinates: 40°21′30″N 80°37′0″W / 40.35833°N 80.61667°W / 40.35833; -80.61667[2]
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Jefferson
Founded	1795
Government
• Type	Council-Manager[3]
• Mayor	Jerry Barilla (R)
Area [4]
• City	10.63 sq mi (27.53 km2)
• Land	10.55 sq mi (27.32 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,050 ft (320 m)
Population  (2010)[5]
• City	18,659
• Estimate  (2018[6])	17,864
• Density	1,768.6/sq mi (682.9/km2)
• Metro	118,250 (US: 329th)
• CSA	2,659,937 (US: 20th)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	43952-43953 [7]
Area code(s)	740, 220
FIPS code	39-74608 [2]
GNIS feature ID	1065383 [2]
Website	cityofsteubenville.us

Steubenville is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Ohio, United States.^[2] Located along the Ohio River 33 miles from Pittsburgh, it had a population of 18,659 at the 2010 census; the city's name is derived from Fort Steuben, a 1786 fort that sat within the city's current limits and was named for German-Prussian military officer Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Today, a replica of the fort is open to the public.^[8]

Steubenville is known as the "City of Murals", after its more than 25 downtown murals,^[1] it is home to Franciscan University of Steubenville and Eastern Gateway Community College.^[9] It is also known for the Steubenville Nutcracker Village, an annual Christmastime event.^[10] Steubenville is a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2010 population of 124,454 residents.

History[edit]

Market Street, 1910

Ohio Valley Clay Company, 1910

In 1786–87, the soldiers of the 1st American Regiment built Fort Steuben to protect the government surveyors mapping the land west of the Ohio River, and named the fort in honor of Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben; when the surveyors completed their task a few years later, the fort was abandoned. In the meantime, settlers had built homes around the fort; they named their settlement Steubenville; the name Steubenville was derived from Fort Steuben to honor Baron von Steuben (the fort was named for the Baron). The town was sometimes referred to as La Belle City, a franglais interpretation of "The Beautiful City".^[11]

On July 29, 1797, Jefferson County was organized by a proclamation of Governor Arthur St. Clair, and Steubenville was selected as the County seat and was platted in the same year by Bezaliel (Bezaleel) Wells and James Ross, the city's co-founders. Wells, a government surveyor born in Baltimore, received about 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land west of the Ohio River; Ross, a lawyer from Pittsburgh, owned land north of his.^[11]

On March 1, 1803, Ohio was admitted to the Union as the 17th state.^[12] During the first half of the nineteenth century, Steubenville was primarily a port town, and the rest of the county was small villages and farms. Steubenville received a city charter in 1851. In 1856, Frazier, Kilgore and Company erected a rolling mill (the forerunner of steel mills) and the Steubenville Coal and Mining Company sank a coal shaft; the city was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, which connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis.

In 1946, the College of Steubenville was founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular.^[13] In 1980, its name was changed to University of Steubenville, and finally in 1985 to Franciscan University of Steubenville.^[14]

In 1966, the Jefferson County Technical Institute was founded. In 1977, its name was changed to Jefferson Technical College. In 1995, it became a community college and was renamed Jefferson Community College. In 2009, the college expanded its service district by three Ohio counties, and was renamed again: Eastern Gateway Community College.

In 1992, the RZA, before starting the Wu-Tang Clan, was involved in a shoot-out in Steubenville and faced attempted murder charges for shooting an adversary in the leg, he faced eight years in jail but was acquitted. "When they said 'not guilty', my face stuck in a smile for three days," he recalled. "I was just walking around town, thinking about my daughter and my wife. Right then I said goodbye to anything that would put me in that situation again. I was up on trial on an attempted murder charge. I was a motherfucking fool, with all that knowledge in my head and ending up there."^[15]

The city gained international attention in late 2012 from the events surrounding the Steubenville High School rape case, which occurred in August 2012; the case was first covered by The New York Times that December, followed by the computer hacker group Anonymous later that month, and the subsequent coverage of the trials in late 2013. The case was significant in the extensive use of social media as evidence and in opening a national discussion on the concept of rape culture.^[16][17]

Geography[edit]

The Veterans Memorial Bridge connects Steubenville to Weirton, West Virginia across the Ohio River and is the border crossing between the states of West Virginia and Ohio on U.S. Highway 22.

Steubenville is located at 40°21′30″N 80°37′0″W / 40.35833°N 80.61667°W / 40.35833; -80.61667 (40.359, −80.614).^[18] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.63 square miles (27.53 km²), of which 10.55 square miles (27.32 km²) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km²) is water.^[4] The city lies along the Ohio River, with the city spreading west from the floodplains to the hills that surround the city, it lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.^[19]

Demographics[edit]

The city's population peaked in 1940 and has been in continuous decline since; the 2010 census found 18,659 residents, down 1.8 percent from the 2000 census, while the 2011 estimate put the population at 18,440, a drop of another 1.2 percent since 2010. The poverty rate increased to 27.5 percent of the population. The proportion of the population that is white remained at 79.5 percent, while the Hispanic proportion more than doubled to 2.4 percent as the black population dropped to 15.9 percent.^[24]

From 1980 to 2000, census figures show that the Weirton–Steubenville population decreased faster than any other urban area in the United States.^[25]

Steubenville is a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV–OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, part of the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV Combined Statistical Area.^[26]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census^[5] of 2010, there were 18,659 people, 7,548 households, and 4,220 families residing in the city; the population density was 1,768.6 inhabitants per square mile (682.9/km²). There were 8,857 housing units at an average density of 839.5 per square mile (324.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.0% White, 15.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 7,548 households of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.1% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 38.8 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.1% male and 53.9% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census^[22] of 2000, there were 19,015 people, 8,342 households, and 4,880 families residing in the city; the population density was 1,842.2 people per square mile (711.4/km²). There were 9,449 housing units at an average density of 915.4 per square mile (353.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.55% White, 17.25% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.

There were 8,342 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,516, and the median income for a family was $36,597. Males had a median income of $36,416 versus $21,819 for females; the per capita income for the city was $17,830. About 15.3% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under the age of 18 and 11.0% of those aged 65 and older.

Economy[edit]

4th Street in Steubenville, the SkyBank branch now a Huntington branch, 2006.

Two plaques near the Federal Land Office, located on the grounds of the reconstructed Fort Steuben.

Steubenville and the communities that surround it, especially Weirton, West Virginia, have experienced sluggish economies since the steel industry waned during the 1980s. Corporations such as Weirton Steel have had to reduce their workforce in order to become more efficient and competitive against other steel producers and lower steel prices worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

The new Findlay Connector has been built in western Pennsylvania as a toll-access highway between Pittsburgh International Airport at Interstate 376 and U.S. Route 22 in northwestern Washington County. Travel time between the Pittsburgh International Airport and the city of Steubenville is now approximately 25 minutes.

Steubenville is located near two large shale formations - the Marcellus and Utica formations.

Culture[edit]

Historic sites[edit]

Fort Steuben, located downtown on South Third Street, is a reconstructed 18th century fort on its original location overlooking the Ohio River. Built in 1787 to protect the government surveyors of the Seven Ranges of the Northwest Territory, Fort Steuben housed 150 men of the 1st American Regiment; the non-profit organization that worked to rebuild the fort also developed the surrounding block into Fort Steuben Park that includes the Veterans Memorial Fountain and the Berkman Amphitheater. The Fort Steuben Visitors center is home to the Museum Shop and the Steubenville Convention & Visitors Bureau and is an official site on the Ohio River Scenic Byway.^{[citation needed]}

Adjacent to the fort is the First Federal Land Office with its original logs from 1801. After the Ohio country was surveyed, it could be sold or given away as land grants; the settlers brought their deeds to be registered at the Land Office to David Hoge, the Registrar of Lands and Titles for the Northwest Territory.^{[citation needed]}

"Ohio Valley Steelworker" Statue was created by artist Dimitri Akis as a tribute to the Ohio Valley Steelworkers. The life-size figure carries a long-handled dipping ladle and is wearing the hooded fire-proof suit worn in the steel mills; the statue was located at the junction of Hwy 22 (University Blvd) and Hwy 7 (Dean Martin Blvd). In the fall of 2014, the statue was moved to its new home, displayed on South Fourth Street at the site of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.^[27]

There is a statue downtown commemorating Edwin Stanton, President Abraham Lincoln's secretary of war. Stanton was born and raised in Steubenville.^[28]

Steubenville Nutcracker Village[edit]

In 2015, two local businessmen started a Christmas-themed festival, the Steubenville Nutcracker Village and Advent Market; the event is centered around a collection of 150 life-size nutcracker sculptures spread throughout Fort Steuben Park in downtown Steubenville.^[29][30] The nutcracker sculptures are all made in Steubenville by Nelson Fine Art & Gifts, a local retail gift and home decor manufacturing company, in partnership with the Old Fort Steuben Project and other local businesses and private sponsors. While some of the nutcrackers are presented in the traditional German style, the majority are sculpted and painted to represent various cultural aspects and ethnic heritages of the Ohio-West Virginia-Pennsylvania Tri-State area, as well as literary and media characters, local high schools and colleges, famous religious figures, and professional careers and vocations; the Nutcracker Village is free and open the public 24 hours a day and generally runs from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through Epiphany Sunday in early January.^[31]

Live entertainment and a German-style Advent Market featuring local artisans and craftsmen, as well as hot food and drink vendors, runs each weekend through the month of December in Fort Steuben Park to coincide with the Nutcracker Village event. Vendors at the Advent Market are housed inside miniature rustic Swiss Chalets which are also built in Steubenville; the nearby Steubenville Visitor's Center is transformed into a "Christmas Wonderland" filled with trees and decorations, old-fashioned Christmas gifts and toys, more nutcrackers, and stations for children to write letters to Santa Claus.^[8]

The popularity of the Nutcracker Village since its inception has inspired other nutcracker-themed ventures in the City of Steubenville, including Drosselmeyer's Nutcracker Shoppe, a year-round Christmas shop in downtown Steubenville,^[32] and Wooden Hearts Follies, a locally-written and performed musical centered around characters from the event.^[33][34]

The Nutcracker Village attracted over 40,000 visitors in 2017 and is credited with bringing new life to Steubenville's downtown area.^[10]

Sports[edit]

The Steubenville Stampede was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League.

Climate[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Steubenville has a Humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[35]

Government[edit]

Jefferson County Courthouse, 2012

1787 drawing of Fort Steuben

City Officials[edit]

Politics[edit]

The City of Steubenville is part of the 6th Congressional district of Ohio and is represented by Bill Johnson; the 6th district is the longest US House district in Ohio and runs along the southeast state borders of Ohio.

Political corruption[edit]

Steubenville has had a reputation for political corruption. Over a period of 20 years the city lost, or settled out of court, 48 civil rights lawsuits involving its police force; the city paid out more than $800,000, including $400,000 between 1990 and 1996.

In 1997, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged that the city and police force had subjected numerous individuals to "excessive force, false arrests, charges, and reports" and had engaged in practices regarding "improper stops, searches, and seizures". The report from the Department also stated that excessive force was levied against individuals who witnessed incidents of police misconduct, and against those who were known critics of the city and its police force; those individuals were also falsely detained if the city and the police agreed that they were "likely to complain of abuse". It further stated that the officers involved falsified reports and tampered with official police recorders so that "misconduct would not be recorded".^[37]

As a result, the city's police force became the second city in the United States to sign a consent decree with the federal government due to an excessive number of civil rights lawsuits; the decree was signed on September 4, 1997, under the "pattern or practice" provision. Under this agreement, the city agreed to improve the training of its police officers, implement new guidelines and procedures, establish an internal affairs unit, and establish an "early warning system".^[38]

Speed camera lawsuit[edit]

The speed camera program began in 2005 and earned the city $600,000 in revenues, as nearly 7,000 tickets at $85 each were issued during that time period. In March 2006, the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas ruled that the city ordinance of supporting the speed camera program was illegal and unconstitutional; the city refused to remove the cameras, however, because it stated it was "bound by contract to continue the services" of Traffipax, Inc., the US subsidiary of ROBOT Visual Systems, a German corporation. Despite attempts to remove the cameras, the city continued to defy the judge's order and reinstated an identical ordinance to continue issuing citations. Councilman at Large Michael Hernon cast the sole dissenting vote against reinstating the traffic cameras.^[39]

In mid-2006, an attorney filed a class-action lawsuit against the city of Steubenville for illegally collecting fines and generating unnecessary revenue from motorists, he won the case in December 2007 and the city was forced to refund thousands of tickets totaling $258,000.^[40] Stern also gathered enough signatures from the residents of the city to put forth a referendum that posed the question of whether the city's ordinance authorizing the speed camera program should continue. On November 8, 2006, city residents voted to end the city's speed camera program with a 76.2 percent majority.^[41]

Education[edit]

Wells High School, 1911

Colleges and universities[edit]

Steubenville is home to two institutions of higher education; the Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private, four-year university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1946.

The second institution is Eastern Gateway Community College, it is a public, two-year college that opened its doors in 1968; its service district includes Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties as well as Jefferson County.

On July 24, 2012, after being threatened with a lawsuit from the atheist Freedom from Religion Foundation, the Steubenville city council decided to remove the image of Franciscan University from its town logo rather than pay for a lawsuit;^[42] the city later proposed a logo that included a chapel and cross.^[43]

Public schools[edit]

Public schools in Steubenville are operated by the Steubenville City School District. There are a total of five schools in the district: Wells Academy, West Pugliese, Garfield, Harding Middle, and Steubenville High School. A portion of far western Steubenville is served by the Indian Creek Local School District.

Private schools[edit]

Several private schools are located in Steubenville; the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville operates Bishop John King Mussio Central Elementary School, Bishop John King Mussio Central Junior High School and Steubenville Catholic Central High School.

Public libraries[edit]

Steubenville has two public lending libraries, the main branch and Schiappa Branch Library.^[44]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikisource has the text of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (9th ed.) article Steubenville.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steubenville, Ohio.

• Official website
•  "Steubenville" . Encyclopedia Americana. 1920.