Painesville Township, Lake County, Ohio

Painesville Township, Lake County, Ohio
Township

Municipalities and townships of Lake County
Coordinates: 41°43′44″N 81°15′35″W / 41.72889°N 81.25972°WCoordinates: 41°43′44″N 81°15′35″W / 41.72889°N 81.25972°W
Country United States
State Ohio
County Lake
Area
 • Total 177.7 sq mi (460.2 km2)
 • Land 17.0 sq mi (44.1 km2)
 • Water 160.6 sq mi (416.1 km2)
Elevation[1] 705 ft (215 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 18,562
 • Density 1,089.1/sq mi (420.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 44077
Area code(s) 440
FIPS code 39-59430[2]
GNIS feature ID 1086429[1]

Painesville Township is one of the five townships of Lake County, Ohio, United States. The 2010 census found 20,399 people in the township.[3] It is separate from the city of Painesville. It is the only Painesville Township statewide.[4]

History

Long occupied by various Indian tribes, this area was not settled by Americans in any number until after the Revolutionary War. It was still considered part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. General Edward Paine (1746–1841), who had served as a captain in the Connecticut militia during the war, and John Walworth arrived in 1800 with a party of sixty-six settlers, among the first in the Western Reserve. General Paine later represented the region in the territorial legislature of the Northwest Territory.

In 1800 the Western Reserve became Trumbull County and at the first Court of Quarter Sessions, the county was divided into eight townships. The smallest of these townships was named Painesville, for General Paine, and encompassed what later became the townships of Perry, Leroy, Hambden, Concord, Chardon, Mentor, and Kirtland. The township government was organized in 1802. The post office in the city of Painesville was opened in 1803 with John Walworth as postmaster.

In what was to become the commercial center of the township was a settlement called Oak Openings, its name being descriptive of the scrub oaks and sandy soil. It was here in 1805 that Gen. Henry Champion laid out a village plat and called it Champion, a name that it carried only until incorporation in 1832, when the name "Painesville" was chosen in honor of General Paine. Two of his descendants, Eleazer A. Paine and Halbert E. Paine, later served as Union Army generals during the American Civil War.

Statue of General Edward Paine in Painesville, Ohio

.

In 1840 Lake County was created from portions of Geauga and Cuyahoga Counties, and the city of Painesville was made the county seat and a courthouse erected. Painesville city is independent from Painesville Township.

Geography

Painesville Township contains four major disjunct sections.[5] The township is located in the northern part of the county along Lake Erie. Perry, Leroy and Concord townships, along with the villages of Fairport Harbor and Grand River, and the cities of Mentor and Painesville are adjacent to Painesville Township.

Government

The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer, who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees. As well, there is an appointed township administrator.

Transportation and economy

Major transportation routes in the township are U.S. Route 20 and State Routes 2, 84 and Ohio State Route 44. Painesville Township is located just north of Interstate 90 and is easily accessed via Route 44. Two major railroads, CSX, as well as Norfolk Southern pass through the township and serve some of the township's industries. Additionally Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited passes through on the CSX line. However, these trains do not stop in the township. The nearest Amtrak station is in Cleveland.

Painesville Township is home to several industries including a large Lubrizol facility, Avery Dennison, and Nova Chemicals.[6]

Education

Painesville Township is home to the Riverside Local School District, formerly the Painesville Township Local Schools. Its schools include Riverside High School, John R. Williams Junior High School, Lamuth Middle School and six elementary schools.[7] Painesville city and Fairport Harbor operate their own school districts, while Grand River village, Leroy and Concord township students attend Riverside's schools.

Recreation

Painesville Township is home to the Lake County Fair,[8] which is held every August. Events such as harness racing, tractor pulling competitions as well as concerts performed by big name country music bands take place at the fair.

Painesville Township has Headlands Beach State Park, which is shared with the neighboring community of Mentor. The beach is the longest natural beach in Ohio and is arguably the best beach in Ohio. The US Coast Guard has a base in the township located just east of Headlands Beach. [9]

The Quail Hollow Resort, located in neighboring Concord Township, envelopes 700 acres and offers two championships rated golf courses. [10] The resort is within easy driving distance to Ohio's Wine Country.

Notable people


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ Lake County, Ohio — Population by Places Estimates Ohio State University, 2007. Accessed 15 May 2007.
  4. ↑ "Detailed map of Ohio" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  5. ↑ "Zoning Map". Township of Painesville. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  6. ↑ http://business.painesvilleohchamber.org/list/ql/manufacturing-production-wholesale-16
  7. ↑ http://www.painesville-township.k12.oh.us/
  8. ↑ http://www.lakecountyfair.org/
  9. ↑ http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20130415/painesville-township-station-getting-11-million-upgrade-from-us-coast-guard
  10. ↑ http://www.quailhollowresort.com/about-en.html
  11. ↑ http://www.fanbase.com/Len-Pettigrew

External links