Many Americans who visit France come home with pleasant memories of its beauty. Early settler Heman Ely came to Ohio in the early 1800s, and was so moved by its beauty he named this area Lorain, as it reminded him of the countryside of the French province of Lorraine.
The area did not remain rural for long; industries including shipbuilding, steelmaking and fishing grew, and people, money and railroads followed. In 1822 parts of Cuyahoga, Medina and Huron counties were combined to officially create Lorain County.
Lorain County is considered to be a part of the greater Cleveland area. This county covers a total area of 923 square miles, 492 of it land and 431 square miles of it – almost half – is water. Its current population is just over 300,000, an increase from 284,000 at the turn of the 21st century. The county seat is Elyria and its largest community is the Lake Erie port city of Lorain.
Lorain County is located along the shores of Lake Erie, between the cities of Cleveland and Sandusky. Lorain County still offers a wealth of sites and scenery to residents and visitors, including the “Jewel of the Port,” the historic Lorain Lighthouse. The Hickories Museum is the restored home of industrialist and pioneer automaker Arthur Garford. Nearby Oberlin College has the world-famous Conservatory of Music.
Lake Erie’s shoreline beach, called Lakeview Park, offers spectacular sunsets, a stunning rose garden, a quaint café and views of the lighthouse. Findley State Park, located south of Wellington, covers approximately 900 acres of beautiful woodland and a 93-acre lake.
Shoppers enjoy Lorain’s specialty stores, flea markets, art exhibits and antique shops, including Jamie’s Flea & Produce Market in South Amherst, Northeastern Ohio’s largest flea market. Over one-quarter million shoppers visit Jamie’s every year.
Popular restaurants in Lorain County include the Rose Café near Lakeview Park Beach, with stunning views of the rose garden, Lake Erie and the Lorain Lighthouse. The hip Nemo Grille in Avon also offers a unique atmosphere, serving American-fusion cuisine inside the Historic 1850 Alten House.
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