ELYRIA OHIO 150TH ANNIVERSARY COIN TOKEN 1817 1968 SAWMILL WATER WHEEL HEMAN ELY

Elyria is a city in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan statistical area and the county seat of Lorain County, Ohio, United States, located at the forks of the Black River in Northeast Ohio 23 miles southwest of Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 54,533. The city is home to Lorain County Community College.

Etymology
The city's name is derived from the surname of its founder, Heman Ely, and Illyria, the historical name used by ancient Greeks and Romans to refer to the western Balkans.

History
The village of Elyria was officially founded in 1817 by Heman Ely, who built a log house, dam, gristmill and sawmill on the village's site along the Black River. Ely began to build more houses to accommodate European-American settlers migrating to what was, at that time, within Huron County, Ohio. By the time Ely died in 1852, Elyria had five churches, three grocery stores, three flour mills, a newspaper, and a population of more than 1,500. Early postal service from Cleveland was provided by Artemis Beebe, a rider who held the first contract to deliver mail across this section of the Black River.

By the turn of the 20th century, Elyria was a town of about 8,000. In 1908, Elyria Memorial Hospital was built. It has since evolved into an award-winning regional healthcare system. In the first half of the 20th century, the town developed some manufacturing, as well as a range of retail businesses.

In August 1967, at the peak of Elyria's population, Midway Mall was opened. It changed the local economy by attracting local businesses from the town center or causing so much competition they went out of business. Industrial restructuring meant that good jobs left the area, and poverty increased. Three major car plant closings in the area lead to economic stagnation and joblessness in the 1970s and 1980s that affected numerous communities. The region was nicknamed "the Rustbelt," suggesting the decline of its former industries.

In the 1990s, Elyria experienced a minor revival with construction of some new roads and housing. It serves as a residential, suburban "bedroom community" for Cleveland, located to the east, where new businesses and industries are developing with an increase in new jobs.

Hard times and new ideas have hit Elyria as the 2000s and 2010s rolled on, as industries such as Bendix, Riddell, and 3M are taking their business elsewhere, outside the city. To prepare for this hit, in March 2016, voters passed Issue 6, which was a 0.5% increase on the city's income tax, which was passed to pay for police expenses, as well as other things such as parks and Fiberoptic Internet throughout the city. With the Reconstruction of State Route 57 on the city's Northwest Side by Midway Mall, traffic flow has been greatly improved and there are minor revivals in the area such as new hotels and even hopes that a buyer will revitalize the area, with plans having even been presented. Revitalization efforts for Downtown Elyria continue through the efforts of groups such as Invest Elyria, Main Street Elyria, and in general the citizens. The historic Lorain County Courthouse is also being renovated to suit it for use once again, and a few buildings are even being reconstructed, and a few new ones also being constructed. There are plans for multiple small businesses and restaurants to go in to the downtown area over the next few years as of April 2017, and the city is showing signs of hope and revival, as its residents give the effort to restore the city to its peak days of the early to mid-1900s. In 2017, Elyria celebrated its 200th Birthday.

Parks and Recreation
Elyria has a large number of parks and recreational centers that include a variety of activities such as baseball, playground equipment. The four recreational centers are named after their location on the map - North, East, South, and West. They each include one or more baseball fields and at least two tennis courts. There are two main parks, Cascade and Elywood, which are connected by a drive-on ford in the center. The Lorain County Metro Parks took over control of Cascade Park in late 2014, and has unveiled a master plan project throughout 2018 to restore the park for better and safer use, as well as maintain the park.

Cascade Park is the largest and most popular park in Elyria. The park is located in a ravine carved by the same glaciers that created the Great Lakes. Cascade park has a large playground and a large hill that was previously used for seating at the 4th of July fireworks show, and was a popular spot for sledding during winter months. The park is centered along the Black River.

The park used to have three captive black bears, held in cages attached to a rock. Bears were featured in the park from 1920 to 1980.

Economy
Elyria is home to many businesses and several worldwide headquarters. Invacare, Ridge Tool Company, Diamond Products, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, and EMC Precision Machining are all headquartered in Elyria. Riddell previously operated a factory in Elyria. Elyria Plating Corporation has been in the same location since 1937.

Elyria in popular culture
The film Take Shelter includes a scene in which Michael Shannon enters the Elyria Main branch library and looks for books. The character of Officer Richard Lymangood, in the film Blue Thunder, was born in Elyria, according to the helicopter terminal database. In the 2015 film The Bronze starring Melissa Rauch, Midway Mall was used for a number of scenes with Elyria residents as extras in the film. It is also home to a yearly charity event: The Elyria Superhero Weekend where local businesses hosted by Atlas Cinema Midway Mall 8, Keith's Comics, Super Heroes To Kids In Ohio and the Mayor's Office participate in a citywide free event for local and Cleveland area residents which was started in 2012. The event promotes literacy through comic books, community unity and works to help children suffering from illness. The event is centered on whichever super hero comic book film comes out the same weekend as Free Comic Book Day and is split between a number of days during that period. The first day being at Altas cinema, the 2nd in Ely Square and at Keith's Comics in downtown Elyria. The Elyria Public Library, Elyria Comic Book Initiative and The Gathering Community Church among many other notable Elyria organizations and businesses have contributed during the growth of the event.

Notable people
Lynn Evans of The Chordettes
D. C. Anderson, stage actor
Sherwood Anderson, writer, lived here as business owner in early 1900s before abandoning it in 1912
Wayne Barlow, composer (1912–1996)
Tianna Bartoletta, track and field athlete (2005 and 2015 World Championship long jump gold medalist, 2012 and 2016 Olympic 4x100 relay gold medalist, 2016 long jump gold medalist)
Keefe Brasselle, actor, title role of 1953 movie The Eddie Cantor Story
Joseph M. Bryan, insurance executive and philanthropist
Thelma Drake, politician
Jackson C. Frank, folk singer/songwriter
Arthur Lovett Garford, padded bicycle seat inventor and automobile manufacturer
Doug Gillard, musician and songwriter, lead guitarist for Guided by Voices
Vic Janowicz, former baseball and football player, 1950 Heisman Trophy winner
Herbert Fisk Johnson Sr., CEO of S. C. Johnson & Son
Samuel Curtis Johnson Sr., founder of S. C. Johnson & Son
Anodea Judith, author, therapist, public speaker and expert on Chakra system
James Kirkwood Jr., playwright, author and actor, lived here during childhood. Won Tony Award for book of A Chorus Line
Eric Lauer, baseball player
Robert Edwin Lee, playwright and lyricist
Brianne McLaughlin, attended Elyria Catholic High School, ice hockey goaltender, Olympic medal winner (2010 and 2014)
Les Miles, former LSU Tigers head football coach
Haruki Nakamura, professional football player
Danny Noble, professional football player for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dav Pilkey, author of children's books
Tim Rattay, professional football player
Clayton Rawson, mystery writer, editor, and amateur magician
Charles Roser, real estate developer: developed Roser Park and Anna Maria, businessman and philanthropist.
Chad Szeliga, drummer for Breaking Benjamin
Textbeak, DJ and record producer
Steve Tovar, professional football player
Charles Vinci Jr., weightlifter, Olympic champion in 1956
Victoria Wells Wulsin, born in town, became doctor and international epidemiologist
Norma Jean Wright, former lead singer for band CHIC
Kareem Hunt, current professional football player for The Cleveland Browns.
Lila Lee (1905-1973), a famous actress from silent era is buried in Brookdale cemetery in Elyria