Ashtabula is a small Rust Belt town situated in Northeast Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie and the Ashtabula River. The city has a long industrial history and Ashtabula Harbor was once a major shipping port. Because of the industrial jobs leaving, the city has seen a 17% decrease in population since 1990. "We're definitely a small town,” says Sal Jackson, a resident and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. “There are a lot of people who have spent their whole lives here, but others are leaving in search of more jobs.” Despite the exodus, the city offers a historic downtown district on the water, acres of outdoor recreation and the most covered bridges in Ohio. And there are still jobs with the economy backed by industrial jobs at Mohawk Fine Papers and Praxair.
The Port of Ashtabula handles incoming and outgoing loads of coal, iron ore, sand, gravel and limestone.
Ashtabula Harbor, maintained by Ashtabula Port Authority, is the gateway to Lake Erie.
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Lakeside properties and vintage housing in Ashtabula County
A large portion of the city's housing stock was built in the early-to-mid 1900s. Styles range from waterfront properties on Lake Erie, to smaller cottages and Classical Revival builds. Homes on the water in subdivisions like Walnut Hills fetch the highest prices, while new developments like the Harbor and Bridge Street have replaced abandoned buildings. The median home price has risen to $155,000, which is much lower than the national median price. "The median price used to be closer to $70,000 about 10 years ago,” Jackson says. “There isn't always available inventory, but if there's a house to sell, it'll sell."
Lakeside Homes perched above Walnut Beach, in Ashtabula, have incredible views of Lake Erie.
Ranch homes are common throughout Ashtabula, as an affordable housing option on the shores of Lake Erie.
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Ashtabula Area City School District and programs at Kent State
Ashtabula Area City School District earns a C-minus from Niche. The district’s Great Lakes Online Academy is a virtual option. "Our schools aren't the biggest draw, but athletics are big,” Jackson says. “The community supports all the high school’s teams.”
Kent State University of Ashtabula is a satellite campus of Kent State University, which is headquartered 80 miles away in Kent, Ohio. The small public campus offers programs in nursing and physical therapy.
Kent State University of Ashtabula is a satellite campus of Kent State University.
Lakeside High School
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Getting out on the banks of Lake Erie
Ashtabula County Metroparks maintains 10 parks throughout the city and 28 miles of trails for running, walking and birdwatching. In 2014, Metroparks passed a levy to open seven new parks across the county. Fishing and boating are popular on Lake Erie. Walnut Beach and Lake Shore Park offer access points to the lake.
Summers are mild, but winters can be harsh with an average of 68 inches of snow. Proximity to Lake Erie makes it one of the most susceptible places for lake-effect snow and has slight flood risks following heavy rain storms. FEMA may require additional flood insurance for properties close to water. The Ashtabula County Hazard Mitigation Plan details steps to help with flooding, including underground utilities and creating detention and retention structures.
Walnut Beach, in Ashtabula, is where locals can come and experience Lake Erie, year round.
Ice on Ashtabula's Lake Erie shore meets the sand, where summer beach goers soak up the sun.
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The Covered Bridges Trail and other Ashtabula events
The Ashtabula County Ohio Covered Bridges Trail is a self-guided driving tour celebrating the county's 19 covered bridges. Ashtabula Arts Center has numerous theatrical performances and concerts and runs classes yearly. Other major city events include the Downtown Ashtabula Christmas Parade on Park and Main Avenues and the Blessing of the Fleet Celebration, a non-denominational prayer service for a safe and bountiful year on the water, each June.
The Smolen-Gulf covered bridge crosses the Ashtabula River and offers a pedestrian connection to Indian Trails park.
The Historic Somlen-Gulf Bridge connects Plymouth Township and Ashtabula.
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Historic Bridge Street blends shopping and dining on the waterfront
Historic Bridge Street serves as a makeshift downtown on the waterfront of the Ashtabula River. The walkable district offers a mix of boutique shops, locally owned restaurants, pubs and coffeehouses. Ashtabula Towne Square is an enclosed shopping mall surrounded by big-box stores off U.S. Route 20. "The mall really started to fizzle out in the '90s and is mostly empty today," Jackson says. "A lot of businesses and industry left our area around that time."
Ashtabula's surrounding region is also part of Ohio's wine country and is recognized for its ice wines. "Due to the unique temperatures and environment around the lake, we're one of the only locations where ice wine can be made in the U.S.," Jackson says.
Historic Bridge Street, in Ashtabula, is aptly named due to the West Fifth Street Bridge linking downtown to the harbor.
Bridge Street, in the heart of Ashtabula, offers year round shopping, dining and entertainment.
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Getting around Ashtabula County with I-90
Erie, Pennsylvania, is 53 miles east, while Cleveland, Ohio, is 58 miles west, making it nearly the halfway point on Interstate 90 between the two larger cities. The Ashtabula County Transportation System offers scheduled rides for citizens anywhere in the county. Erie Airport is 40 miles east on I-90. Ashtabula Regional Medical Center is on Lake Avenue.
Important to know
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have slightly decreased recently. Property crime rates are nearly double the national average but have decreased since 2015.
Written By
Bayley Malo
Photography Contributed By
Tiffany Karla
Video By
Charlie Lingner
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Ashtabula, OH sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Ashtabula, OH over the last 12 months is $159,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Sal JacksonBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty
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