Conneaut is thought to mean “river of many fish,” and the city certainly lives up to its name as a renowned destination for fishermen looking to reel in steelhead trout. “We sit right on Lake Erie, so most people associate us with fishing, boating and all those kinds of things,” says Rick Furmage, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Steelhead trout return to Conneaut Creek each fall, and Conneaut itself began as a port city located at the intersection of several major railroads.
Today, the Pittsburgh and Conneaut Dock Company owns Conneaut Port, which remains one of the central shipping and receiving ports of the Great Lakes. “The docks were a vibrant place to work,” Frumage says. “Conneaut truly is an affordable and safe place to raise a family, retire or spend summer weekends. That’s why I stay. It’s a good location about 45 minutes from Erie and Cleveland, but not in the middle of it all. It’s a great place for families to get away from the city.” As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Conneaut’s population hovers around 12,300, and it remains a destination for outdoor recreation as the northeasternmost city in Ohio.
Conneaut is known as a world class fishing destination.
Conneaut Harbor's s miles of breakwall protect the busy marina and boat slips.
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Swimming, boating and fishing on Lake Erie and Conneaut Creek
Conneaut embraces its lakefront location with opportunities for swimming, fishing and boating. Conneaut Township Park has a sandy beachfront that offers views of the historic Conneaut West Breakwater Lighthouse and vibrant Lake Erie sunsets. “Conneaut’s beach is one of the nicest and cleanest beaches here,” says Tara Hawkins, a Realtor with Platinum Real Estate and Ashtabula County resident. The park also has various athletic facilities, a playground and several picnic pavilions. The city plans to transform the park’s old tennis courts into pickleball courts, and construction is expected to begin in 2025. The Conneaut Port Authority manages the city’s marina, which docks hundreds of boats and is home to several fishing charters. Conneaut Creek is stocked with steelhead trout, and fishermen flock to the waters from November through March. “The creek is world-renowned. I’ve sold properties to people from overseas that have a house here for fly-fishing,” Furmage says. For those looking to hunt, the Conneaut Wildlife Area has white-tailed deer and wild turkeys.
Conneaut Creek runs for 66 miles, emptying into Lake Erie, in Conneaut.
Bridges in Conneaut often have a designated fishing lane, making it convenient to cast all along Conneaut Creek.
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Conneaut has older homes with prices below the national median
Conneaut embraces a variety of architectural styles. “We’re an older community where most homes were built from the late 1800s through the 1930s,” Furmage says. “There are a lot of colonial-style homes, two-story bungalows and cottages closer to the lakefront.” Most homes sit in the center of Conneaut around the intersection of Interstate 90 and State Route 7, but those further from the city center offer up to several acres of land. The median price of single-family homes is around $140,000, less than half the national median. “Our property taxes are generally lower than surrounding counties, and I find that a lot of people relocating here from different counties and states are drawn to the affordability,” Hawkins says. Properties sell after an average of 51 days on the market.
The mixed post-Civil War era housing styles in Conneaut also have Victorian-Era details.
A housing boom in the early twentieth century saw an abundance of Craftsman style houses built in Conneaut.
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Local spots in the harbor district and flavors in Ohio Wine Country
Downtown Conneaut offers a quaint commercial corridor in the heart of the city. While some of its storefronts are empty, downtown has a mix of small businesses and chains that serve the community. Downtown dining options range from fast-casual restaurants to local pizzerias like Rainbow Cafe. Closer to the lakefront, the harbor district has several local hangouts where residents can stop after exploring Conneaut Harbor. Sparky’s Place is known for its scratch kitchen and craft beers, and Biscotti’s Restaurant serves homestyle Italian dishes. “I know people that will drive two hours to come to Biscotti’s,” Furmage says. The harbor district is also home to the Conneaut Arts Center, which offers cultural programming and classes for all ages.
The city is home to several wineries, and Ashtabula County is part of Ohio Wine Country. “The region is becoming very well known, and they’ve probably doubled the number of wineries in the last 15 years,” Furmage says. Also known as the Grand River Valley, the region boasts more than 30 wineries and produces more than half of Ohio’s grapes. Its signature Catawba grapes lend themselves to sweet wines. Conneaut itself hosts Buccia Vineyards, Markko Vineyards and Tarsitano Winery & Vineyards.
Conneaut is in the heart of Ohio's wine country, boasting numerous wineries that are open year round.
Conneaut Harbor Memorial Park is open year round, offering shore line fishing opportunities.
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Conneaut Area City Schools and South Ridge Christian Academy
Conneaut Area City Schools serves the community and earns an overall grade of C-minus from Niche. The district has an average student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1 and contains a primary, elementary, middle and high school. Nearby private school options include South Ridge Christian Academy, which serves kindergarten through 12th grade and is part of South Ridge Baptist Church.
South Ridge Christian Academy, in Conneaut, offers a K-12 faith based education.
Conneaut High School, located in Conneaut, has a C+ rating on Niche.
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D-Day Conneaut is the largest WWII reenactment in the country
Conneaut hosts the largest WWII reenactment in the United States. D-Day Conneaut began in 1999 with a small group of reenactors and has since become a record-breaking event that brings thousands of reenactors and spectators to the city each summer. “The town basically quadruples in size for one week a year,” Furmage says. Each August, participants transform the shores of Lake Erie into the Normandy coastline as they gather on the beach to relive the events that led the Allied troops to victory over 80 years ago. In addition to mock battles, the event includes living history displays that provide insight into the lives of the Allied and Axis troops. Visitors can also learn more about the Normandy invasion at the D-Day Ohio WWII Museum.
Conneaut is known amongst D-Day reenactment enthusiasts, as the city annually hosts the worlds largest D-Day reenactment.
A patriotic city, Conneaut has multiple memorials dedicated to war heroes.
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A car-dependent city with access to Interstate 90
Conneaut lacks public transportation, and residents typically rely on their cars to get around. Several major thoroughfares pass through the city, including U.S. Route 20, State Route 7 and Interstate 90. I-90 provides direct routes to bigger cities like Cleveland, about 70 miles west, and Erie, about 35 miles east. Residents are also about 25 miles from Erie International Airport. The city is home to University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center, a Critical Access Hospital that ensures residents have access to medical care.
Crime rates in Ashtabula County are historically lower than the state’s
According to data from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ashtabula County's overall crime rate decreased between 2016 and 2022. As of 2022, the county’s violent and property-related crime rates were significantly lower than state figures.
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