Nestled on the western side of the Ohio River is Steubenville, Ohio. For much of the 20th century, it was a booming steel town. When that industry faded in the 1980s, much of the population declined. After a peak in the 1940s of over 37,000 people, today's population is just over 18,000. With the steel mills gone, Steubenville has become a college town, but not in the traditional way. “Franciscan University is the biggest draw to this area,” says Paulette Applegarth, a Realtor with Keller Williams Chervenic Realty. The school is a traditional Catholic university with an enrollment of just under 3,800. “People relocate from all over the world to work or attend.”
Steubenville is at the beginning of a revitalization.
People can visit the Ohio Valley Steelworkers Statue in Steubenville.
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A Nutcracker village in the winter
Aiming to revitalize the economy during the winter holidays, the city in 2015 started staging an annual Nutcracker village with life-sized dolls at Fort Steuben Park on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. What started with a few dozen in the park spilled throughout downtown with over 200 statues strewn for blocks. The 4th Street Advent Market occurs on Saturdays and Sundays when the village opens. The popularity resulted in the opening of Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe, which is open year-round.
Get into the Christmas spirit year round at Nutcracker Village near Labelle.
Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe is open all year long in Steubenville.
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Murals throughout downtown Steubenville
Steubenville is nicknamed the “City of Murals” because nearly 30 of them throughout downtown depict the town's history. Some are dedicated to Dean Martin, a legendary entertainer born and raised in Steubenville. Fort Steuben is on the Ohio River and was built in the 1780s. Tours are available, giving a glimpse of what life was like around the Revolutionary War. In the downtown area, residents congregate at historic houses of worship like First Christian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Each church is over 100 years old.
Dean Martin was born and raised in Steubenville.
Steubenville is nicknamed the “City of Murals” and has nearly 30 murals throughout the city.
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No property tax in Ohio
Though two states away, Steubenville is about 40 miles west of Pittsburgh. “Many people who live in Steubenville work in Pittsburgh,” Applegarth says. “It just makes sense because the housing costs are low here, and the taxes are lower. Ohio doesn’t have a personal property tax.” Ohio is across the Ohio River from West Virginia and about 18 miles from the Pennsylvania state line.
Steubenville's median single-family house price is $150,000, similar to the city of Weirton across the river. Both are well below the national average of $440,000. Some houses are under $100,000, and very few are over $450,000. Many homes spread are spread across the Fourth Street corridor, surrounding one of the city's main commercial drives. A condo development has units priced from $230,000 to $310,000. Multi-family units are more popular than townhouses. The range is between $20,000 and $200,000. Since Steubenville is on the Ohio River, flooding is a concern for homeowners living close to the water.
According to FBI numbers, for much of 2023, both violent and property crimes were above the national and Ohio state averages. Niche reports that theft in Steubenville is above the national average, but burglary and motor vehicle theft are lower.
Many home styles can be seen along the streets of Downtown Steubenville.
Classic Four Square homes are common around Downtown Steubenville.
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B-plus rated Steubenville School District
School-aged children living in Steubenville generally attend school in the Steubenville City School District. Niche gives the district a B-plus. Steubenville High School has a 95% graduation rate. Private Catholic schools in the city include Bishop John King Mussio Central Elementary and Junior High Schools, as well as Steubenville Catholic Central High School.
Steubenville Catholic Central High School brings residents a private school option.
The campus at Steubenville Catholic Central High School is on a rise just outside the city.
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Locally owned restaurants and shops in downtown Steubenville
Various locally owned restaurants and stores have opened in the past 10 years after the Nutcracker Village debuted, contributing to revitalizing the downtown area. Antique Warehouse is one of the most popular shops, with over 40,000 square feet of hard-to-find items. West of downtown is Fort Steuben Mall, which opened over 50 years ago and has nearly 40 stores. Chain retail stores, including Walmart and Lowe’s, surround the mall.
Peruse the amazing collections at Antiques Warehouse in Downtown Steubenville.
The Fort Steuben Mall is a short drive from Steubenville which is convenient for residents.
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Over a dozen parks in Steubenville
The Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department oversees 13 parks in the city of Steubenville, including the Belleview Municipal Pool, located in Belleview Park near the campus of Franciscan University. The Ohio River is also a recreation option, with a boat launch available at Steubenville Marina.
Residents of Downtown Steubenville can enjoy fishing the waters of the Ohio River.
Beatty Park offers Downtown Steubenville residents beautiful hiking opportunities.
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Route 22 to the Pittsburgh airport
Route 22 connects Steubenville to Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Airport. The airport is about 25 miles away, while the city is about 40 miles. The highway also connects to Interstates 376 and 79, allowing motorists to reach points in western Pennsylvania, Ohio and much of the Midwest. The Jefferson County Airpark in Steubenville is a general aviation facility serving charter flights and private aircraft.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
