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Steubenville, OH

Frequently asked questions

Steubenville, OH

Steubenville is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. Located along the Ohio River 33 miles (53 km) west of Pittsburgh, it had a population of 18,161 at the 2020 census. The city's name is derived from Fort Steuben, a 1786 fort that sat within the city's current limits and was named for Prussian military officer Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. It is a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area, which had a 2020 population of 116,903 residents.

Steubenville's nickname is the "City of Murals", after its more than 25 downtown murals. The campuses of Franciscan University of Steubenville and Eastern Gateway Community College are in Steubenville. Historically, it was known as the birthplace and hometown of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War during the American Civil War. It is known as the city where legendary entertainer Dean Martin of the Rat Pack was born and raised. It has recently attracted attention for the Steubenville Nutcracker Village, an annual Christmastime event.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.63 square miles (27.53 km²), of which 10.55 square miles (27.32 km²) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km²) is water. The city lies along the Ohio River, with the city spreading west from the floodplains to the hills that surround the city. It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.

In 1786–87, soldiers of the First American Regiment under Major Jean François Hamtramck built Fort Steuben to protect the government surveyors mapping the land west of the Ohio River and named the fort in honor of Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. When the surveyors completed their task a few years later, the fort was abandoned. In the meantime, settlers had built homes around the fort; they named their settlement Steubenville. The name Steubenville was derived from Fort Steuben to honor Baron von Steuben (the fort was named for the Baron). The town was sometimes referred to as La Belle City, a franglais interpretation of "The Beautiful City".

On July 29, 1797, Jefferson County was organized by a proclamation of Governor Arthur St. Clair, and Steubenville was selected as the county seat. It was platted in the same year by Bezaliel Wells and James Ross, the city's co-founders. Wells, a government surveyor born in Baltimore, received about 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land west of the Ohio River; Ross, a lawyer from Pittsburgh, owned the land north of Wells.

On March 1, 1803, Ohio was admitted to the Union as the 17th state. During the first half of the nineteenth century, Steubenville was primarily a port town, and the rest of the county was small villages and farms. Steubenville received a city charter in 1851. In 1856, Frazier, Kilgore, and Company erected a rolling mill (the forerunner of steel mills) and the Steubenville Coal and Mining Company sank a coal shaft. The city was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, which connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis.

Health and wellness are integral components of life in Steubenville, with several healthcare facilities serving the needs of residents. Trinity Health System stands as a cornerstone of the city's healthcare infrastructure, offering a wide range of medical services and specialized care. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Planet Fitness and 24/7 Fitness Club. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Steubenville, such as the Beatty Park Trail and Belleview Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Steubenville, OH are Steubenville Nutcracker Village, Jefferson County Historical Association, and Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Population: 18,029 (2024). ZIP codes: 43952-43953. Area codes: 740, 220. Elevation: 1,050 ft (320 m). Area: 10.62 sq mi (27.50 km²).

FAQs

What is Steubenville, OH famous for?

Learn why Steubenville is known as “The City of Murals.” Artists from around the country have created an outdoor museum comprised of 25 larger-than-life murals they’ve painted on iconic buildings. Subjects range from “River Reflections,” celebrating the steamboat era to “The Civil War Telegraph Office,” with images of President Abraham Lincoln and Steubenville natives Edwin Stanton, who served as Lincoln’s secretary of war, and telegrapher David Homer Bates. Other murals honor the heroic Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, including two brothers from Steubenville who served in that prestigious group; Mount Pleasant native Fleetwood Walker, the first Black American to play professional baseball and Steubenville pianist Dorothy Sloop, who served as the inspiration for The Ohio State University rock anthem “Hang on Sloopy.”

What happened in Steubenville, OH?

The Steubenville High School rape occurred in Steubenville, Ohio on the night of August 11, 2012, when a high school girl, incapacitated by alcohol, was publicly and repeatedly sexually assaulted by her peers, several of whom documented the acts on social media. The victim was transported, undressed, photographed, and sexually assaulted. She was also penetrated vaginally by other students' fingers (digital penetration), an act defined as rape under Ohio law.

What is the crime rate in Steubenville, OH?

With a crime rate of 36 per one thousand residents, Steubenville has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 28. Efforts to address crime and improve public safety are crucial, and collaboration between law enforcement, local government, community organizations, and residents is essential in addressing the root causes of crime and creating a safer environment for all in Steubenville.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Steubenville

Trinity Health System 

Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department

Planet Fitness 

24/7 Fitness Club

Beatty Park Trail 

Belleview Park

Steubenville Nutcracker Village

Jefferson County Historical Association

Veterans Memorial Bridge

Neighborhood Scout

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