The City of Avon Lake

Avon Lake History

Avon Lake is located between Cleveland and Lorain, and is part of the Lorain Elyria metropolitan area. Its geographical limits are formed by Lake Erie to the north, the Norfolk Southern Corporation Railroad tracks to the south, the city of Bay Village to the east and the city of Sheffield Lake to the west. These boundaries have been constant since 1915 when the County Commissioners separated Avon Lake and Avon. The city stretches for five miles along Lake Erie forming a northward arch into the lake. From north to south, its widest point measures about two and a half miles. The total area of Avon Lake is about 12 square miles (11.64 square miles). The land is predominately flat, sloping slightly downward toward the lake and the west. Much of the land is clay, under which lie oil shale, sandstone, limestone and salt. The composition of the land evolved from the geological eons during which the land was under Lake Erie, and the shore line was Butternut Ridge. When the waters receded, the area was the eastern end of the Black Swamp, which stretched from Avon Lake to Toledo. The city now lies on a part of Tract Seven of the Connecticut Western Reserve, lands reserved for families whose farms had been destroyed or who lost their belongings during the Revolutionary War. Originally known as Troy, the township was renamed Avon Township in 1824. In 1805 Indians gave up all claim to the land that is now Avon and Avon Lake. The first known settler of the Avon Lake area arrived in 1812 or 1813, but remained only a year before moving on. The location of his three-sided cabin was on the lake shore just east of the Saddle Inn shopping area. "Not the least of the enemies encountered by the pioneers were the predaceous wild animals. more..

Timeline of Avon Lake History

1812 Noah Davis settles, one year

1819 Adam Miller family settles

1828-31 Peter Miller house built 1850 Anson Titus starts first school in his log cabin 1856 Original Lake Road moved back from lakeshore 1860 Booming lake shore property (Some sold at $300 an acre) because of grape growing

1897 Electric Lakeshore Railway comes through Cleveland to Lorain

1912 Avon Lake township created

1921 Bond issue passed to open high school

1926 First High school graduating class of 5

1939 Saddle Inn opens first village motel with 13 units

1951 Avon Lake Press started by Harry Webber

1960 Avon Lake passes from village to a city (Pop. 9403)

1962 Council approves plan for pool