Lebanon is a city in and the county seat of Warren County, Ohio, United States.[4] The population was 20,841 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.

Lebanon, Ohio
Golden Lamb Inn looking down Broadway Street
Golden Lamb Inn looking down Broadway Street
Location of Lebanon, Ohio
Location of Lebanon, Ohio
Location of Lebanon in Warren County
Location of Lebanon in Warren County
Coordinates: 39°25′00″N 84°14′28″W / 39.41667°N 84.24111°W / 39.41667; -84.24111
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyWarren
Area
 • Total13.18 sq mi (34.15 km2)
 • Land13.18 sq mi (34.13 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation748 ft (228 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20,841
 • Density1,581.62/sq mi (610.68/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
45036
Area code513
FIPS code39-42364[3]
GNIS feature ID1087116[2]
WebsiteCity website

History

Lebanon is in the Symmes Purchase. The first European settler in what is now Lebanon was Ichabod Corwin, uncle of Ohio Governor Thomas Corwin, who came to Ohio from Bourbon County, Kentucky, and settled on the north branch of Turtle Creek in March 1796.[citation needed] The site of his cabin is now on the grounds of Berry Intermediate School on North Broadway and is marked with a monument erected by the Warren County Historical Society.

The town was laid out in September 1802 on land owned by Ichabod Corwin, Silas Hurin, Ephraim Hathaway, and Samuel Manning in Sections 35 and 35 of Town 5, Range 3 North and Sections 5 and 6 of Town 4, Range 3 North of the Between the Miami Rivers Survey. Lebanon was named after the Biblical Lebanon because of the many juniper or Eastern Red cedar trees there, similar to the Lebanon Cedar.[5] It is known today as "The Cedar City".

City legend has it that Lebanon didn't grow as large as Cincinnati or Dayton because of the 'Shaker Curse'. During their migration, the Shakers decided an area outside of town was a suitable place for them to create a homeland for themselves. There was a disagreement with some of the locals and it was said the Shakers placed a curse on the city to hinder the city's prosperity. In reality, the Shakers thrived in the area, and built a settlement about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Lebanon called Union Village.[6] A local man, Malchalm Worley was their first convert. Since the Shakers did not engage in procreation, they relied on converts to increase their numbers. By 1900, there were almost no Shakers left in Ohio.[7]

The city is one of the few in the nation to once operate a government-run cable television and telephone service, as well as being a fiber-to-the-neighborhood Internet service provider. Controversial since it began operation in 1999, the Lebanon telecommunications system had struggled to recover its expenses and had accumulated over $8 million in debt. However, residents in the area at the time paid up to 50% less for the aforementioned services than neighboring communities, therefore saving over $40 million of the residents' money. In the 2006 general election, however, voters approved the sale of this city-run telecommunications system to Cincinnati Bell.[citation needed]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.97 square miles (33.59 km2), of which 12.96 square miles (33.57 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18201,079
18301,1658.0%
18401,52831.2%
18502,08836.6%
18602,55922.6%
18702,7497.4%
18802,703−1.7%
18903,05012.8%
19002,867−6.0%
19102,698−5.9%
19203,39625.9%
19303,222−5.1%
19403,89620.9%
19504,81823.7%
19605,99324.4%
19707,93432.4%
19809,62021.3%
199010,4538.7%
200016,96262.3%
201020,03318.1%
202020,8414.0%
Sources:[3][9][10][11][12][13][14]

2010 census

As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 20,033 people, 7,436 households, and 5,213 families living in the city. The population density was 1,545.8 inhabitants per square mile (596.8/km2). There were 7,920 housing units at an average density of 611.1 units per square mile (235.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.7% White, 2.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 7,436 households, of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 29.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 10.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 16,962 people living in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 inhabitants per square mile (556.2/km2). There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 units per square mile (203.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.98% White, 6.36% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 5,887 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,856, and the median income for a family was $52,578. Males had a median income of $40,361 versus $27,551 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,897. About 4.7% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those aged 65 or over.

Economy

Prisons operated by the Ohio Department of Corrections in the area include Lebanon Correctional Institution and Warren Correctional Institution.

Arts and culture

Events

  • Lebanon Blues Festival
  • Lebanon Country Music Festival
  • Warren County Fair
  • Country Applefest
  • Horse Drawn Carriage Parade and Christmas Festival
  • Third Friday block party on Mulberry Street

Landmarks and attractions

 
The Golden Lamb Inn, photographed November 15, 1936

The Golden Lamb Inn is the oldest hotel in Ohio, having been established in 1803.[16] The present structure is built around the 1815 rebuilding of the inn and has been visited by 12 presidents.[17][better source needed]

The Warren County Historical Museum includes the Harmon Museum, housed in Harmon Hall, a three-story, 28,000 square feet (2,600 m2) building with displays and exhibits of art and artifacts from prehistoric eras to the mid-20th century.[18][better source needed]

The Glendower State Memorial, owned by the Warren County Historical Society, was built in 1836 by Amos Bennett for John Milton Williams, a Lebanon merchant, and named for Owain Glyndŵr. It has been called "one of the finest examples of Residential Greek Revival architecture style in the Midwest".[19]

 
Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad station

Lebanon is home to the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, where passengers follow a scenic old stagecoach route along the right-of-way of the former Cincinnati, Lebanon and Northern Railway.[20]

Parks and recreation

The Countryside YMCA is one of the largest in the U.S.[21][better source needed] consists of: four basketball gyms, two weight rooms, five indoor pools, two outdoor pools, tennis courts, baseball fields, racquetball courts, preschool and daycare, gymnastics center, outdoor soccer fields, five aerobics rooms, senior citizen center, two waterparks (one inside, one outside), sports medicine center, rock climbing wall, two indoor tracks, outdoor track, acres of forest and trails, pond, outdoor playground, locker rooms, outdoor volleyball, and flag football fields.

Harmon Golf Club is a nine-hole, par 36 public golf course located on South East Street. It was built in 1912.[citation needed]

Education

Lebanon City Schools operates the following public schools:

  • Bowman Primary School (K–2)
  • Donovan Elementary School (3–4)
  • Berry Intermediate School (5–6)
  • Lebanon Junior High School (7–8)
  • Lebanon High School (9–12)

The city is served by a lending library, the Lebanon Public Library.[22]

Media

Print

  • Today's Pulse (based in Liberty Township, Butler County)

Television

  • Channel 6 - The Lebanon Channel City Cable[23]
  • Broadcast television from Cincinnati and Dayton markets

Infrastructure

Highways

Notable people

The 1978 movie Harper Valley PTA with Barbara Eden and the 1994 movie Milk Money with Ed Harris and Melanie Griffith were both shot in Lebanon.[26][27][28]

In October 2013, a Hallmark Channel movie titled The Christmas Spirit was filmed in Lebanon.[29] In 2014, the movie Carol, starring Cate Blanchett, was partially filmed in Lebanon.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lebanon, Ohio
  3. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 183.
  6. ^ "Text Timeline". www.historiclebanonohio.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "Shakers - Ohio History Central". ohiohistorycentral.org. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  9. ^ "Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties" (PDF). Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Ninth Census. U.S. Census Bureau. 1870. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties" (PDF). Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Tenth Census. U.S. Census Bureau. 1880. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  11. ^ "Population: Ohio" (PDF). 1910 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Population: Ohio" (PDF). 1930 US Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Ohio" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. 1960. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  14. ^ "Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  16. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  17. ^ "Homepage". The Golden Lamb. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Warren County Historical Society Home". Warren County Historical Society. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "Glendower Historic Mansion and Arboretum". Warren County Historical Society. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad". Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  21. ^ "About Us - History and Opportunities | Countryside YMCA". countrysideymca.org. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "Homepage". Lebanon Public Library. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Lebanon, OH - Official Website - Channel 6". March 30, 2012. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  24. ^ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=0F504F41A7D42079&p_docnum=1 [bare URL]
  25. ^ Douglas, Clarence B. The History of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Volume III. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Chicago-Tulsa (1921) p.490-1. Accessed May 20, 2020.
  26. ^ "AFI Catalog - Harper Valley PTA". Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  27. ^ "Filmed in Ohio: 18 movie locations you can visit, from Cleveland to Mansfield to Cincinnati". Cleveland.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  28. ^ "How to shop and stroll in the charming small town of Lebanon, Ohio". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  29. ^ http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hallmark-channel-the-christmas-spirit-television-movie-being-filmed-in-lebanon Archived 2013-10-05 at the Wayback Machine, Scott Wegener, "Hallmark Channel 'The Christmas Spirit' television movie being filmed in Lebanon", WCPO.com, 2013-Oct-14, Retrieved 2013-Oct-14
  30. ^ "Oscar winner to film movie in Lebanon | www.daytondailynews.com". Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.

Further reading

  • Elva R. Adams. Warren County Revisited. [Lebanon, Ohio]: Warren County Historical Society, 1989.
  • The Centennial Atlas of Warren County, Ohio. Lebanon, Ohio: The Centennial Atlas Association, 1903.
  • John W. Hauck. Narrow Gauge in Ohio. Boulder, Colorado: Pruett Publishing, 1986. ISBN 0-87108-629-8
  • Josiah Morrow. The History of Warren County, Ohio. Chicago: W.H. Beers, 1883. (Reprinted several times)
  • Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. 6th ed. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme, 2001. ISBN 0-89933-281-1
  • William E. Smith. History of Southwestern Ohio: The Miami Valleys. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing, 1964. 3 vols.
  • Warren County Engineer's Office. Official Highway Map 2003. Lebanon, Ohio: The Office, 2003.