East Palestine, Ohio | |
|---|---|
 Market Street (State Route 170) | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
| Motto: "Where you want to be!" | |
 Location of East Palestine in Columbiana County, Ohio. | |
  East Palestine  East Palestine | |
| Coordinates:40°50′21″N80°32′48″W / 40.83917°N 80.54667°W /40.83917; -80.54667[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Columbiana |
| Founded | 1828 (as Mechanicsburg) |
| Incorporated | 1875 |
| Named after | Palestine (region) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Trent R. Conaway[2] (I) |
| • Village Manager | Antonio Diaz-Guy[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2) |
| • Land | 3.15 sq mi (8.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (320 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,761 |
• Estimate (2023)[5] | 4,658 |
| • Density | 1,510.6/sq mi (583.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 44413 |
| Area code | 330, 234 |
| FIPS code | 39-23940 |
| GNIS ID | 2394603[1] |
| Website | eastpalestine-oh |
East Palestine (/ˌpælɪˈstiːn/PAL-ist-EEN) is a village inColumbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,761 at the2020 census.[6] It is located on the Ohio–Pennsylvania border, about 20 miles (32 km) south ofYoungstown and 40 miles (64 km) northwest ofPittsburgh.
The village was home to industries inceramics andtire manufacturing from the 1870s until the mid-1960s. East Palestine is located along theNorfolk Southern Railway and has a freight train station.[7] In 2023, the village was near the site ofa major train derailment that spilledvinyl chloride and triggered significant evacuations in the jurisdiction.[8]
East Palestine was platted in 1828 by Thomas McCalla and William Grate, initially known as Mechanicsburg.[10] In 1833, it was renamed after theMiddle Eastern region ofPalestine.[11] The name was changed as part of a religious nomenclature in the area, including communities such asEnon Valley,Medina,New Galilee andSalem. However,Palestine, Ohio, was already an incorporated community in the western part of the state, so the town was incorporated as East Palestine in 1875.[12] Having reached a population of 5,000, East Palestine operated as a statutory city from 1920 until 2011 when it reverted to village status because of declining population.
By the 1920s, railroad facilities of the city consisted of the four-trackPennsylvania Railroad system. Switches from thePittsburgh, Lisbon, and Western Railroad within one mile of the corporation limits connected with thePittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad andNew York Central Railroad. The city's leading industries were the manufacture ofpottery by theW. S. George Pottery Company and automobiletires by the Edwin C. McGraw Tire Company. However, factories also existed that produced steel tanks,foundry work, electrical refractories, food products, electric wiring devices, woodenventilators, fireproofing material,synthetic ice, andlumber. Around this time, East Palestine began to start an economy inorcharding, which still survives today. Large storage and preserving facilities made East Palestine the leading city for orchards in the area.[13]
East Palestine became a qualifiedTree City USA as recognized by theNational Arbor Day Foundation in 2004.[14]
Beginning in October 2022, the East Palestine Fire Department began rolling out a new emergency response system based on the "MyID"digital health identity platform.[15][16] A community information session was held on January 29, 2023, with 60 participants signed up for the program.[17][18]
On February 3, 2023, an explosion and fire occurred following the derailment of aNorfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous chemicals on the eastern end of town.[19] Astate of emergency was declared by the village council on February 4.[20] An evacuation area was extended by Ohio GovernorMike DeWine on February 6 to allow for "a controlled release ofvinyl chloride" and burning it in a nearby trench.[21] Some residents subsequently started a class-action lawsuit against Norfolk Southern, citing new respiratory issues and unknown environmental impacts.[8][22] Contamination remained in many buildings closest to the train wreckage for over a year. Breathing problems and other upper-respiratory health symptoms of residents, clean-up workers and bystanders who were chemically exposed were found to be similar to those found in the first responders of theSeptember 11 attacks in New York City.[23]
East Palestine is located along the eastern boundary of Columbiana County, almost touchingDarlington Township, Pennsylvania. The village is part ofUnity Township.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, East Palestine has a total area of 3.15 square miles (8.16 km2), all land.[24][25] Twostreams pass through the village;Leslie Run andSulphur Run.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,047 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,816 | 73.4% | |
| 1900 | 2,493 | 37.3% | |
| 1910 | 3,537 | 41.9% | |
| 1920 | 5,750 | 62.6% | |
| 1930 | 5,215 | −9.3% | |
| 1940 | 5,123 | −1.8% | |
| 1950 | 5,195 | 1.4% | |
| 1960 | 5,232 | 0.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,604 | 7.1% | |
| 1980 | 5,306 | −5.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,168 | −2.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,917 | −4.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,721 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 4,761 | 0.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 4,658 | [5] | −2.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[26] | |||
As of thecensus[27] of 2010, there were 4,721 people, 1,898 households, and 1,282 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,498.7 inhabitants per square mile (578.7/km2). There were 2,125 housing units at an average density of 674.6 per square mile (260.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.2%White, 0.2%African American, 0.1%Native American, 0.3%Asian, 0.4% fromother races, and 0.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 1,898 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% weremarried couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
As of thecensus[28] of 2000, there were 4,917 people, 1,975 households, and 1,384 families living in the city. The population density was 1,772.1 inhabitants per square mile (684.2/km2). There were 2,108 housing units at an average density of 759.7 per square mile (293.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.47%White, 0.37%African American, 0.06%Native American, 0.14%Asian, 0.26% fromother races, and 0.69% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 1,975 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% weremarried couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-traditional families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,738, and the median income for a family was $40,057. Males had a median income of $30,550 versus $17,237 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,243. About 5.5% of families and 10.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those aged 65 or over.
East Palestine operates under a charteredcouncil–manager government; there are six council members elected as a legislature and a mayor who serves as the council's president.[29] All are elected for four-year terms. The council employs a village manager for administration. As of 2025, the mayor was Trent R. Conaway and the village manager was Antonio Diaz-Guy.[3]
TheEast Palestine City School District serves children in the village, which includes one elementary school, one middle school, andEast Palestine High School.[30] The district formerly operated multiple schools throughout the city; a new middle school and a renovated elementary campus were built surrounding the existing high school in 1997. The village is home to a public library which opened in 1920.[31]
State Route 170 runs north–south through East Palestine.State Route 165 enters the village westbound fromPennsylvania as Taggart Street before entering a concurrency with SR 170, and then travels northbound as Market Street. The concurrent SR 165/SR 170 accessesState Route 46 running to the north of East Palestine.State Route 558 runs east–west through and terminates within the village.[32]
Norfolk Southern Railway'sFort Wayne Line passes through East Palestine.[7]
Municipalities and communities ofColumbiana County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Townships | ||
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| Unincorporated communities |
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| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| National | |
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