Kirtland, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Kirtland is a city in Lake County
, Ohio
, USA
. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement
.
shale
of the Ohio shale group named Chagrin Shale. Above the Chagrin Shale is Cleveland Shale, a Devonian
formation which is an important source of local fossil
s. The Cleveland Shale is overlaid by Bedford Shale. Berea Sandstone is the next layer and an important local building material, which has been used to construct the Kirtland Temple
and other historic buildings. The caprock
is Sharon Conglomerate, a sandstone
with embedded quartz
pebbles. About 10,000 years ago glaciers covered all of northern Ohio, so the landscape of the region is dominated by the effects of glaciation.
After the founding of the United States, northern Ohio was designated as the Western Reserve and was sold to the Connecticut Land Company
. The area was first surveyed by Moses Cleaveland
and his party in 1796.
Kirtland is named for Turhand Kirtland, a principal of the Connecticut Land Company and judge in Trumbull County
, the first political entity in Ohio that included Kirtland township. Kirtland, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
, demonstrated "both breadth of vision and integrity" in his fair dealings with the local Native Americans
. He was known for his bravery, resourcefulness, and passion for justice. Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland
was the son of the former; he helped to found a medical college in nearby Willoughby, Ohio
, and he compiled the first ornithology of Ohio. The bird Kirtland's Warbler
is named for Jared Kirtland. This rare species has been documented in the city during migration, but it does not nest in Ohio.
Being less well suited to agriculture, the densely forested, clay soiled, high, hilly, land of Kirtland was settled later than surrounding townships: Mentor
in 1798, and Chester
in 1802. Kirtland's first European settlers were the John Moore family, soon followed by the Crary family who came to Kirtland in 1811. In 1893 Christopher Crary wrote a memoir of his Kirtland life, which provided a great deal of material for Anne B. Prusha's 1982 history of Kirtland.
. Joseph Smith, Jr. moved the church to Kirtland in 1831, shortly after its formal organization in April 1830 in Palmyra
, New York. The church would change its name to "Church of the Latter Day Saints" in 1834, and after leaving Kirtland, to the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". The Saints built their first temple
there, a historic landmark that is now owned and operated by the Community of Christ
, a group descended from the church founded by Smith. The temple was built with a degree of opulence, considering the underdeveloped nature of the area and the poverty of most early church members. Many attending the Kirtland Temple
dedication in 1836 claimed to see multiple heavenly visions and appearances of heavenly beings, including deity. For this and other reasons, Kirtland remains a place of importance to those of all Latter Day Saint denominations. A majority of sections from the Doctrine and Covenants
, considered modern revelations and canonical by most denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, originated in Kirtland during the 1830s.
Ownership of the Kirtland Temple was in a confused state and disputed for a number of years, but eventually it was declared by court action to be the property of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ
). Today, besides giving tours, the Community of Christ church allows others to use the temple for special meetings.
in the 1830s.. During this period most of the wooded areas near Kirtland were cleared for agriculture, with corn and apples being the predominant crops.
In the early 20th century, Kirtland School (now Kirtland Elementary) was built to consolidate 3 school houses. One of the old school houses can still be found at the corner of Baldwin and Booth Roads in Kirtland Hills
.
Kirtland saw few changes until after World War II
when several residential subdivisions were built. In 1957 a high school was built and in 1961, Gildersleeve Elementary was built along Chardon Rd. (US-6
). In 1968 a middle school was completed for grades 6–8.
In 1968 the citizens of Kirtland voted in a special election to incorporate the township. James Naughton was the first mayor of the village, which became a city when the 1970 census
showed population exceeded 5000. Naughton was succeeded as mayor by Doug Guy, Wesley Phillips, Mario Marcopoli, Edward Podajol, and Mark Tyler.
The 1960s saw an influx and expansion of local businesses. A shopping center was built, which combined the hardware, drug store, grocery, barber shop, plus the local doctor and dentist in one building. By 1965, Interstate 90
was open, allowing a quicker trip into Cleveland, Ohio
.
Kirtland continued to grow in population slowly through the 1970s and 1980s.
In April 1989, Jeffrey Lundgren
, a religious extremist, coerced some in his cult
into murdering a family of five and hiding their bodies in a pit dug inside a barn, on Chardon Road (U.S. 6). Those of Lundgren's cult who participated in the murders were sentenced to life in prison; Lundgren was executed on October 24, 2006.
In the 1990s, as Kirtland became an increasingly popular tourist destination, the historic Kirtland area was created in the Kirtland flats along the East Branch of the Chagrin River. The buildings in this area preserve or replicate structures that were present in the 1830s. Historic Kirtland structures, many of which are related to early Mormon history, include the NK Whitney home (original structure), Newel K. Whitney
Store (original structure), a sawmill (replica), an ashery, the Sidney Rigdon
home (original structure), and the John Johnson Inn. This area provides insight into what life was like during the period when Kirtland was the home of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young
, and other founders of Mormonism. The Community of Christ
and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints both operate visitor centers in Kirtland and give tours of the buildings and sites which they own.
In 2003, Schupp’s farm and orchard, on Hobart Road, became inactive leaving Rock’s farm on Chillicothe Road, the only active for-profit farm in the city. As of 2006, there are still active cattle and horse farming in the city and some commercial nursery activity. Sugaring
still occurs, with at least 2 active sugar bushes other than the large scale Bicknell Sugar Bush at the Holden Arboretum
.
Kirtland has been visited by two sitting Presidents of the United States
, including the April 2005 visit of President Bush for a speech at the Lake Farm Park. President Bush also visited Kirtland in 2006 as part of emergency efforts associated with the Grand River
flooding.
The city has a total area of 16.7 square miles (43.3 km²), of which 16.6 square miles (43 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.66%) is water.
Kirtland is located south of the lake shore plain of Lake Erie
and is situated on the higher elevations of the Allegheny Plateau
. The principal geographic features are the East Branch of the Chagrin River
, Pierson's Knob, and Gildersleeve Mountain
, which at 1163 feet (mean sea level) is the high point, 593 feet (180.7 m) above Lake Erie
, 6.7 miles (10.8 km) to the northwest.
Native vegetation is northern hardwood forest. Hemlock-hardwood forest is found in the higher elevations and along ravines, beech-maple forest
is predominant in other areas. A few stands of old growth oak-hickory forest can also be found in the city.
Kirtland is located in the snowbelt
region of Lake Erie, and has snowfall and weather patterns similar to nearby Chardon
. In this area, annual snowfall averages over 100 inches (2.5 m) per year, and anecdotal evidence indicates seasonal snowfall can exceed 250 inches (6.4 m) in some microclimate
areas.
Kirtland is primarily a residential community. Over 20% of the land area is forest preserve or park land. The Holden Arboretum
at 3500 acres (14.2 km²) is the largest of these, but not all of Holden's land is located in Kirtland. Three metropolitan parks are also in Kirtland. The largest is Chapin State Forest, at 390 acres (1.6 km²), which includes much of Gildersleeve mountain
. Also in Kirtland are Penitentiary Glen, and the Lake Farm Park. Lakeland Community College
is located largely in the City of Kirtland, the campus dominating the northern part of the city.
of 2000, there were 6,670 people, 2,445 households, and 1,885 families residing in the city. The population density
was 401.8 people per square mile (155.1/km²). There were 2,558 housing units at an average density of 154.1 per square mile (59.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.47% White, 0.27% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population. 18.5% were of German
, 14.3% Italian, 12.0% Irish
, 9.6% English
and 6.2% Slovene ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,445 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples
living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,422, and the median income for a family was $76,062. Males had a median income of $51,179 versus $31,179 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $32,148. About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
Lake County, Ohio
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 230,041. The county seat is Painesville, and the county name comes from its location on the southern shore of Lake Erie....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
.
Origins of Kirtland
In prehistory the Kirtland area was covered by ocean water (300 million years ago). The bedrock is a siltSilt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
of the Ohio shale group named Chagrin Shale. Above the Chagrin Shale is Cleveland Shale, a Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
formation which is an important source of local fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s. The Cleveland Shale is overlaid by Bedford Shale. Berea Sandstone is the next layer and an important local building material, which has been used to construct the Kirtland Temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
and other historic buildings. The caprock
Caprock
The Caprock is a region in the Panhandle of Texas . It is the land to the west of the Caprock Escarpment, which separates it from plains stretching to the east at a much lower elevation....
is Sharon Conglomerate, a sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
with embedded quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
pebbles. About 10,000 years ago glaciers covered all of northern Ohio, so the landscape of the region is dominated by the effects of glaciation.
After the founding of the United States, northern Ohio was designated as the Western Reserve and was sold to the Connecticut Land Company
Connecticut Land Company
The Connecticut Land Company was formed in the late eighteenth century to survey and encourage settlement in the Connecticut Western Reserve, part of the Old Northwest Territory. The Western Reserve is located in Northeast Ohio with its hub being Cleveland. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company...
. The area was first surveyed by Moses Cleaveland
Moses Cleaveland
Moses Cleaveland was a lawyer, politician, soldier, and surveyor from Connecticut who founded the U.S. city of Cleveland, Ohio, while surveying the Western Reserve in 1796.-Early life:...
and his party in 1796.
Kirtland is named for Turhand Kirtland, a principal of the Connecticut Land Company and judge in Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
, the first political entity in Ohio that included Kirtland township. Kirtland, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, demonstrated "both breadth of vision and integrity" in his fair dealings with the local Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. He was known for his bravery, resourcefulness, and passion for justice. Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland
Jared Potter Kirtland
Jared Potter Kirtland was a naturalist, malacologist, and politician most active in the U.S. state of Ohio, where he served as a probate judge, and in the Ohio House of Representatives...
was the son of the former; he helped to found a medical college in nearby Willoughby, Ohio
Willoughby, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,621 people, 10,265 households, and 5,892 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,225.3 people per square mile . There were 10,700 housing units at an average density of 1,052.6 per square mile...
, and he compiled the first ornithology of Ohio. The bird Kirtland's Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family , named after Jared P. Kirtland, an Ohio doctor and amateur naturalist. Nearly extinct just 50 years ago, it is well on its way to recovery. It requires large areas of dense young jack pine for its breeding habitat...
is named for Jared Kirtland. This rare species has been documented in the city during migration, but it does not nest in Ohio.
Being less well suited to agriculture, the densely forested, clay soiled, high, hilly, land of Kirtland was settled later than surrounding townships: Mentor
Mentor, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 50,278 people, 18,797 households, and 14,229 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,878.2 people per square mile . There were 19,301 housing units at an average density of 721.0 per square mile...
in 1798, and Chester
Chester Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Chester Township is one of the sixteen townships of Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 10,968 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northwestern corner of the county, it borders the following townships and municipalities:...
in 1802. Kirtland's first European settlers were the John Moore family, soon followed by the Crary family who came to Kirtland in 1811. In 1893 Christopher Crary wrote a memoir of his Kirtland life, which provided a great deal of material for Anne B. Prusha's 1982 history of Kirtland.
Headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement
From 1831 to 1838 Kirtland was the headquarters for the Latter Day Saint movementLatter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. Joseph Smith, Jr. moved the church to Kirtland in 1831, shortly after its formal organization in April 1830 in Palmyra
Palmyra (town), New York
Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city Palmyra in Syria....
, New York. The church would change its name to "Church of the Latter Day Saints" in 1834, and after leaving Kirtland, to the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". The Saints built their first temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
there, a historic landmark that is now owned and operated by the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
, a group descended from the church founded by Smith. The temple was built with a degree of opulence, considering the underdeveloped nature of the area and the poverty of most early church members. Many attending the Kirtland Temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
dedication in 1836 claimed to see multiple heavenly visions and appearances of heavenly beings, including deity. For this and other reasons, Kirtland remains a place of importance to those of all Latter Day Saint denominations. A majority of sections from the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
, considered modern revelations and canonical by most denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, originated in Kirtland during the 1830s.
Ownership of the Kirtland Temple was in a confused state and disputed for a number of years, but eventually it was declared by court action to be the property of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
). Today, besides giving tours, the Community of Christ church allows others to use the temple for special meetings.
1838 to present
After the majority of the Latter Day Saints departed Kirtland in 1837-38, and during the latter part of the 19th century, Kirtland’s population diminished and life was typical of that of the region. Crary recalls the last rattlesnakes being killed on Gildersleeve MountainGildersleeve Mountain
Gildersleeve Mountain is a summit located in Kirtland, Ohio, United States.Gildersleeve Mountain is interesting and important because it is within one of the largest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the United States . It is a relatively unspoiled and unique area just from downtown...
in the 1830s.. During this period most of the wooded areas near Kirtland were cleared for agriculture, with corn and apples being the predominant crops.
In the early 20th century, Kirtland School (now Kirtland Elementary) was built to consolidate 3 school houses. One of the old school houses can still be found at the corner of Baldwin and Booth Roads in Kirtland Hills
Kirtland Hills, Ohio
Kirtland Hills is a village in Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kirtland Hills is located at ....
.
Kirtland saw few changes until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when several residential subdivisions were built. In 1957 a high school was built and in 1961, Gildersleeve Elementary was built along Chardon Rd. (US-6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
). In 1968 a middle school was completed for grades 6–8.
In 1968 the citizens of Kirtland voted in a special election to incorporate the township. James Naughton was the first mayor of the village, which became a city when the 1970 census
United States Census, 1970
The Nineteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 203,392,031, an increase of 13.4 percent over the 179,323,175 persons enumerated during the 1960 Census.-Data availability:...
showed population exceeded 5000. Naughton was succeeded as mayor by Doug Guy, Wesley Phillips, Mario Marcopoli, Edward Podajol, and Mark Tyler.
The 1960s saw an influx and expansion of local businesses. A shopping center was built, which combined the hardware, drug store, grocery, barber shop, plus the local doctor and dentist in one building. By 1965, Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
was open, allowing a quicker trip into Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
Kirtland continued to grow in population slowly through the 1970s and 1980s.
In April 1989, Jeffrey Lundgren
Jeffrey Lundgren
Jeffrey Don Lundgren was a self-proclaimed prophet, former leader of a cult group, and convicted mass murderer of five people...
, a religious extremist, coerced some in his cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
into murdering a family of five and hiding their bodies in a pit dug inside a barn, on Chardon Road (U.S. 6). Those of Lundgren's cult who participated in the murders were sentenced to life in prison; Lundgren was executed on October 24, 2006.
Newel K. Whitney
Newel Kimball Whitney was a prominent leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an American businessman. He served as Bishop of Kirtland, Ohio, Far West, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois. He also served as the second Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1847 until his death...
Store (original structure), a sawmill (replica), an ashery, the Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
home (original structure), and the John Johnson Inn. This area provides insight into what life was like during the period when Kirtland was the home of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, and other founders of Mormonism. The Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints both operate visitor centers in Kirtland and give tours of the buildings and sites which they own.
In 2003, Schupp’s farm and orchard, on Hobart Road, became inactive leaving Rock’s farm on Chillicothe Road, the only active for-profit farm in the city. As of 2006, there are still active cattle and horse farming in the city and some commercial nursery activity. Sugaring
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be made from other maple species such as the bigleaf maple. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then...
still occurs, with at least 2 active sugar bushes other than the large scale Bicknell Sugar Bush at the Holden Arboretum
Holden Arboretum
The Holden Arboretum, in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, is one of the largest arboretums and botanical gardens in the United States, with over 3,500 acres , 600 acres of which are devoted to collections and gardens. Diverse natural areas and ecologically sensitive habitats make up the rest of the holdings...
.
Kirtland has been visited by two sitting Presidents of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, including the April 2005 visit of President Bush for a speech at the Lake Farm Park. President Bush also visited Kirtland in 2006 as part of emergency efforts associated with the Grand River
Grand River (Ohio)
The Grand River is a tributary of Lake Erie, 102.7 miles long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. Via Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, it is part of the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
flooding.
Geography
Kirtland is located at 41°36′9"N 81°20′41"W (41.602581, -81.344706).The city has a total area of 16.7 square miles (43.3 km²), of which 16.6 square miles (43 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.66%) is water.
Kirtland is located south of the lake shore plain of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and is situated on the higher elevations of the Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
. The principal geographic features are the East Branch of the Chagrin River
Chagrin River
The Chagrin River is located in Northeast Ohio. The river has two branches, the Aurora Branch and East Branch. Its name is believed to stem from what the local Erie Indians used to call it, the "Sha-ga-rin", or "Clear Water". Given the clear flowing nature of especially the East Branch of the...
, Pierson's Knob, and Gildersleeve Mountain
Gildersleeve Mountain
Gildersleeve Mountain is a summit located in Kirtland, Ohio, United States.Gildersleeve Mountain is interesting and important because it is within one of the largest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the United States . It is a relatively unspoiled and unique area just from downtown...
, which at 1163 feet (mean sea level) is the high point, 593 feet (180.7 m) above Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, 6.7 miles (10.8 km) to the northwest.
Native vegetation is northern hardwood forest. Hemlock-hardwood forest is found in the higher elevations and along ravines, beech-maple forest
Beech-maple forest
A beech-maple forest is a climax mesic closed canopy hardwood forest. It is primarily composed of American Beech and Sugar Maple trees which co-dominate the forest and which are the pinnacle of plant succession in their range...
is predominant in other areas. A few stands of old growth oak-hickory forest can also be found in the city.
Kirtland is located in the snowbelt
Snowbelt
Snowbelt is a term describing of a number of regions near the Great Lakes in North America where heavy snowfall in the form of lake-effect snow is particularly common. Snowbelts are typically found downwind of the lakes, principally off the eastern and southern shores...
region of Lake Erie, and has snowfall and weather patterns similar to nearby Chardon
Chardon, Ohio
Chardon is a city in Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Geauga County.-History:Chardon is named after Peter Chardon Brooks, who donated land to build the historic Chardon Square....
. In this area, annual snowfall averages over 100 inches (2.5 m) per year, and anecdotal evidence indicates seasonal snowfall can exceed 250 inches (6.4 m) in some microclimate
Microclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
areas.
Kirtland is primarily a residential community. Over 20% of the land area is forest preserve or park land. The Holden Arboretum
Holden Arboretum
The Holden Arboretum, in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, is one of the largest arboretums and botanical gardens in the United States, with over 3,500 acres , 600 acres of which are devoted to collections and gardens. Diverse natural areas and ecologically sensitive habitats make up the rest of the holdings...
at 3500 acres (14.2 km²) is the largest of these, but not all of Holden's land is located in Kirtland. Three metropolitan parks are also in Kirtland. The largest is Chapin State Forest, at 390 acres (1.6 km²), which includes much of Gildersleeve mountain
Gildersleeve Mountain
Gildersleeve Mountain is a summit located in Kirtland, Ohio, United States.Gildersleeve Mountain is interesting and important because it is within one of the largest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the United States . It is a relatively unspoiled and unique area just from downtown...
. Also in Kirtland are Penitentiary Glen, and the Lake Farm Park. Lakeland Community College
Lakeland Community College
Lakeland Community College is a two-year community college in Lake County, Ohio. Established in 1967, Lakeland was the first college in Ohio founded by a vote of the people...
is located largely in the City of Kirtland, the campus dominating the northern part of the city.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,670 people, 2,445 households, and 1,885 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 401.8 people per square mile (155.1/km²). There were 2,558 housing units at an average density of 154.1 per square mile (59.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.47% White, 0.27% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population. 18.5% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 14.3% Italian, 12.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 9.6% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 6.2% Slovene ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,445 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,422, and the median income for a family was $76,062. Males had a median income of $51,179 versus $31,179 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $32,148. About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
- The Herb Society of AmericaThe Herb Society of AmericaThe Herb Society of America is a nonprofit American organization dedicated to promoting "the knowledge, use, and delight of herbs." The society was founded on August 23, 1933, at the Ipswich, Massachusetts home of Mrs. Albert C. Burrage, Jr....
- Holden ArboretumHolden ArboretumThe Holden Arboretum, in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, is one of the largest arboretums and botanical gardens in the United States, with over 3,500 acres , 600 acres of which are devoted to collections and gardens. Diverse natural areas and ecologically sensitive habitats make up the rest of the holdings...
- Kirtland TempleKirtland TempleThe Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
- Historic Kirtland VillageHistoric Kirtland VillageHistoric Kirtland Village, located in Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, is the name given to a historic site . The village is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . The church purchased the first property in the village, the Newel K...
- Gildersleeve MountainGildersleeve MountainGildersleeve Mountain is a summit located in Kirtland, Ohio, United States.Gildersleeve Mountain is interesting and important because it is within one of the largest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the United States . It is a relatively unspoiled and unique area just from downtown...
- Old South Church
- Farmpark
- Penitentiary Glen