ABOUT OUR CITY

The City of Kirtland is located in Lake County in the northeast section of Ohio, approximately 22 miles east of the city of Cleveland, and about 5 miles inland from Lake Erie. Kirtland originally was a part of The Western Reserve, an area granted to the Connecticut Land Company. First a township, Kirtland achieved village status in 1970 and was incorporated into a city in 1971. The City, with a population of about 6,000, is about 17 square miles and consists predominately of residential homes. The city is bounded on three sides by the East and West Branches of the Chagrin River, which is designated one of Ohio's "scenic rivers." Surrounded by Geauga and Cuyahoga counties, there is an estimated population of 4,000,000 residing within a 50 mile radius.

Kirtland has its own public school system (K-12), a private religious school, and a comprehensive Community College. Lakeland Community College is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, has an enrollment in excess of 8,800 students, and offers daytime, evening and weekend classes to full and part-time students. The new public library was constructed in 1992 and built entirely with funds and grants generated in the local area (as opposed to a library levy). The new Kirtland Civic Center, located next to the library, was completed in 1993 and a gazebo (built with the help of the Kirtland Kiwanis Club) was added in 1996. Our community is a typical small town with a country hardware store and a postal sub-station. There are a variety of antique specialty stores; the largest industry is a plastics molding firm and the largest employer is Lakeland Community College with over 650 employees.

Most Kirtland residents commute to work in neighboring cities, as Kirtland itself has limited employment opportunities. The schools, local government, the public library, several stores, churches and the local park district offer the only employment; a few private employers, such as the local nursing home, several small manufacturing companies and a geotechnical engineering consulting firm provide other job opportunities. Kirtland is growing at a rapid pace with many new large-lot residential housing development projects underway, with homes ranging upward to the million dollar mark. Since 1987, 12 new subdivisions have accounted for 425 newly platted lots, all of which are over one acre. The city has a smaller "old town or old village" section, where often times those individuals born and raised in Kirtland have elected to stay and their children choose to do the same.

Several churches of different faiths dot the Kirtland area; there are some nine churches in the community, and one more is in the planning stages. The historic Kirtland Temple was built by the founders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (better known as the Mormons were). Construction of the beautiful and historic Kirtland Temple was completed in 1836, which now attracts visitors from all over the world. Some 3,000 people lived in Kirtland at that time: however the Mormons moved westward in 1838. The church still maintains a historical visitor center in the Kirtland area. The Mormon Church headquarters now is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints now owns the Temple as a place of worship.

Another historic religious landmark in the area is Old South Church: it was organized in 1819 as a typical Western Reserve pioneer church. Old South Church built its first building, a log cabin, on the site it presently occupies. A disastrous fire destroyed the first building, and a severe hurricane badly damaged the second building. The present historic church was erected in 1859 and the belfry was added two years later.

Kirtland is home to a variety of remarkable organizations, one of which is the world renowned Holden Arboretum. The Arboretum, the largest in the U.S., is a living museum of more than 3,000 acres of native and rare plantings of trees and shrubbery from many locations around the world. In addition, Lake Metroparks has over 900 acres of parkland in the community, including Chapin Forest Reservation (with hiking and cross-country ski trails and picnic areas). Lake Farm park, a farm atmosphere which is a popular attraction for young and old alike, giving a "hands on" demonstration of farm techniques) and Penitentiary Glen (which has a nature preserve and learning center that cares for injured, wild animals). The Herb Society of America has its national headquarters in Kirtland. In total, 30 percent of the City's total acreage is devoted to park land: educational facilities, public institutions and churches.

Kirtland is fortunate to be close to the City of Cleveland for its sporting events and entertainment events, such as the world famous Cleveland Orchestra. In addition to the wonderful restaurants and night life, Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs are accessible via freeway systems, Interstate 90, 271 and the Lakeland Freeway (State Route 2). Kirtland itself is located right off the State Route 306 exit of 1-90, which makes commuting an easy trip. State Route 306 (Chillicothe Road) runs north and south through our community and U.S. Route 6 runs east and west through the southern portion of Kirtland. As a matter of trivia, Chillicothe Road was so named because it was the first road to connect Chillicothe, Ohio (originally Ohio's first capital) with Lake Erie. Kirtland is within commuting distance to the following public and private institutions of higher education: Lake Erie College. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, Hiram College, Baldwin Wallace College and Kent State University. Cleveland's premier medical facilities all are within merely minutes of our city: the Cleveland Clinic, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Kaiser, Lake Hospital System and the University Hospital complex just to name a few.

Kirtland: Ohio is a picturesque residential community which offers excellent educational facilities (the Kirtland Public School District. Willo Hill Christian Academy and Lakeland Community' College). In addition, the abundance of many houses of worship and acres of scenic beauty at The Holden Arboretum truly complete Kirtland's scenic vista. The vast array of recreational activities which abound in the Lake Metroparks facilities in our community contribute to healthy lifestyles and provide lush scenery to enhance our lives. Kirtland is indeed a "City of Faith and Beauty"

AREA:
17 square miles in Lake County.

POPULATION:
6,670 as of newest census in 2000.

POPULATION DENSITY:
353 people per square mile.

LOCATION:
22 miles northeast of public Square. Cleveland.

SHOPPING:
Great Lakes Mall; many smaller shopping centers nearby.

NEARBY ACCESS ROUTES:
I-271; I-90; U.S. Rt. 6; State Rt. 306; State Rt. 615; Rt. 2.

AIRPORTS:
Cleveland Hopkins International. - 45 minutes. 40 miles:
Cuyahoga County. - 20 minutes, 10 miles;
Burke Lakefront, - 25 minutes, 20 miles.

TRANSPORTATION:
Auto: About 30 minutes to Public Square, Cleveland.

NEWSPAPERS:
Kirtland Gazette (monthly); News Herald (daily); Cleveland Plain Dealer (daily)

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS:
6 Protestant; 1 Catholic; 3 branches JC/LATTER DAY SAINTS (MORMAN)

EDUCATION:
Kirtland District - K-12
Willo-Hill - K-12
East Shore - Special Education
Lakeland Community College - Higher Education

HEALTH CARE:
Hospitals:
Richmond Heights
Lake County East/West Hospitals
Meridia Hillcrest Hospital
Hospital Kaiser Health Care Systems Health/Nursing Care:
Western Reserve Extended Care/Convalescent, in Kirtland
Heartland, in Kirtland Hills Manor Care, in Mentor Breckenridge complex, in Willoughby

CHILD CARE:
Angel Care
Bass Lake

PUBLIC LIBRARY:
9258 Chillicothe Rd.
Kirtland, Ohio 44094
(440) 256-3747

RECREATION:
Lake Metroparks: Chapin Forest, Penitentiary Glen, Lake Farmpark; Holden Arboretum; Kirtland Community & Senior Center; Recreation Park; Red Oak Camp

ORGANIZATIONS:
Kiwanis; VFW; American Legion; Grange.

Willoughby Area Chamber of Commerce
28 Public Square
Willoughby, Ohio 44094
(440) 942-1632

UTILITIES:
Dominion East Ohio Gas.
1717 E. 9th
Cleveland. Ohio 44114
(440) 946-8778

First Energy (CEI)
P.O. Box 5000
Cleveland. Ohio 44101
(216) 861-9000

Aqua Ohio Water Service
8644 Station St.
P.O. Box 539.
Mentor, Ohio 44060
(440) 255-3421

Adelphia Cable
Office in Euclid
216-575-8016

World Resources
Recycling Program
216-486-6446

Post Office
Use Willoughby (44094)
37812 Vine Street
(440) 951-0566 or 1-800-275-8777
Local Branch Substation:
Located in Kirtland Capitol Beverage