Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city of 10,768 people in Lawrence County, Ohio, founded in 1849.
Why visit Ironton
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 21 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge, Downtown Ironton Historic District, Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Beechwood Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Ironton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ironton
Ironton is a city in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 10,571 at the 2020 census. Located in southernmost Ohio along the Ohio River, it is 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Huntington, West Virginia, within the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area. The city's name is a contraction of "iron town", stemming from its long ties to the iron industry.
From the Wikipedia article Ironton, Ohio (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 3.9 mi
Cantilever bridge crossing the Ohio River
Museums and landmarks7
Downtown Ironton Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district located in downtown Ironton, Ohio
Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building in Ironton, Ohio
Ironton Norfolk and Western Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Railway station in Ironton, the United States of America
Fifth and Lawrence Streets Residential Historic District
Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes21
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 2.0 mi
331 Diederich Boulevard, Ashland
Mo-Th,Su 07:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 07:00-24:00
Patties & Pints
Restaurant · Burger, American
422 South 2nd Street, Ironton
Giovanni's Pizza
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza · 2.1 mi
1703 Argillite Road, Flatwoods
9 more on the map.
History
Ironton was founded in 1849 by John Campbell, a prominent pig iron manufacturer in the area. He chose the location of Ironton because of its site along the Ohio River, which would allow for water transport of iron ore to markets downriver.
Between 1850 and 1890, Ironton was one of the foremost producers of iron in the world. England, France, and Russia all purchased iron for warships from here due to the quality. Iron produced here was used for the USS Monitor, the United States' first ironclad ship. More than 90 furnaces were operating at the peak of production in the late 19th century.
The iron industry generated revenues that were invested in new industries, such as soap and nail production. The Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad was constructed through two states, carrying iron to Henry Ford's automaking plants in Michigan. The city had a street railway, the Ironton Petersburg Street Railway, four daily newspapers, and a few foreign-language publications. Ironton was also known for its accommodating attitude toward sin and vice associated with the mine and ironworkers.
From the History section of Ironton, Ohio on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship29
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries45
Healthcare4
Map of Ironton
119 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 3.5 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 24°F | 3.7 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 4.4 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 41°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.8 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.5 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.6 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.3 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 43°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 32°F | 3.0 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 4.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ashland Hcn (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lawrence County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-31: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-04-08: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides (Flood)
- 2018-04-17: Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2012-08-20: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
- 2012-06-30: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Lawrence County Airpark (HTW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Russell 2 mi southwest, about 3 min by car
- Bellefonte 2 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Flatwoods 3 mi west, about 4 min by car
- Raceland 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Worthington 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Westwood 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Coal Grove 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Ashland 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Wurtland 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Portsmouth 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ironton Ohio, Vasiliymeshko, CC BY 4.0
- Ironton St. Joe's High School, FunksBrother, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gateway Baptist Church, Ironton, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ironton, Ohio; Flatwoods, Kentucky; Ashland, Kentucky; Ohio River at Kentucky-West Virginia-Ohio Border (14497045522), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ironton, Ohio; Flatwoods, Kentucky; Ashland, Kentucky; Ohio River at Kentucky-West Virginia-Ohio Border (14497041862), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ironton Ohio South Third Street, FunksBrother, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Christ Episcopal Church in Ironton, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ironton OH courthouse, JaGa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marlow Theatre in Ironton, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ironton N&W depot front, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ironton GAR hall, Nyttend, Public domain
- Lawrence and Fifth, Ironton, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925694071, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5926252496, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925694229, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925693995, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF), Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925693861, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925693919, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925693547, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5926252902, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5926252398, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925693833, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5925693775, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5926252450, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton-Ironton Riverfront Wharf (COAF & CORF) - 5926253166, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton High School, FunksBrother, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New Ironton–Russell Bridge 2023a, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New Ironton–Russell Bridge 2023b, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ironton-Russell Bridge replacement under construction, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ironton - River Valley Hospital (COAF) - 5925708285, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton - River Valley Hospital (COAF) - 5926265284, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton - River Valley Hospital (COAF) - 5925705837, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ironton - River Valley Hospital (COAF) - 5926266002, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge and Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge, Stigeweard, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Brumberg Building from north, Nyttend, Public domain
- Marting Hotel front, Nyttend, Public domain
- Selby Shoe Company Building, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ohio University Southern Campus, aw135093, CC BY-SA 4.0
- F.W. Erlich House, Nyttend, Public domain
_-_5925694071.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926252496.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925694229.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925693995.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925693861.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925693919.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925693547.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926252902.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926252398.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925693833.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925693775.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926252450.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926253166.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925708285.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926265284.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5925705837.jpg){kind=link}
_-_5926266002.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.