Why visit Lorain
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 61 parks and trails, 106 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lorain Palace Theatre, Amherst Cinema, Amherst Town Hall and Antlers Hotel.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 20°F.
Weather in Lorain
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lorain
Lorain () is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. It is located in Northeast Ohio on Lake Erie at the mouth of the Black River, about 25 miles (40 km) west of Cleveland. With a population of 65,211 at the 2020 census, Lorain is the ninth-most populous city in Ohio, the most populous in Lorain County and the third-most populous in Greater Cleveland.
From the Wikipedia article Lorain, Ohio (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Lorain Palace Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Theater and former movie theater in Lorain, Ohio, United States
617 Broadway, Lorain
Amherst Cinema
Cinema and theater · 3.7 mi
260 Church Street, Amherst
"open for 1 and 7 PM showings most days"
Lorain West Breakwater Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Lighthouse in Ohio, United States
Lakeview Park
Beach · 1.7 mi
Beach park in Lorain, Ohio, United States
1800 West Erie Avenue, Lorain
Lofton Henderson Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 1.6 mi
Bridge in Lorain County, Ohio
Black River Landing Amphitheater
Cinema and theater · 2.1 mi
421 Black River Lane, Lorain
Museums and landmarks12
Amherst Town Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Town hall in Amherst, Ohio
Antlers Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic hotel building in Lorain, Ohio
Eagles Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Building in Lorain, Ohio, United States
Lorain Fire Station No. 1
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Fire station in Lorain, Ohio
St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Church building in Ohio, United States of America
New Indian Ridge Museum
Museum · 2.8 mi
Museum and nature reserve in Ohio, United States
U.S. Coast Guard - Station Lorain
Monument and historic site · 2.2 mi
U.S. Coast Guard Station Lorain's mission includes Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, and Ice Rescue. Area...
110 Alabama Avenue, Lorain
Parks, trails and playgrounds61
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49 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes106
Speak of the Devil
Bar and pub · 1.9 mi
Local bar and pizza
201 West 5th Street, Lorain
We 17:00-22:00; Th 17:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-24:00
The Brew Kettle (Amherst)
Diner · American · 3.7 mi
300 Church Street, Amherst
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00; Su 11:00-23:00
Arabica
Cafe · 3.6 mi
254 Park Avenue, Amherst
Mo-Th 06:30-18:00; Fr 06:30-20:00; Sa 08:00-20:00; Su 08:00-14:30
Barra Modern Mexican
Restaurant · Mexican, Tacos · 3.7 mi
105 Park Avenue, Amherst
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 11:00-21:00
Little Devil Cupcakery
Bakery · 3.7 mi
103 Milan Avenue, Amherst
We,Th 11:00-17:00; Fr 11:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-15:00
Golden Crown
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.9 mi
449 West 4th Street, Lorain
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:30
94 more on the map.
History
According to local government records, the city began as an unincorporated village established before 1834 as “Black River Village”, and was renamed in 1837 as "Charleston." According to 19th-century historians, the new name was rejected by its own citizens, who continued to use Black River Village. The village was incorporated as Lorain in 1874 and became a city in 1896. The first mayor was Conrad Reid, who took office on April 6, 1874. The municipal boundaries incorporated most of the former Black River Township judicial boundaries, and portions of the Sheffield Township, Amherst Township, and Brownhelm Township judicial borders.
The 1924 Lorain–Sandusky tornado hit the city on Saturday, June 28, 1924. The tornado formed over the Sandusky Bay during the late afternoon hours and hit Sandusky, where it killed eight people and destroyed 100 homes and 25 businesses. After moving east over Lake Erie for several miles, the tornado then struck Lorain, killing 72. Among the dead were 15 people inside a collapsed theater, which makes it the worst tornado-related death toll from a single building in Ohio. Eight people were also killed inside the Bath House near the location where the tornado came onshore.
From the History section of Lorain, Ohio on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Motel 6 Amherst, OH - Cleveland West - Lorain
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
704 North Leavitt Road, Amherst
Churches and places of worship74
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
Church · Episcopal · 1.8 mi
647 Reid Avenue, Lorain
Iglesia Pentecostal Avivamiento Final Maranatha
Church · Pentecostal · 3.3 mi
3334 Wilson Street, Lorain
Mount Zion Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.6 mi
1516 East 30th Street, Lorain
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.7 mi
1512 East 28th Street, Lorain
Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.7 mi
1305 East Erie Avenue, Lorain
Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catolic Church
Church · Ukrainian Greek Catholic · 3.5 mi
3038 Charleston Avenue, Lorain
Shopping28
Gas and EV charging22
Schools, colleges and libraries63
Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Elementary
School · 1.9 mi
1110 W 4Th St, Lorain
Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Middle
School · 1.9 mi
1110 W 4Th St, Lorain
Forestlawn Early Learning Center
School · 4.5 mi
3975 Forestlawn Ave, Sheffield Lake
Healthcare11
Akron Children's Hospital - Amherst Health Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.2 mi
47185 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst
Akron Children's Hospital NICU at Mercy Lorain
Hospital · 3.0 mi
3700 Kolbe Road, Lorain
Cleveland Clinic - Family Health Center
Hospital · 2.0 mi
5172 North Leavitt Road, Lorain
New Vision Collections
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.9 mi
2001 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst
Map of Lorain
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 20°F | 2.1 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 1.7 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 29°F | 2.5 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.3 in |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 3.9 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.6 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 60°F | 3.6 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.7 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.5 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 3.0 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 26°F | 2.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elyria Lorain Co Ap (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
Lorain County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-31: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-06-30: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2005-02-15: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2004-09-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Amherst 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Elyria 6 mi southeast, about 9 min by car
- Vermilion 7 mi west, about 12 min by car
- North Ridgeville 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Avon 9 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Avon Lake 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Westlake 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Bay Village 13 mi east, about 22 min by car
- North Olmsted 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
- Rocky River 17 mi east, about 27 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
- Lorain, Ohio Skyline, WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2006-07-25 - Road Trip - Day 2 - United States - Ohio - Lorain - Black and White - Power Station 4888488213, CGP Grey, CC BY 2.0
- 2006-07-25 - Road Trip - Day 2 - United States - Ohio - Lorain - Port 4889082394, CGP Grey, CC BY 2.0
- 2006-07-25 - Road Trip - Day 2 - United States - Ohio - Lorain - Ugly Pedestrian Walkway 4889085450, CGP Grey, CC BY 2.0
- Kaptur at seniors event in Lorain (37453355731), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, CC BY 2.0
- Kaptur at seniors event in Lorain (37453355931), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, CC BY 2.0
- Kaptur at seniors event in Lorain (37453356001), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377566463, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377584787, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377584439, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377573711, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377564191, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377563361, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377567959, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377564819, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377574367, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377571255, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377583201, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377580211, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377580623, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377569579, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF), Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377565843, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377585733, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377562419, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377568665, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377576877, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377572173, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377586423, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377574879, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain-St. Joseph Community Center Redevelopment (CORF) - 6377567297, Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA, CC BY 2.0
- Greetings from Lorain, Ohio - Large Letter Postcard (6340356534), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Greetings from Lorain, Ohio - Large Letter Postcard (5326328803), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Lorain, OH Public Library, F. M. Kirby, Public domain
- St Ladislaus' Catholic Church, Lorain, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ninth and Reid, former synagogue in Lorain, Nyttend, Public domain
- Lorain post office, N8hawk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kaptur visited Lorain and attended the El Centro Gala. (24395165688), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, CC BY 2.0
- Palace Theater Lorain OH, TnrSmith, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lorain West Breakwater Light, Lorain OH, Original uploader was Ronnie44052 at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
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