Ironton in Lawrence County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Did You Know?
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 28, 2021
1. Did You Know? Marker
You are now in Lawrence County, OH. The county was formed on 12/20/1816 from parts of Gallia and Scioto Counties with the county seat in Burlington. In 1852, the county seat was officially moved to Ironton. The only county building remaining in Burlington is the old jail and sheriff's residence, built 1846-47. The building burned in 2002 but still stands.
The County is named for Captain James Lawrence, of the USS Chesapeake. He commanded the USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812. He is probably best known for his last words, Dont give up the ship! Burlington, Ohio, was named for Captain Lawrences hometown, Burlington, New Jersey.
Lawrence County is the southern-most county in Ohio. In South Point, Ohio, you can stand in Ohio and see the shorelines of West Virginia and Kentucky. Six vehicle bridges and one rail bridge span the Ohio River connecting Lawrence County, Ohio to West Virginia and Kentucky.
Iron Connections
Ironton was founded in 1849 by John Campbell and 24 associates of the Ohio Iron and Coal Company. They were local ironmasters, railroaders, and financiers who envisioned the city as a manufacturing and shipping center for their products.
The name Ironton was chosen because iron was sold by the ton.
A railroad system, known as the Iron Railroad, was operating by 1851, serving furnaces along a 13-mile stretch from Ironton to Center Furnace. It was later called the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad. It was purchased in 1920 by Henry Ford to connect his industrial ventures with the Ohio River.
[photo captions]
Lawrence County Courthouse
Captain James Lawrence
Remnants of the Iron Railroad remain on private land today with a collapsed tunnel, a trestle and a section of rails and ties.
Erected by Ohio River Scenic Byways & Federal Highway Administration.
Topics. This historical
this page online
Location. 38° 32.208′ N, 82° 40.619′ W. Marker is in Ironton, Ohio, in Lawrence County. It can be reached from the intersection of South 9th Street and Washington Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in the Ohio River Scenic Byway interpretive kiosk on the south side of the Frisch's Big Boy parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 South 9th Street, Ironton OH 45638, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Kyova Tri-State Region. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least
Lawrence County Historical Society
2. Marker detail: Hecla Furnace, ca. 1870
Hecla Furnace once stood east of Ironton. Shown here are the case house, stack bridge loft, stock shed, and charcoal shed. The furnace produced high-quality pig iron, used for making heavy ordnance during the Civil War.
Also see . . .
1. James Lawrence (1781-1813) (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: James Lawrence was an officer of the United States Navy. During the War of 1812, he commanded USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon, commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, Don't give up the ship!, uttered during the capture of the Chesapeake. The quotation is still a popular naval battle cry, and was invoked in Oliver Hazard Perry's personal battle flag, adopted to commemorate his dead friend.(Submitted on September 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad (Wikipedia).
Lawrence County Historical Society
3. Marker detail: Detroit, Toledo and Ironton train ca. 1926
Henry Ford is third from the left.
Excerpt: The Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad (reporting mark DTI) operated from 1905 to 1983 between its namesake cities of Detroit, Michigan, and Ironton, Ohio, via Toledo. Though the company went bankrupt in 1908, it remained solvent until it was purchased by Henry Ford in 1920. Ford recognized the strategic importance of the line to his automobile business; the line connected Dearborn, Michigan, to all the major eastwest rail lines in the Midwest. This gave Ford direct control over shipments of raw materials and finished goods to and from his factories in Dearborn. Under Ford's management, the line thrived. Ford double-tracked the Detroit area main lines, and made a deal with the workers that they would take better care of the equipment in exchange for unusually high wages. Moreover, Ford funded the purchase of new equipment. In 1929, Ford sold the line to a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad after becoming disgusted with what he considered interference and over-regulation from the Interstate Commerce Commission.(Submitted on September 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 28, 2021
4. Did You Know? Marker
This marker is the second panel from the right on the south side of the Ohio River Scenic Byway interpretive kiosk.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
