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Mansfield was platted in 1808 and named for Col. Jared Mansfield, the US Surveyor General at the time. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
The region had been home for members of the Wendat (Wyandot) tribe, and was likely a destination for members of the nomadic Shawnee tribe #GOPCThread OHCommunitySpotlight https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Wyandot_Indians
By the mid-1800s, railroads had come to Mansfield to help move the stoves and farm equipment being manufactured there. By mid-century, Mansfield was the main commerce center in the region serving farms & villages #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
Mansfield boomed in the early 20thcentury, attracting many men (& then their families) who arrived from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia (as it was called after 1918), Hungary, Macedonia, and other European locations #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
Mansfield really came into its own as a steel town, appliance town, and tire town during the Great Recession and into WWII. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://richlandcountyhistory.com/2020/04/18/mansfield-rises-to-crisis-the-westinghouse-binoculars-of-wwii/
White Appalachian men were recruited to work in the factories during WWII. #Westinghouse & other companies would send buses to KY, WV, promise a job, and deduct the cost of the bus fare from their first paycheck. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
Many men from Olive Hill, KY, moved to Mansfield during & after WWII. Their wives/children/extended families often followed within weeks/months. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://goo.gl/maps/rbTJH5wcy2zrHZy67
Like 100s of other industrial cities, Mansfield’s southern black pop. also rapidly grew during/after WWII, as men & their families sought well-paying jobs & greater opportunity in the North. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://www.bookloft.com/book/9780679763888
In the 1950s, Mansfield landed a @GM/Fisher Body plant. Along w/ the steel mill, #Westinghouse, #OhioBrass, & dozens of other factories, Mansfield was booming, hitting its peak pop of 55k by 1970. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
Things began to unravel in 1970s/80s when #Westinghouse & #OhioBrass were bought & production began to be relocated. The GM plant, AK Steel & smaller producers helped insulate the city’s economy, but it wasn’t enough #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/westinghouse-at-100/article_bf3c7714-4701-11e8-a2f5-0bdef652a680.html
The Great Recession was the final nail for the @GM plant, which closed in 2009. The @CLE_Cliffs steel mill (formerly #AKSteel) continues to operate but w/ a fraction of the employees it used to have. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
But Mansfielders are resilient + are working hard to reposition the city for the 21st century. Many legacy firms are doing complex advanced manufacturing these days. Healthcare is also a lg employer #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://richlandareachamber.com/economic-development/largest-employers/
Leadership from @RichlandAreaCh + @RichlandFoundat + @RichlandSource are creating a multi-sector force for good in the city & creating spaces for all residents to contribute #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
The 2019 Mansfield Rising Plan, spearheaded by @RichlandFoundat, @RichlandAreaCh + @RichlandSource charted a vision and action/investment plan for downtown’s renaissance #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://www.richlandsource.com/rising_from_rust/introducing-the-mansfield-rising-plan-one-idea-at-a-time/article_e3c4a100-3aa9-11e9-8105-43d4e9b7165d.html
Downtown is coming back strong, with a range of merchants, services, and dining options. Leaders are now working to get even more housing in the core. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
. @CityofMansfield recently commissioned a Parks Master Plan that will help ensure all residents have access to green, active space. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/richlandsource.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/13/c1362f40-7f0a-11ea-99fc-9ba53f31646c/5e96edd32c76c.pdf.pdf
. @RichlandCRPC has been working hard to make Mansfield (& the entire county) safer for bikes, pedestrians, and transit users by encouraging the development #CompleteStreets. #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
The biz community, via the @RichlandAreaCh, understands that quality of place is needed to attract quality jobs. Across the city there is an acknowledgment + commitment to making Mansfield a place to live/work/place #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://twitter.com/mos_jeff/status/1409524786372435978
With the announcement of $22M in #ARPA funds to @cityofMansfield, local civic leaders have been encouraging officials to think about how to have long term impact with the $$. @GreaterOhio has been lucky to lend a hand #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight https://www.richlandsource.com/news/video-lets-talk-about-the-american-rescue-plan/video_a62e8666-c3ba-11eb-89e2-9fd9d0a3e48a.html
There’s much to do in #Mansfield: ride the Carrousel, visit @OSReformatory, do the @ShawshankTrail, drink @BrewingPhoenix. @DestinationMans can hook you up w/ a great itinerary #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
Keep up the good work, Mansfield! We love watching you revitalize! #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight
