Willoughby is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States, along the Chagrin River. The population was 23,959 at the time of the 2020 census. A suburb of Cleveland, it is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area.
History
left|thumb|Town square of Willoughby, Ohio in 1908. Featuring the Civil War memorial, [[Dahlgren gun|Dahlgren cannon, and bandstand in the background.]]
Willoughby's first permanent settler was David Abbott in 1798, who operated a gristmill. Abbott and his family were said to have had close relations with a band of Indians along the banks of the local river, which the Indians called the "Sha-ga-rin" meaning "Clear Water." This river was later called the Chagrin River, though the origin of the name remains in dispute.
In 1835, the village was permanently named "Willoughby" in honor of Westel Willoughby, Jr., a public health official that the founders of a short-lived Medical College, which was based in the city, hoped to attract to the area. Many historical buildings from this period survive to this date, affording the downtown Willoughby area some outstanding specimens of 19th century architecture.
In World War I, the U.S. Army chose Willoughby as the site for a chemical weapons plant producing lewisite.
Over time, Willoughby sent citizens into every major U.S. military conflict. Several memorials and historical relics are displayed in Wes Point Park, the center of downtown Willoughby, to honor those that have served.
Willoughby is the only town in America that has belonged, at one time or other, to six counties (Washington, Jefferson, Trumbull, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Lake).
Geography
thumb|left|150px|View north down Erie Street in downtown Willoughby
Willoughby is located at (41.645915, -81.408515).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Willoughby is in an interesting geographical area. To the west is Cleveland, allowing for access to big businesses and a high neighboring population density. It is also close to more rural parts of northeast Ohio such as Waite Hill and Kirtland, two villages in Lake County Ohio with some of the highest residential values. It also has access to Mentor Ave, a long stretch of mostly commercial buildings spanning alongside the coast of Lake Erie.
Government
Willoughby has a mayor-council system of government. As of 2024, the mayor is Robert Fiala, a Republican. The City Council consists of seven members, who are elected for two-year terms. One member is elected by the city at-large, and six members are elected from wards. As of 2024, the members of the City Council are as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Willoughby City Council
|-
! Seat
! Name
! Party
|-
| Council-at-Large
| Daniel J. Anderson
| Republican
|-
| Ward 1
| Kristie Sievers
| Republican
|-
| Ward 2
| Ken J. Kary
| Unaffiliated
|-
| Ward 3
| John Tomaselli
| Unaffiliated
|-
| Ward 4
| Robert E. Carr
| Republican
|-
| Ward 5
| Mike L. Merhar
| Republican
|-
| Ward 6
| Dan Garry
| Republican
|}