Our Town
Our city is known for its neighborhoods and its old time charm. You’ll find century homes, tree-lined streets and town people gathering in our historic main square.
Willoughby is at the very heart of a wealth of dining, shopping and recreational activities.
Have lunch downtown with friends and spend the afternoon browsing the galleries and shops.
On evenings and weekends you’ll find an eclectic crowd frequenting the coffee houses and the historic pubs.
Melrose Farms is located just north of Rt. 2 so you’re only minutes away from the upscale dining experience of Gavi’s as well as the relaxed setting of a Captain’s baseball game.
Our History
Willoughby’s story begins with the Erie Indians who dug clams from the banks of the river they called “Sha-ga-rin”, meaning Clear Water. The Indian name later was transmogrified to express disappointment when Moses Cleveland confused it with the crooked or Cuyahoga River he sought while surveying the Western Reserve.
Lost Nation Road ends in the Great Lake named for this vanished tribe, beaten by the Iroquois before the white man arrived.
The road’s name also has two legends. One recalls the defeated Indians taking a narrow path to the lake to end their lives and the later one is based on a famous sermon delivered by a fire-eating minister denouncing the lost nation of souls who lived along the rutted muddy road and seldom went to church.
David Abbott is credited with being the first permanent settler in Willoughby with a historic marker placed on Erie Road near the Pelton Road turnoff. In the early 19th Century, this area was the ford taken by the stagecoach across a shallow portion of the river, location of a famous tavern and one of the first pioneer cemeteries of Lake County.
Steeped in history and filled with promise, Willoughby is a terrific place to call home. Learn more about all of the great things that Willoughby has to offer!
