Ironton, Ohio

The City of Ironton is the county seat of Lawrence County, Ohio. Located on the Ohio River in southern Ohio's Hanging Rock Region, Ironton has a population of approximately 11,300. Ironton's many heritage homes and buildings serve as a link to the city's prosperous iron-manufacturing past. The city is home to the Southern campus of Ohio University. Also, the Wayne National Forest provides hiking and riding trails in the Appalachian Mountain foothills.

Founded in 1849 by a pig iron manufacturer, Ironton's location was convenient to river transport and local ore deposits, and iron quickly became the town's primary industry. The Iron Railway, completed in 1851, hauled raw ore into the city. Other railroads linked Ironton to major cities and ports, and Ironton incorporated as a city in 1856. During the late 19th century, Ironton was a significant producer of pig iron, with as many as ninety furnaces operating at its height. Ironton iron was used in the construction of the first American ironclad ship, the USS Monitor. The iron industry encouraged other manufacturing; a list of businesses active in 1888 includes Kelly Nail and Iron co., Ironton Furnace Co., Ironton fire-Brick Co., and Newman & Spanner lumber. Ironton Furnace was acquired by Marting Steel & Iron Company in 1912. Due to the Great Depression and increasing production costs, the iron trade in Ironton largely ceased after the 1930s, and new industry was slow to replace it. A few companies held on, such as Alpha Portland Cement Company which operated a cement plant in Ironton from 1920-1970, but the city no longer has the strong industrial base it once had.

Ironton has a history of manufacturing and construction during a period when asbestos-containing materials were widely used. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs. For your convenience, we have listed mesothelioma doctors located in or near Ironton at the bottom of this page. If you were exposed to asbestos in Ironton, you may benefit from seeking the advice of a mesothelioma lawyer.

Jobsites in Ironton where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Ironton, OH have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Doctors Near Ironton, OH

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma doctors who are located within a 100 mile radius of Ironton, OH. Please click on a doctor link to obtain more information about his/her background, areas of expertise, professional affiliations and office locations.