Norwood, Ohio

Norwood is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio. The 3.1 square miles city has a population of around 21,600. As an early suburb of Cincinnati, Norwood's residential neighborhoods have a small-town feel, with older homes and tree-lined streets. The business districts, once heavily industrial, have given way to a mix of retail, office and manufacturing spaces. Representative employers include United States Playing Card Company, United Dairy Farmers and Siemens.

Norwood was lightly settled through much of the 19th century, and was originally given the name Sharpsburg. By the 1870s, two railroads traversed the area, and in 1873, a local merchant subdivided his property for housing development. Other subdivisions followed, and Norwood became a city in 1888. Residential growth in Norwood also spurred industrial development. The Globe Wernicke Company, makers of office furniture and filing cabinets, got its start in 1882. In 1902, the American Laundry Machinery Company relocated to Norwood after a fire at their Cincinnati plant. In the early 20th century, General Motors and Fisher Body both established assembly plants in Norwood, quickly becoming major employers in the city. A 1965 list of top employers in Norwood includes GM, Fisher, Allis-Chalmers, and R.K. LeBlond Machine Tool Company. By the 1990s, however, all of those companies had closed, and their factories sat vacant. Norwood's economy began to recover in the mid-1990s, when the former GM properties were redeveloped for retail and mixed business use. Other old factories have also been razed or repurposed for developments such as Linden Pointe and Rookwood Pavilion.

Norwood's varied industrial and construction activities through the years place it in a high-risk category for asbestos exposure. Much of this activity took place at a time when asbestos-containing construction materials were widely used. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma in Norwood, you may also benefit from seeking the advice of a mesothelioma lawyer.

Jobsites in Norwood where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Norwood, 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.