Mansfield, Ohio is located in the County Seat of Richland and the largest city in middle Ohio. Those moving to Mansfield will discover that the area has a humid continental climate, with very cold and dry winters and hot and humid summers.
Economy:
In the 1920s the economy of Mansfield was driven by industry, mainly the manufacture of stoves by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation which was Mansfield's largest employer. The company also produced electric lighting, home appliances and industrial heating units. The Steel Recession during the ‘70s was the start of the downturn of the manufacturing industry in the city and the 1999-2000 labor strikes put a virtual end to this sector of the economy.
Local government is striving to diversity the economic base of the city. Today the main sources of income for the city come from the healthcare, education and retail sectors. The largest employer in Mansfield is now MedCentral Health System. There is also a large food industry which produces dairy products, root beer and potato chips for local consumption and export.
History:
The village of Mansfield was established on the Mohican River in 1808 owing to its fertile land and good location. The area proved to be valuable farmland and settlers continued to arrive. In 1846, with the arrival of many railroads, the community grew and it became a center for the manufacture of various goods. By 1913 the Lincoln Highway had reached the city, further aiding its development and growth.
In 1828 the village was incorporated and Mansfield became a chartered city in 1859.
Tourism:
Mansfield has many interesting and unusual attractions for the visitor. The heritage of the city is embodied in The Boulevards is a residential area dating from the beginning of the 20th century which is now a Historical Preservation District.
The very first robot was built at the Westinghouse Appliance Plant in 1937. Named ELEKTRO, it is on permanent display in the Mansfield Memorial Museum. BibleWalk is a waxworks museum (the only one in the world) depicting the teachings of the Bible. This building also houses the world's greatest collection of Native American arts and crafts.