Clarington, Ohio

Clarington is a village on the Ohio River in Monroe County, Ohio, United States. The population was 384 at the 2010 census.Clarington is served by the Monroe County District Library from its administrative offices in Woodsfield, Ohio.HistoryClarington was described in 1833 as having two stores, one tavern, one physician and ten residential houses.During the mid-1800s, Clarington grew considerably and soon was a booming river port town with nearly 1,500 residents. The village boasted a cigar factory, blacksmith shop, restaurants, lodgings, and employed many residents at the local boat yard. Mozena Brothers Boat Yard designed and built many western river steam "packet-boats" on site in Clarington near the mouth of Sunfish Creek. Most famous of these boats was the 1912 built Liberty. A mural of the boat by artist Ruston Baker can be seen in town. By the late 1920s, boat building was on the decline and Mozena Brothers sold out to Cook Brothers & Thomas Boat Yard. Barges, small gas powered ferries, and other craft continued to be built in Clarington up to 1941. Geographically, Clarington was the last port on the Ohio River before crossing the Mason–Dixon line just a few miles south of the village. Noted author, river historian, and educator J. Mack Gamble was a lifelong resident of the town.The non-profit Ohio Valley River Museum in Clarington serves to preserve and promote the history of Clarington's past, western river steamboats, the impact of river industries, and the role it plays in future development. The current museum president is Taylor Abbott. Barbara Rush serves as director. The museum is operated by a nine-member board of directors.