Thriving Timber Industry of Ashtabula County
Ashtabula County, located in northeastern Ohio, boasts a significant forest industry sector, contributing to the region's economy and environment in various ways.
According to data from 2010, the forest industry in Ashtabula County is primarily composed of three sectors: forestry and logging, wood products manufacturing, and paper manufacturing. The Forest Industries sector alone employs 995 people, with the Wood Furniture Manufacturing sector employing 141 and the Wood Products Manufacturing sector employing 388. The Paper Manufacturing sector, meanwhile, employs 373 individuals.
The forestland in Ashtabula County is predominantly privately owned, covering nearly 214,000 acres, or 48.5% of the county's total land cover. This forested area contains approximately 970 million board feet of sawtimber, with the top five species accounting for 79.4% of the total volume.
The economic impact of the forest industries in Ashtabula County is substantial. In 2010, the total value-added in the Forest Industries sector was $60,614,825. The industrial output in the forestry and logging sector was $9,036,288, while the value-added in this sector was $3,922,413. The labor income in the same sector was $3,990,491.
The direct economic impact of the forest industries is represented in Figure 6, while the direct tax impact is illustrated in Figure 8. However, it's worth noting that these industries also support local businesses involved in forestry services and supply chains, contributing to county and state tax revenues through industry operations.
Managing timber in Ashtabula County requires less long-term inputs compared to many other land uses, as indicated by Figure 3. This practice, coupled with the implementation of sustainable land management, can enhance forest health and long-term productivity.
For forest property owners, managing their land can also offer benefits such as cost share funds, property tax credits, and preferable tax treatment at harvest.
While specific data on the key economic contributions of forest industries in Ashtabula County was not identified in the search results, it is reasonable to assume that these typical roles apply. These include promoting sustainable land management practices, attracting related industries, and contributing to the county's economy through employment, output, and tax revenues.
In the context of national efforts to increase timber production, improve forest health, and strengthen forest-related economic impact, as mentioned in the 2025 Appropriations Bill report, counties like Ashtabula that have forest industries may benefit. However, no direct statistics or assessments specific to Ashtabula County have been found.
For more detailed and localized economic data on Ashtabula’s forest industries, consulting local government economic development reports, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) forestry division, or regional economic studies would be advisable.
[1] 2025 Appropriations Bill report (not provided in the search results)
- The forest industries in Ashtabula County, beyond direct employment, contribute to local businesses and supply chains, enhancing county and state tax revenues.
- Sustainable land management practices, (such as timber management), can promote forest health, long-term productivity, and provide benefits like cost-share funds, property tax credits, and preferential tax treatment at harvest for forest property owners.
- Given the substantial economic impact of the forest industries in Ashtabula County (through employment, output, and tax revenues), it's possible that these industries might benefit from national efforts aimed at increasing timber production, improving forest health, and strengthening forest-related economic impact.
- To obtain more detailed and localized economic data on Ashtabula's forest industries, resources like local government economic development reports, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) forestry division, or regional economic studies are recommended.
