Cleveland, Ohio

North Coast Harbor, Cleveland, Ohio
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Rona Proudfoot


Cleveland is a city on the northern part of Ohio. It is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city itself has a population of about 390,000 people (2011 estimate). It is the second largest city in Ohio after Columbus. The city population has declined in the past five decades. It had a population of 915,000 in 1950, when it was the 7th biggest city in the United States. Today it has dropped to the 43rd position.

Since the 1960's, the city of Cleveland has had to face a number of difficulties including an economic slowdown and a big fire of 1969. The city is working hard to reinvent itself, with investments in the arts and a diversification of its economy. It now ranks as one of the most livable cities in the United States. However, it still faces major challenges such as poverty in a number of neighborhoods and difficulties in delivering high-quality education.

Tower City Center in Cleveland, as seen from the Cuyahoga River
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cleveland%27s_reflection.jpg
rabesphoto


Cleveland was originally named Cleaveland, after General Moses Cleaveland, in 1796. It was incorporated as the city of Cleveland in 1836. In 1870, John D Rockefeller founded the petroleum company Standard Oil, which later became Esso, Exxon and now ExxonMobil.

Cleveland was hard hit by the Great Depression. To kick start its economy, the city held the Great Lakes Exposition in 1936, which also commemorates the centennial of the city's incorporation. Cleveland enjoyed a brief period of prosperity right after the Second World War, but by the 1960's, it saw its economy in serious decline. There were race riots in the city in 1968, a big fire in 1969, and in 1978 it became the first major American city to default on federal loans.

North Point Office Building and Tower, Cleveland, Ohio
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Point_Tower.jpg
Heather McLaughlin


Through the effort of mayors George Voinovich and Michael R White, the city is slowly making a comeback. Nonetheless, many of its inner city neighborhoods remained troubled, and its population has continued to decline going into the 21st century.

Visiting Cleveland, Ohio

A number of Interstate highways converge on Cleveland, among them the I-71, I-77, I-90 and I-490. If you are flying in, the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport offers the best connections. It is located to the southwest of Cleveland, and is the biggest airport in Ohio. You can take the train from the airport to downtown Cleveland for just $2.25. The journey takes about 25 minutes.

Places of Interest in Cleveland, Ohio

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