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Akron, Ohio

 
Akron, Ohio

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Akron, Ohio



 
 
Akron is a city in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Ohio
Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region , Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads in North America....
 and the county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 of Summit County
Summit County, Ohio

Summit County is an urban county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 542,899....
. In 2007, its population was estimated to be 207,934. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 between Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 to the north and Canton
Canton, Ohio

Canton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio and is situated on the Nimishillen Creek, approximately 24 miles south of Akron, Ohio and 60 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio....
 to the south, approximately 60 miles (96 km) west of the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a U.S. state located in the Northeastern United States and Mid-Atlantic States regions of the United States....
 border.

Akron is the principal city of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area
Akron metropolitan area

The Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in northeastern Ohio, anchored by the city of Akron, Ohio....
, a metropolitan area
United States metropolitan area

In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. These are referred to as "Metropolitan Statistical Areas" and "Combined Statistical Areas." An earlier version of the MSA was the "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area" ....
 that covers Portage
Portage County, Ohio

Portage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2000, the population was 152,061. Its county seat is Ravenna, Ohio. Portage County is List of Ohio county name etymologies for the portage between the Cuyahoga River and Tuscarawas River Rivers....
 and Summit counties and had a combined population of 694,960 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000

File:US-Census-2000Logo.svgThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the United States Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons Enumeration during the United States Census, 1990....
.

Akron was founded in 1825 near the Ohio and Erie Canal
Ohio and Erie Canal

The Ohio Canal or Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed in the early 1800s, which connected Akron, Ohio, Summit County, Ohio with the Cuyahoga River near the Cuyahoga's mouth on Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth, Ohio, Scioto County, Ohio, and then conne...
, and became a manufacturing center owing to its location at a staircase of locks
Lock (water transport)

A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber whose water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is the chamber itself that rises and falls....
.






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Encyclopedia


Akron is a city in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Ohio
Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region , Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads in North America....
 and the county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 of Summit County
Summit County, Ohio

Summit County is an urban county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 542,899....
. In 2007, its population was estimated to be 207,934. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 between Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 to the north and Canton
Canton, Ohio

Canton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio and is situated on the Nimishillen Creek, approximately 24 miles south of Akron, Ohio and 60 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio....
 to the south, approximately 60 miles (96 km) west of the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a U.S. state located in the Northeastern United States and Mid-Atlantic States regions of the United States....
 border.

Akron is the principal city of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area
Akron metropolitan area

The Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in northeastern Ohio, anchored by the city of Akron, Ohio....
, a metropolitan area
United States metropolitan area

In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. These are referred to as "Metropolitan Statistical Areas" and "Combined Statistical Areas." An earlier version of the MSA was the "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area" ....
 that covers Portage
Portage County, Ohio

Portage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2000, the population was 152,061. Its county seat is Ravenna, Ohio. Portage County is List of Ohio county name etymologies for the portage between the Cuyahoga River and Tuscarawas River Rivers....
 and Summit counties and had a combined population of 694,960 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000

File:US-Census-2000Logo.svgThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the United States Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons Enumeration during the United States Census, 1990....
.

Akron was founded in 1825 near the Ohio and Erie Canal
Ohio and Erie Canal

The Ohio Canal or Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed in the early 1800s, which connected Akron, Ohio, Summit County, Ohio with the Cuyahoga River near the Cuyahoga's mouth on Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth, Ohio, Scioto County, Ohio, and then conne...
, and became a manufacturing center owing to its location at a staircase of locks
Lock (water transport)

A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber whose water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is the chamber itself that rises and falls....
. The locks were needed due to the higher elevation of the area, which gave rise to the name Summit County as well as Akron, which is a rough translation of summit into Greek (Stewart, pg. 233). Akros, part of the original Greek word akrópolis, means highest. After the decline of heavy manufacturing in the 1970s and '80s, the city's industry has since diversified into research, financial, and high tech sectors.

Akron and nearby Canton are often referred to as a single region or considered twin cities. The Akron-Canton Regional Airport
Akron-Canton Regional Airport

Akron-Canton Airport is a commercial Class C airport airport located in the city of Green, Ohio, in southern Summit County, Ohio roughly southeast of Akron, Ohio, Ohio, roughly northwest of Canton, Ohio, Ohio, and roughly south of Cleveland, Ohio....
 is one of many places near the city that is named for both places. While the U.S. Census Bureau still counts the two metropolitan areas separately, if combined, the total population of the Akron-Canton area would equal 1,101,894 people. In 1985 the Akron Fulton International Airport
Akron Fulton International Airport

Akron Fulton International Airport is a general aviation airport located in the city of Akron, Ohio in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States....
 was recognized as the 3rd National Landmark of Soaring
National Landmark of Soaring

The National Landmark of Soaring program acknowledges people, places and events significant in the history of gliders and motorless aviation in the United States....
 by the National Soaring Museum
National Soaring Museum

The National Soaring Museum is an aviation museum whose stated aim is to preserve the history of motorless flight. It is located on top of Harris Hill near Elmira, New York, USA....
.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of men and women who share a desire to stop drinking alcoholic beverage. AA suggests members completely abstain from alcohol, regularly attend meetings with other members, and follow its program to help each other with their common purpose; to help members "stay sober and help other alcoholics...
 was founded in Akron in 1935. The city is home to The University of Akron, the Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros

The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League , is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians....
 Double A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball based in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio. They are in the American League Central of Major League Baseball's American League....
, the Soap Box Derby
Soap Box Derby

The Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run in the United States since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio....
 World Championships and the Firestone Country Club
Firestone Country Club

The Firestone Country Club is a private country club located in Akron, Ohio, Ohio, United States.The Club comprises three courses—those of the North, South, and West—each of which hosted a television golf tournament, respectively the American Golf Classic, the CBS Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf , in 1973 in sports; no...
, at which the PGA Tour
PGA Tour

The PGA Tour is an organization that operates the main professional golf tours in the United States. It is headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville, Florida....
's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of the annual World Golf Championships for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour and the PGA European Tour....
 is played. The word "devilstrip" is also thought to be unique to, and have its origin in, Akron: it refers to the strip of grass between a sidewalk and the street.

Akron won the All-American City award three times making it into the National Civic League
National Civic League

The National Civic League is an organization founded in 1894 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at a meeting of politicians, policy-makers, journalists, and educators to discuss the future of United States city....
 Hall of Fame. The National Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization. Its million members plant millions of trees every year. New members receive 10 free trees....
 has designated Akron as a Tree City USA
Tree City USA

Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by Arbor Day for city and towns in the United States....
.

History


Canal years

Much of Akron's early growth was because of its location at the "summit" of the Ohio and Erie Canal
Ohio and Erie Canal

The Ohio Canal or Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed in the early 1800s, which connected Akron, Ohio, Summit County, Ohio with the Cuyahoga River near the Cuyahoga's mouth on Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth, Ohio, Scioto County, Ohio, and then conne...
 (thus the name Summit County) which at one time connected Lake Erie
Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time....
 and the Ohio River
Ohio River

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. It is approximately 981 miles long and is located in the eastern United States....
. Akron was established in December 1825 by Simon Perkins as a small village on the divide between the St. Lawrence River and the Mississippi River
Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
 drainage basins. The village was a 43-block square with its main intersection at Exchange and Main Streets; its northern limit was one block beyond State Street. The village was originally built mainly to serve people using the Ohio and Erie Canal as Akron was located in an area with a series of canal locks as the canal ascended from Cleveland to the Portage summit. In 1833, Eliakim Crosby established a "second" Akron just north of the existing village known as Cascade, which would also be referred to locally as "north Akron." Cascade developed around a construction project originally intended to provide increased water power for industries. In 1836 the villages joined under the Akron name. The completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal
Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal

The Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, also known as the P & O Canal, the Cross Cut Canal and the Mahoning Canal was a shipping canal which operated from 1840 until 1877 ....
 along Main Street in 1839 started Akron on its climb to industrial importance. Coal
Coal

Coal is a readily combustion black or brownish-black sedimentary rock. The harder forms, such as anthracite, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure....
, a major railroad, and manufacturing growth from the Civil War contributed to a population increase from 3,500 to 10,000 inhabitants between 1860 and 1870.

Because of physical obstacles — the steep hill on West Market Street, the Little Cuyahoga Valley, and the swamp south of the city — Akron grew to the east. This encouraged the annexation of Spicertown
Spicertown

Spicertown, is a neighborhood within Akron, Ohio located in the area around Spicer and East Exchange Streets. Originally settled by Major Minor Spicer and his family in the years 1810-1811, Spicertown's population increased steadily over the following 25 years due to an influx of German immigrants....
, centered on Spicer and Exchange, and then Middlebury, which was centered where the Arlington and Market Street commercial area is now located.

The Rubber Capital of the World

headquarters]] Akron’s history and the history of the rubber industry are intertwined. The rubber industry transformed Akron from a small canal town into a fledgling city. The birth of the rubber industry started in the 1800s. In 1869, B.F. Goodrich started the first rubber company in Akron. In 1898, Frank A. Seiberling founded the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Today it is the third largest tire company in the world after Bridgestone and Michelin....
. Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company

The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era....
 was established in Akron in 1900. In 1915, Akron's area increased from to . The population rose approximately 200% during this time, from 69,067 in 1910 to 208,435 in 1920. General Tire
General Tire

The General Tire and Rubber Company is an United States manufacturer of tires for motor vehicles.General Tire was founded in 1915 in Akron, Ohio by William F....
 was founded in 1915 by the O'Neils, whose department store became an Akron landmark. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company became America's top tire manufacturer and Akron was granted the moniker of "The Rubber Capital of the World".

The rubber industry shaped not just the industrial, but also the residential landscape in Akron. Rubber companies responded to housing crunches caused by the booming rubber business by building affordable housing for workers. Goodyear's president, F.A. Seiberling
Frank Seiberling

Franklin Augustus Seiberling was an American inventor and founder. He is most famous for founding the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and the Seiberling Rubber Company....
, built homes costing around $3,500 for employees in what would become known as Goodyear Heights. Likewise, Harvey Firestone built employee homes in what would be called Firestone Park.

For a time it was the fastest-growing city in the country, its population exploding from 69,000 in 1910 to 208,000 in 1920. People came for the jobs in the rubber factories from many places, including Europe. Of those 208,000, almost one-third were immigrants and their children. Among the factory workers in the early 1920s was a young Clark Gable
Clark Gable

Clark Gable was an Cinema of the United States, nicknamed "The King of Hollywood" in his heyday. In , the American Film Institute named Gable seventh among the AFI's 100 Years......
.

In the 1950s and '60s Akron saw a surge in industry as use of the automobile took off. In the 1970s and '80s, however, the rubber industry experienced a major decline as a number of strikes and factory shutdowns delivered the final blows to the industry. In ten years the number of people working within the rubber industry was slashed in half. By the early '90s Goodyear was the only remaining rubber manufacturer based in Akron.

Riot of 1900

In 1900, violence erupted in Akron after the abduction and rape of six year-old daughter of the Maas family from infront of her home by Louis Peck, an African-American who had recently arrived in the area. Though Peck was arrested and confessed to the crime, stories of the confession were exaggerated with one paper even printing the confession in red ink. Due to threats of lynching
Lynching

Lynching is an extrajudicial punishment meted out by a mob. It is an enumerated felony in all states of the United States, defined by some codes of law as "Any act of violence inflicted by a mob upon the body of another person which results in the death of the person," with a 'mob' being defined as "the assemblage of two or more persons, with...
, Peck and another black man were moved to Cleveland for safety. Angry crowds began to gather in the evening demanding Peck and attempted to search the City Building, but were barred by police. Tensions escalated after police fired into the crowd with over 100 shots fired killing two small children and explosions of dynamite
Dynamite

Dynamite is an Explosive material based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth or another absorbent substance such as sawdust as an adsorbent....
. The result was the destruction of the City Building and the Columbia building, which both burned to the ground. The mob violence lasted until nearly 4:00 the next morning after searches of the Old Court House and the County Jail and refusal to believe that Peck had been moved to Cleveland when the mayor tried to explain. 31 men and boys were later convicted of charges related to the riot.

Organized Crime

Mafia leader Don Rosario Borgio arrived in Akron using a general goods store as a front and set up two back rooms for illegal operations. He controlled the Black Hand crime organization also all of gambling and brothels in the city while extorting wealthy citizens. In 1918 the Akron Police Department started aggressively raiding Borgio's gambling and prostitution houses, locking up the operators and patrons. Due to the interference, Borgio held a meeting in his store with Black Hand leaders where he gave the order to assassinate every cop in Akron, with a $250 reward on every head. The order led to the murders of Officers Robert Norris, Edward Costigan, Joe Hunt, and Gethin Richards. Borgio Rosario died by the electric chair after having a case built up against him by Detective Fiaschetti over the slayings.

Blimps

Akron became the blimp hub of the United States due to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company creating the Goodyear Zeppelin Company. The company made 9 blimps for the United States military during World War I and 104 during World War II. The company in it's most productive years completed the Pony, Pilgrim, Puritan, Volunteer, Mayflower, Vigilant, Defender, Reliance, Resolute, Enterprise, Ranger, Columbia, Akron
USS Akron (ZRS-4)

For information on the 1911 airship constructed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, also called the Akron, see Melvin Vaniman.USS Akron was a rigid helium-filled airship of the United States Navy that crashed off the New Jersey coast early on 4 April 1933, killing 73 crew and passengers....
, and Macon
USS Macon (ZRS-5)

USS Macon was a rigid airship built and operated by the United States Navy for Reconnaissance. It served as a Airborne aircraft carrier, launching F9C Sparrowhawk....
.

From after the wars up til present day, the Akron based company use the blimps mainly for advertising purposes. The company created the "Skytacular," a sign with multiple colors flown from blimps which could be read by civilians on ground, the signs could be seen best at night. Since the 1950s the Goodyear Blimp
Goodyear Blimp

The Goodyear Blimp is the collective name for a fleet of Non-rigid airship operated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for advertising purposes and for use as a television camera platform for aerial views of sporting events....
 would commonly appear at major sporting events. The company manufactured over 300 zeppelins between 1917 and 1995, but currently just 4 airships are operated by the company in the United States. The Goodyear Airdock
Goodyear Airdock

The Goodyear Airdock is an airship storage and construction hangar in Akron, Ohio....
, located on the eastside of Akron, was the largest buildings in the world without interior supports at its time of completion.

Geography


Topography

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the city has a total area of 62.4 square miles (161.6 km²), of which, 62.1 square miles (160.8 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (0.54%) is water.

Climate

Akron has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa), with cold but changeable winters, wet, cool springs, warm (sometimes hot) and humid summers, and cool, rather dry autumns. Precipitation is fairly well-distributed through the year, but summer tends to have the most rainfall (and also, somewhat paradoxically, the most sunshine), and autumn the least. The mid-autumn through early-spring months tend to be quite cloudy, with sometimes less than 30% possible sunshine. The cloudiest month is December, and the sunniest month is usually July, which is also, somewhat ironically, the wettest month. Winters tend to be cold, with average January high temperatures of 33 °F (1 °C), and average January lows of 17 °F (-8 °C), with considerable variation in temperatures. During a typical January, high temperatures of over 50 °F (10 °C) are just as common as low temperatures of below 0 °F (-18 °C). Snowfall is lighter than the snowbelt
Snowbelt

The snowbelt is a North American region, much of which lies downwind of the Great Lakes, where heavy snowfall is particularly common on predominately eastern and southern shores of the Great Lakes....
 areas to the north, but is still somewhat influenced by Lake Erie
Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time....
. Akron-Canton Airport generally averages about 47.4 inches of snow per winter. During a typical winter, temperatures drop below 0 °F (-18 °C) on about 6 occurrences, generally only during the nighttime hours.

Average July high temperatures of 82 °F (28 °C), and average July lows of 61 °F (16 °C) are normal. Summer weather is more stable, generally humid with thunderstorms fairly common. Temperatures reach or exceed 90 °F (32 °C) about 9 times each summer, on average. In hot summers, such as 1988, however, as many as 30 days over 90 °F (32 °C) have been observed, and in cooler summers, such as the summer of 2000, the temperature may never reach 90 °F (32 °C). Temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C) are rare (about once per decade on average), most recently occurring on several occasions in the hot summer of 1988.

The all-time record high in Akron of 104°F
Fahrenheit

Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit , who proposed it in 1724. Today, the scale has largely been replaced by the Celsius scale; it is still in use for non-scientific purposes in the United States and a few other countries such as Belize....
 (40°C) was established on August 6, 1918, and the all-time record low of -25 °F (-32 °C) was set on January 19, 1994.



Cityscape


Downtown

Financial and legal offices, hotels, hospitals, government and other civic buildings are predominant in the downtown area. Commercial uses and light industry are the primary land uses south of Cedar Street, in Opportunity Park, and along Wolf Ledges Street. Parks along the historic Ohio and Erie Canal
Ohio and Erie Canal

The Ohio Canal or Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed in the early 1800s, which connected Akron, Ohio, Summit County, Ohio with the Cuyahoga River near the Cuyahoga's mouth on Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth, Ohio, Scioto County, Ohio, and then conne...
 provide recreation opportunities. Downtown features adaptive re-use of historic structures such as the B.F. Goodrich plant (Canal Place) combined with modern additions. These include the Canal Park
Canal Park (Akron, Ohio)

Canal Park is a baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio, United States, that is the home of the Akron Aeros of the Eastern League . The team is a double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians....
 baseball stadium, Knight Convention Center, and National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame

The is the premier not-for-profit organization in America dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs....
. Residential redevelopment includes conversion of the YMCA into modern apartments and construction of new condominiums at the Landings at Canal Park.

Neighborhoods


Unincorporated neighborhoods
Maple Valley - The neighborhood covers the west end of Copley Road, before reaching I-77. Along this strip are several businesses using the name, as well as the Maple Valley Branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library
Akron-Summit County Public Library

The Akron-Summit County Public Library system services all the suburbs of Akron, Ohio within Summit County, Ohio. The Main Library is located at 60 South High Street in downtown Akron, Ohio....
.

Spicertown - Falling under the blanket of "University Park" found above, this term is used frequently to describe the student-centered retail and residential area around East Exchange St. and Spicer, near the University of Akron.

West Hill - West Hill is roughly bounded by West Market on the north, West Exchange on the south, Downtown on the East, and Rhodes Ave. on the West. It features many stately older homes, particularly in the recently recognized Oakdale Historic District. The neighborhood is served by the active West Hill Neighborhood Organization (WHNO).

Suburbs

Akron's older inner-ring or "first" suburbs include Fairlawn
Fairlawn, Ohio

Fairlawn is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. An affluent suburb of Akron, Ohio, its population was 7,307 at the United States Census 2000....
, Barberton
Barberton, Ohio

Barberton is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The population was 27,899 at the United States Census 2000. It is a suburb of Akron, Ohio and is part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow
Stow, Ohio

Stow is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The population was 32,139 at the United States Census 2000, and 34,051 as of 2007. It is a suburb of Akron, Ohio and is part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
, and Tallmadge
Tallmadge, Ohio

Tallmadge is a city in Summit County, Ohio and Portage County, Ohio counties in Ohio, United States. It is also a suburb of Akron, Ohio and part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
.

Demographics


As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 217,074 people, 90,116 households, and 53,709 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 3,497.3 people per square mile (1,350.3/km²). There were 97,315 housing units at an average density of 1,567.9/sq mi (605.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.22% White, 28.48% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population. The top 5 largest ancestries include German
German American

German Americans are citizens of the United States of Germans ancestry, with traditions and self-identity based on German language and culture....
 (18.1%), Irish
Irish American

Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. A total of 36,495,800 Americans reported Irish ancestry in the 2006 American Community Survey....
 (11.5%), English
English American

English Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England. According to United States Census, 2000 data, Americans claiming English descent form the Ethnic groups in the United States#Racial makeup of the U.S....
 (7.2%), Italian
Italian American

An Italian American is an United States of Italians descent and/or dual citizenship. The phrase refers to someone born in the United States or who has immigrated to the United States and is of Italian heritage....
 (6.8%), and American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 (6.4%).

There were 90,116 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,835, and the median income for a family was $39,381. Males had a median income of $31,898 versus $24,121 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the city was $17,596. About 14.0% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Akron has a metropolitan population of 694,960 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). Akron is also part of the larger Cleveland-Akron-Elyria Combined Statistical Area, which was the 14th largest in the country with a population of over 2.9 million according to the 2000 Census.

Law and government

The city adopted a new charter of the commissioner manager type
City commission government

City commission government is a form of municipal government which was once common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the Council-Manager government form of government....
 in 1920, but reverted to its old form in 1924. The current mayor of Akron is Don Plusquellic
Don Plusquellic

Donald L. Plusquellic is the current mayor of Akron, Ohio, Ohio. First elected in 1987, he became the 59th Mayor of Akron after previously serving 13 years on Akron City Council....
. Mayor Plusquellic is currently serving his fifth term, and was the President of the United States Conference of Mayors during 2004. He is also a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the State capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region, and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England." Boston city proper had a 2007 est...
 Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino

Thomas Michael Menino is the List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor....
 and New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg

Michael Rubens Bloomberg is an United States businessman and philanthropist, and the current Mayor of New York City. He was listed as the eighth-richest American, with a net worth of US$30 Billion, in the Forbes 400 on Sept....
.

The Akron City Council has thirteen members. Ten are elected to represent wards and three are elected at large.

In 1915, a new municipal water system was established. It also included a reservoir on the Cuyahoga River
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 with storage capacity of 2,385,200,000 gallon
Gallon

A gallon is a measure of volume of approximately four litres. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use....
s (9,027,982,000 liter
Litér

Lit?r is a village in Veszpr?m , Hungary.External links ...
s), a complete purification system, and a pumping station.

Economy

Akron is home to two Fortune 500
Fortune 500

The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 United States public corporations as measured by their gross revenue, although Fortune makes adjustments to the revenue for a number of companies, particularly to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect....
 companies: the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Today it is the third largest tire company in the world after Bridgestone and Michelin....
 and FirstEnergy. In addition, Akron is home to a number of smaller companies such as GOJO, makers of Purell
Purell

Purell is an instant hand sanitizer made of ethyl alcohol which claims to kill "99.99% of most common germs that may cause illness in as little as 15 seconds." Its active ingredient is ethanol ....
, Advanced Elastomer Systems, FirstMerit Bank, Roadway Express
Roadway Express

Roadway is an operating company within YRC National Transportation, a division of YRC Worldwide which is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The company services all states as Roadway, services Canada with its subsidiary, Reimer Express....
 (a subsidiary of Yellow Roadway), Myers Industries, an international manufacturer of polymer products, Acme Fresh Market
Acme Fresh Market

Acme Fresh Market is a grocery store chain with 16 locations in Northeast Ohio serving Portage County, Ohio, Stark County, Ohio, Summit County, Ohio, & Cuyahoga County, Ohio Counties....
 and Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a large Multinational corporation aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the Horizontal integration of Lockheed with Martin Marietta....
, Maritime Systems & Sensors division. The City of Akron created the first Joint Economic Development District
Joint Economic Development District

A Joint Economic Development District is an arrangement in Ohio where one or more municipality and a Township agree to work together to develop township land for commercial or industrial purposes....
 to promote regional commerce with neighboring suburbs.

Education

Mayflower Manor Apartment Apartments formerly the Mayflower Hotel. Rising , it is an Akron landmark. Also shown is the Polsky Building. It was once a leading department store. It is now owned by the University of Akron and houses various departments for the school.]]

Higher education

The city is home to the University of Akron
University of Akron

The University of Akron is a Public university institution of higher learning located in Akron, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church of America....
, which serves nearly 26,000 students, making it the fifth largest public university in the state. It is regarded as a world leader in polymer
Polymer

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units typically connected by covalent chemical bonds. While polymer in popular usage suggests plastic, the term actually refers to a large class of natural and synthetic materials with a variety of properties....
 research. The University recently underwent a $300 million dollar construction project, which added nine new buildings and renovated fourteen, and closed Carroll and Union Streets. The University also offers a combined B.S./M.D. program with the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine

Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, also known as NEOUCOM, is a community-based, state medical school that offers a combined B.S./M.D....
. A new football stadium, Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium
Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium

Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium is the name of the new multi-use, on campus stadium in Akron, Ohio, USA, that is currently under construction....
, is being built on-campus as a replacement for the University's previous stadium, the Rubber Bowl
Rubber Bowl

The Rubber Bowl is a stadium in Akron, Ohio, Ohio primarily used for American football. From 1940 to 2008, it served as the home field of the University of Akron's Akron Zips football....
.

Akron is also located in close proximity to several other colleges and universities including the main campus of Kent State University
Kent State University

Kent State University is one of America's largest university systems, the third largest university in Ohio and the largest residential university in northeast Ohio....
 in nearby Kent
Kent, Ohio

Kent is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in the northeastern part of Ohio and the western edge of Portage County....
; Hiram College
Hiram College

Hiram College is a private Liberal arts colleges in the United States located in Hiram, Ohio.Founded by Amos Sutton Hayden of the Disciples of Christ Church in 1850 as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, the school was rechartered under the current name in 1867....
 in Hiram
Hiram, Ohio

Hiram is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Hiram Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
; and the College of Wooster in Wooster
Wooster, Ohio

Wooster is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County, Ohio. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio approximately 50 mi SSW of Cleveland, Ohio, Wooster is noted as the location of The College of Wooster....
 as well as several schools in the Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 area.

Secondary education

Elementary and secondary education is mainly provided by the Akron Public Schools, which are currently going through a 15-year, $800 million rebuilding process, remodeling some schools and entirely replacing others. Some schools will be closing permanently due to a drop in enrollment. The school board could not get a levy passed to pay for its portion of the construction expense so it worked out an arrangement with the city of Akron where the city will use the money from a new income tax
Income tax

An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of people, corporations, or other legal entities. Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence....
 to pay for Community Learning Centers, which will serve as schools but be owned by the city. Meanwhile the academic situation has improved recently as the city’s schools have been moved from “Academic Watch” to “Continuous Improvement” by the Ohio Department of Education.

Private education

Akron also has many private, parochial and charter schools. Akron Public Schools made headlines in 2004 when a freshman student of Akron Digital Academy, the district’s own online charter school, was not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, an event later covered and satirized by The Daily Show
The Daily Show

The Daily Show is an United States news satire television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central in the United States....
. St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, just west of Akron’s downtown, also made headlines when basketball
Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a basketball through a 10 feet  high hoop under organized rules....
 star LeBron James
LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. A three-time Mr Ohio in high school, "King James," was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while still a sophomore at St....
 was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team and won their first Eastern Conference Championship in 2007....
 first overall after his graduation in 2003. Akron-based Summit Academy Schools is the largest system of non-profit community schools in the country which are specifically designed for students with learning disorders such as ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism and PDD-NOS.

Culture and entertainment

Akron has a diverse heritage of restaurants and shopping centers. Quaker Square
Quaker Square

Quaker Square, located in the heart of downtown Akron, Ohio, is a mall made out of the old Quaker Oats mill, silos and factory which originally operated there....
, located in the heart of Akron’s downtown, was redeveloped in the early 1970s as a downtown mall, created from the old Quaker Oats factory, which originally operated at that location. The oat silos had been transformed into unique, round hotel rooms. Recently, the University of Akron purchased this complex for its own use, primarily as residence-hall space.

Highland Square, located in near West Akron and anchored by the historic Highland Theatre, is a well-known entertainment district, featuring antique stores, retail shops, and several unique restaurants and taverns. Other unique and historically significant Akron neighborhoods include Goodyear Heights and Firestone Park, originally developed and designed for employees of the large Akron rubber companies. Likewise, Northwest Akron is home to a number of large mansions, many of which, like the famous Stan Hywet Hall, were built early in the 20th century for the upper management of these companies, as well as the city's many other industries.

During the summer, Akron hosts the National Hamburger Festival, a tribute to the city's role in the invention of the hamburger. Each summer Akron hosts the All American Soap Box Derby
Soap Box Derby

The Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run in the United States since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio....
. Children from around the world race their homemade, gravity-powered race cars down the steep hill at Derby Downs
Derby Downs

File:Ohio-Akron-Soap Box Derby track.jpgDerby Downs, in Akron, Ohio, has been the home race track of the All American Soap Box Derby since it was built as a Works Progress Administration project in the late 1930s....
 in the shadow of the Goodyear Airdock.

Adjacent to the Derby Downs race hill is a outdoor skatepark. The park features concrete ramps, including two bowls going as deep as , a snake run, two hips, a stair set with handrail, many smaller quarter pipes and a variety of grind boxes. Positioned just a few feet from the Akron Skatepark is a BMX course where organized races are often held in the warmer months.

The city is also home to several museums, including:
  • Akron Art Museum
    Akron Art Museum

    The Akron Art Museum is an art museum in Akron, Ohio, Ohio, USA.The museum first opened its doors on February 1, 1922 as the Akron Art Institute....
  • The Archives of the History of American Psychology
  • National Inventors Hall of Fame
    National Inventors Hall of Fame

    The is the premier not-for-profit organization in America dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs....
  • Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
    Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

    Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is a notable country estate , with gardens, located at 714 North Portage Path in Akron, Ohio. It is open Tuesday - Sunday, April 1 through December 30....
  • American Marble and Toy Museum
  • Goodyear World of Rubber Museum


Music

Aside from Akron's North Hill neighborhood's jazz history for decades Akron has been on the music scene in many genres starting from the 1950s with Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett

Howard Hewett is an United States R&B and gospel music singer and former singer of the R&B group Shalamar.Raised in Akron, Ohio, Hewett moved to Los Angeles, California....
 with hits 'Im For Real', 'Stay', and 'Say Amen', then continued in the 70s by Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde

Chrissie Hynde is an American rock musician, best known as the leader of the band The Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history....
 of The Pretenders
The Pretenders

The Pretenders are a United Kingdom rock music band. The original band consisted of group founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers ....
 with hits 'Stop Your Sobbing', 'Kid', and 'Brass in Pocket'. Devo
Devo

Devo , often spelled DEVO or DEV-O, is an American Rock music group formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973. They are best known for their 1980 hit "Whip It", which made it to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....
 who were a pioneer of the music video, creating many memorable clips that were popular in the early days of MTV
MTV

MTV is an United States cable television network based in Media of New York City. Launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJ ....
 in the 80s maintained Akron's presence with their hit 'Whip it'. In the 80s more of Akron native sons kept the city on the "map" like James Ingram
James Ingram

James Ingram is an United States Soul music musician. He is best-known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass guitar, Drum kit and synthesizer....
 with 'Baby, come to me' and younger brother Phillip Ingram, and Buckner & Garcia
Buckner & Garcia

Buckner & Garcia are a duo consisting of Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia from Akron, Ohio. Their first collaboration was in 1980, when they wrote a novelty Christmas song, "Merry Christmas in the NFL", about Howard Cosell as Santa Claus....
 with 'Pac Man Fever'. In the 90s and present decade hip-hop and rock have been the main focus of Akron musicians with bands such as Rubber City Rebels
Rubber City Rebels

The Rubber City Rebels are an United States protopunk band from Akron, Ohio, that formed in 1976 in music....
 with '(I wanna) Pierce my brain' and rapper Chino Nino who collaborated with Juvenile
Juvenile

Juvenile may refer to:*Juvenile or minor*Juvenile , American musician*Juvenile *Juvenile , a Japanese movie*"The Juvenile", a song by Jonas Berggren...
 and B.G. on the track 'U.P.T. to da Top' off his album 'Get Wet' and The Black Keys
The Black Keys

The Black Keys are an American blues-rock music duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. They were formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001....
 whose songs have been used in soundtracks for many movies.

Sports

Akron is the home to two professional sports teams:
ClubSportYear FoundedLeagueVenueChampionships
Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros

The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League , is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians....
 (AA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball based in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio. They are in the American League Central of Major League Baseball's American League....
)
Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball

Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in North America that compete at levels below that of Major League Baseball....
1997Eastern LeagueCanal Park
Canal Park (Akron, Ohio)

Canal Park is a baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio, United States, that is the home of the Akron Aeros of the Eastern League . The team is a double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians....
2 (2003,2005) Southern Division Champions (2003,2005,2006,2007)
Akron Racers
Akron Racers

The Akron Racers are a women's softball team based in Akron, Ohio. Since the 2004 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch....
Softball
Softball

Softball is a Team sport sport popular especially in the United States. It is a direct descendant of baseball and the rules of both sports are substantially similar....
1998NPF
National Pro Fastpitch

National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001....
Firestone Stadium
Firestone Stadium

Firestone Stadium is a historic baseball and softball stadium located in Akron, Ohio, United States.The stadium was dedicated on July 25, 1925 by Harvey Firestone, the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company....
1 (2005)


Akron is also home to the Northeast Ohio Rock n Roller Girls, a flat track roller derby
Roller derby

Roller derby is an United States-invented contact sport?and historically, a form of sports entertainment?based on formation roller skating around an oval track....
 league which was founded in 2007. Their venue is the arena complex at the Summit County Fairgrounds.

Media


Print media

  • Akron Beacon Journal
    Akron Beacon Journal

    The Akron Beacon Journal is a four-time Pulitzer Prize winning morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, and published by Black Press . It is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio....
  • The Buchtelite (University of Akron
    University of Akron

    The University of Akron is a Public university institution of higher learning located in Akron, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church of America....
    )
  • West Side Leader (Leader Publications)
  • Akron Life & Leisure (Baker Media Group)


Radio

See also:Akron Radio
  • WZIP
    WZIP

    WZIP is a radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio, USA. The station is owned by University of Akron....
     88.1 (Top 40 / College – University of Akron
    University of Akron

    The University of Akron is a Public university institution of higher learning located in Akron, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church of America....
    )
  • WAPS 91.3 (Varied formats: local artists, modern rock, blues, jazz and public radio)
  • WAKR
    WAKR

    WAKR is an AM broadcasting station in Akron, Ohio, USA operating on 1590 Kilohertz. It is owned by Rubber City Radio Group, Inc. which also owns Akron's WONE-FM and WQMX and Lansing, Michigan's WJXQ, WQTX, WJZL and WVIC....
     1590 (Talk)
  • WKDD
    WKDD

    WKDD FM 98.1 is a radio station serving the Akron, Ohio and Canton, Ohio metro areas. The station is licensed to Munroe Falls, Ohio and is owned by Clear Channel Communications....
     98.1 (Adult contemporary)
  • WHLO
    WHLO

    WHLO is an AM broadcasting station in Akron, Ohio, USA, operating on 640 Kilohertz, and owned by Clear Channel Communications.The station has a news/talk format with Jim Quinn's morning drive program from WPGB in Pittsburgh, and a schedule of syndicated talkers during the day, headed by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, with a local late morn...
     640 (News/talk)
  • WJMP
    WJMP

    WJMP AM broadcasting 1520 is daytime only radio station licensed to Kent, Ohio and serving the Akron, Ohio radio market. WJMP operates with a maximum power output of 1,000 watts, using a six-tower, daytime-only directional antenna pattern....
     1520 (Sporting News Radio
    Sporting News Radio

    Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week....
    )
  • WKSU 89.7 (National Public Radio
    National Public Radio

    National Public Radio is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national Radio syndication to 797 public radio List of NPR stations in the United States....
    , operated from the campus of Kent State University
    Kent State University

    Kent State University is one of America's largest university systems, the third largest university in Ohio and the largest residential university in northeast Ohio....
    )
  • WONE
    WONE-FM

    WONE-FM is an Frequency modulation radio station in Akron, Ohio operating at 97.5 Megahertz. It is owned by Rubber City Radio Group, Inc. which also owns Akron's WAKR and WQMX and Lansing's WJXQ, WQTX, WJZL and WVIC....
     97.5 (Classic rock)
  • WNIR-FM 100.1 (News/talk)
  • WSTB
    WSTB

    WSTB Radio is a radio station in Streetsboro, Ohio and is entirely locally produced. WSTB provides coverage to Northeast Ohio, Akron Market. They are located on the FM dial at 88.9 MHz, providing Modern Rock from Monday through Saturday....
     88.9 (Alternative)
  • WARF
    Warf

    Warf or WARF can mean:* WARF, an AM radio station in Akron, Ohio, United States* Warf refers to an artificial dwelling hill.* The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the technology transfer office of the University of Wisconsin-Madison....
     1350 (Fox Sports Ohio)
  • WQMX
    WQMX

    WQMX is an FM radio station in Medina, Ohio, USA operating on 94.9 Megahertz with a country music format. It is owned by the Rubber City Radio Group, Inc....
     94.9 (Country)


Television

Akron is unique in that despite its size, it does not form its own television market, primarily due to being less than from Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
. It is part of the Cleveland-Akron
Greater Cleveland

Greater Cleveland is a nickname for the metropolitan area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio.Northeast Ohio refers to a similar but substantially larger area as described below....
 (Canton) Media market
Media market

A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television station and radio broadcasting offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content....
. However, four stations in the market are licensed to Akron.
  • WAOH-LP
    WAOH-LP

    WAOH-LP channel 29 in Akron, Ohio and W35AX channel 35 in Cleveland, Ohio are low power Class A television stations serving the Akron/Cleveland market using the brand "The CAT" ....
     (Independent)
  • WEAO (PBS)
  • WVPX
    WVPX

    WVPX is the Cleveland, Ohio affiliate of the Ion Television network . It is city of license to Akron, Ohio, with a transmitter located on the west side of Akron just north of Rolling Acres Mall....
     (ION)
  • WBNX-TV
    WBNX-TV

    WBNX-TV is the The CW Television Network television affiliate serving the Cleveland-Akron-Elyria, Ohio television market broadcasting on channel 55 and channel 30 ....
     (CW
    The CW Television Network

    The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006-07 United States network television schedule....
    )


WAOH and WEAO serve the city of Akron specifically, while WBNX and WVPX identify themselves as "Akron-Cleveland", serving the entire Northeast Ohio market. Akron has no native news broadcast, having lost its only news station when the former WAKC became WVPX in 1996. WVPX and Cleveland's WKYC later provided a joint news program, which was cancelled in 2005.

Infrastructure


Health

Akron's adult hospitals are owned by two health systems, Summa Health System and Akron General Health System. Summa Health System
Summa Health System

Summa Health System is one of the largest organized delivery systems in Ohio, encompassing a network of hospitals, community-based health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, an entrepreneurial entity, research and medical education and a foundation....
 operates Akron City Hospital and St. Thomas Hospital, an orthopedic hospital located in the North Hill neighborhood. Akron General Health System operates Akron General Medical Center. Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Children's Hospital

The Akron Children's Hospital is a children's hospital located in Akron, Ohio, Ohio....
 is an independent entity that specializes in pediatric and burn care. Both Akron City Hospital and Akron General have been on the U.S. News and World Report Magazine's list of "Best Hospitals" many times. It is worth noting that both AGMC and Summa are designated Level I Trauma Centers. By comparison, Akron's much larger urban neighbor to the north, Cleveland, has only one.

Transportation

Akron’s transportation needs are fulfilled by two major interstates, Interstate 76
Interstate 76 (east)

Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
 and Interstate 77
Interstate 77

Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio....
. I-76, I-77, and Route 8
Ohio State Highway 8

State Route 8 stretches from the eastern junction of Interstate 76 and Interstate 77 in Akron, Ohio to Downtown Cleveland at the U.S. Route 6 /U.S....
 meet at one central interchange, which is commonly known by the same name. The central interchange divides the city into four quadrants. The Interstate 76 Eastern Expressway weaves through much of Akron’s warehouse sector and the Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Today it is the third largest tire company in the world after Bridgestone and Michelin....
 world headquarters is easily visible. I-76 is paired with I-77 for about two miles (3 km) west of the central interchange, and then splits off again, with I-76 later being paired with US-224 and I-77 heading north towards Cleveland. This portion of highway is currently under review by ODOT for reconstruction. The Western highway is a major route to Cleveland and Columbus, and is a near term destination to Fairlawn
Fairlawn, Ohio

Fairlawn is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. An affluent suburb of Akron, Ohio, its population was 7,307 at the United States Census 2000....
, a major commercial area. Route 8
Ohio State Highway 8

State Route 8 stretches from the eastern junction of Interstate 76 and Interstate 77 in Akron, Ohio to Downtown Cleveland at the U.S. Route 6 /U.S....
 has been overhauled numerous times and serves as a major entryway for the north-eastern suburbs, namely Cuyahoga Falls
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Cuyahoga Falls is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census, 2000, the city population was 49,374. It is currently the second largest city in Summit County....
, Munroe Falls
Munroe Falls, Ohio

Munroe Falls, formerly a section of Stow and Tallmadge townships, is a city located in the northeast portion of Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States, near Kent, Ohio and south of Stow, Ohio....
, Stow
Stow, Ohio

Stow is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The population was 32,139 at the United States Census 2000, and 34,051 as of 2007. It is a suburb of Akron, Ohio and is part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
 and Hudson
Hudson, Ohio

Hudson is a city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The population was 22,439 at the United States Census 2000, making it the 389th List of Midwestern cities by size....
. There is also one highway to the south, U.S. Highway 224, part of which is also notated as Interstate 277
Interstate 277 (Ohio)

Interstate 277 is a connector route linking Interstate 76 and Interstate 77 in Akron, Ohio. It was completed in 1970 and shares its entire length with U.S....
 (I-277 connects I-77 with I-76). The Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, commonly known as the Innerbelt, includes part of the longer Route 59
Ohio State Highway 59

State Route 59 is an east-west route in northeastern Ohio. It runs from its western terminus in downtown Akron, Ohio at an interchange with Interstate 76 /Interstate 77 to its eastern terminus at Ohio State Route 5 in Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio....
. It serves the very center of the city, and was supposed to run from the I-76 / I-77 to Route 8
Ohio State Highway 8

State Route 8 stretches from the eastern junction of Interstate 76 and Interstate 77 in Akron, Ohio to Downtown Cleveland at the U.S. Route 6 /U.S....
. However, due to poor planning, the Innerbelt was never completed and only runs to Main St./Howard St. Route 59
Ohio State Highway 59

State Route 59 is an east-west route in northeastern Ohio. It runs from its western terminus in downtown Akron, Ohio at an interchange with Interstate 76 /Interstate 77 to its eastern terminus at Ohio State Route 5 in Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio....
 also lacks direct I-76W / I-77N inbound and offbound ramps, furthering its problems. Mayor Don Plusquellic has brought up the idea of tearing up the northern end of the Innerbelt in order to free land for development, although some residents have stated that they would like to see it completely connected as originally planned.

Public transportation is available through the METRO RTA
METRO RTA

METRO Regional Transit Authority , also known as Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority , is the public transit agency serving Summit County, Ohio and the city of Akron, Ohio....
 system, which has a fleet of over two hundred buses and trolleys, and operates local routes as well as running commuter buses into downtown Cleveland. Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) also has a bus line running between Canton
Canton, Ohio

Canton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio and is situated on the Nimishillen Creek, approximately 24 miles south of Akron, Ohio and 60 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio....
 and Akron. Amtrak closed its station near Quaker Square in 2005. Airline passengers travelling to or from Akron use either the Akron-Canton Regional Airport
Akron-Canton Regional Airport

Akron-Canton Airport is a commercial Class C airport airport located in the city of Green, Ohio, in southern Summit County, Ohio roughly southeast of Akron, Ohio, Ohio, roughly northwest of Canton, Ohio, Ohio, and roughly south of Cleveland, Ohio....
 in Green
Green, Ohio

Green is an affluent suburban city in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The population was 22,817 at the United States Census 2000. It is located almost exactly midway between the cities of Akron, Ohio and Canton, Ohio, although it is technically part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
 or Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, Ohio, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Ohio, United States....
. Two low-fare airlines, Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines, Inc. is a Low-cost carrier airline headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Colorado, United States. The carrier operates flights throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada....
 and AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways is a low-cost carrier airline that is a Delaware corporation with headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Florida, USA and is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings....
, have begun serving Akron-Canton in recent years, making that airport a fairly popular alternative for travellers to or from the Cleveland area. Akron Fulton International Airport
Akron Fulton International Airport

Akron Fulton International Airport is a general aviation airport located in the city of Akron, Ohio in Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States....
 serves private planes and is the home of the Lockheed Martin Airdock, where the Goodyear blimps were formerly stored and maintained. The Goodyear blimps are now housed outside of Akron in a facility on the shores of Wingfoot Lake in Suffield.

The Towpath is a regional bike and hike trail that follows the Ohio and Erie Canal. A bridge was completed in Summer 2008, crossing Route 59/The Innerbelt, which connects the Towpath proper with bike routes painted onto downtown Akron's city streets, thus completing another step towards the connection of Cleveland and East Liverpool with a hike and bike trail.

The Akron RTA Transit Center located on South Broadway Street features 432 solar panels on the roof making it the largest single array in Ohio will provide about 33% of the facility's yearly needs, and recyclable water as part of an effort to go green. It also has installed geothermal heating and cooling seats for 300 people, free wireless internet access, and 45 geothermal wells sunk into the earth providing heat and air conditioning for the facility. An Akron Police Department substation with two police officers working all hours of transfer operation and more than 90 security cameras are also on site. Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines

Greyhound Lines is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and incorporated as "Greyhound Corporation" in 1929....
 also has bus transportation through the facility.

Sister cities

Akron has two sister cities
Town twinning

Town twinning, also known as sister cities, is a concept whereby towns or city in geographically and politically distinct areas are paired, with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links between their inhabitants....
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International

Sister Cities International is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and fostering town twinning, especially between cities in the United States and cities in other countries....
:

- Chemnitz
Chemnitz

Chemnitz is a city in eastern Germany. With a population of approximately 245,000 in its city limits, Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony....
, Saxony
Saxony

The Free State of Saxony is a States of Germany of Germany. Located in the southeastern part of present-day Germany. It is the tenth-largest German state in area and the sixth largest in population , of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
- Kiryat Ekron
Kiryat Ekron

Kiryat Ekron or Qiryath Eqron is an Israeli town located on the coastal plain in the Central Region of Israel. Founded in 1948, Kiryat Ekron is named after Ekron, the Philistine city that once existed nearby, presumably where now stands the modern town Gedera....
, Israel
Israel

Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area....


See also

  • List of people from Akron, Ohio
    List of people from Akron, Ohio

    The following people were all born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Akron, Ohio, and its surrounding metropolitan statistical area, including Portage County, Ohio, and Summit County, Ohio....
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Akron, Ohio
  • Timeline of Akron, Ohio
    Timeline of Akron, Ohio

    *1807?General Simon Perkins, commissioner of the Ohio Canal Fund, enthusiastic promoter of the Western Reserve and involved in planning the canal across the Summit and down the river to Lake Erie, has acquired land in the area of the Portage Summit....


Further reading

  • Akron Chamber of Commerce Year Book, (1913-14)
  • Dyer, Joyce, Gum-Dipped: A Daughter Remembers Rubber Town, The University of Akron Press
    University of Akron Press

    The University of Akron Press is a university press that is part of the University of Akron.External links...
    : Akron (2003)
  • Endres, Kathleen, Akron's Better Half: Women's Clubs and the Humanization of a City, 1825-1925, The University of Akron Press: Akron (2006)
  • Jones, Alfred Winslow, Life, Liberty, & Property: A Story of Conflict and a Measurement of Conflicting Rights, The University of Akron Press: Akron (1999)
  • Russ Musarra and Chuck Ayers, Walks around Akron, The University of Akron Press: Akron (2007)
  • S. A. Lane, Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, (Akron, 1892)
  • S. Love and David Giffels, Wheels of Fortune: The Story of Rubber in Akron, Ohio, The University of Akron Press: Akron (1998)
  • S. Love, Ian Adams, and Barney Taxel, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, The University of Akron Press: Akron (2000)
  • F. McGovern, Written on the Hills: The Making of the Akron Landscape, The University of Akron Press: Akron (1996)
  • F. McGovern, Fun, Cheap, and Easy: My Life in Ohio Politics, 1949-1964, The University of Akron Press: Akron (2002).


External links