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Akron, Ohio, just 40 miles south of Cleveland, is the fifth-largest city in the state. With a population of 217,000, and an area of nearly 63 square miles, this Midwestern city has won the National Civic League All-American City award three times, earning a place of honor in the Civic League Hall of Fame. The National Arbor Day Foundation has dubbed Akron a "Tree City USA" 12 times, honoring the city's "commitment to community forestry."
With the development of the Erie Canal in 1825, Akron saw its first stages of development. However, the real boom in population didn't occur until the late 1800s, when Goodyear and other tire and rubber manufacturers made Akron the "Rubber Capital of the World." The only one that remains in Akron today is Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, one of the largest employers in the city. Additionally, there are 400 polymer-related companies in Akron, as it has become a hub for polymer research and development. First Energy, a Fortune 500 company, also makes its home in Akron. Health care is also a major industry in Akron, with several Level I Trauma hospitals and medical centers.
Downtown Akron is mostly zoned for offices, retail, and commercial space. However, there are also renter-occupied residential areas. The area appeals to young, career-minded individuals; in fact, 70 percent of the residents who make their home in downtown Akron are single or living alone.
Ellet is one of the largest neighborhoods in the city. Most of the houses are new, and in addition to residential areas, Ellet is where the Akron municipal airport is located.
Fairland Heights, in northwestern Akron, is a neighborhood of elegant single-family homes on abundant, country-like lots. Almost half the residents are over the age of 45, most with higher educations and incomes than many other Akron communities.
Firestone Park and Goodyear Heights are historic communities closely tied to the days when Akron was bustling with rubber manufacturers. Both neighborhoods were built around the year 1900 to provide affordable housing to employees of Firestone Rubber Company and Goodyear, in close proximity to the factory locations.
Highland Square is considered the entertainment district of Akron. It is a pedestrian-oriented urban village consisting primarily of multistory apartment buildings. It appeals mostly to Akron's college students.
Lane-Wooster has the highest population of children in the city, with 34 percent of its residents under the age of 20.
Northwest Akron is a newer neighborhood, with recently constructed large estate homes.
University Park, near University of Akron, serves predominantly as campus and rental housing, with 64 percent of the population between the ages of 20 and 44.
The University of Akron offers 300 academic degree programs to its approximately 26,000 enrolled students. The school also has nearly 20 NCAA Division I-A intercollegiate sports for both men and women.
Akron Public Schools have more than 27,000 students in 63 schools. While the district hasn't always received high scores for academic achievement, the Ohio Department of Education recently changed Akron schools' status from "academic watch" to "continuous improvement." In an effort to maintain that improvement, the district recently implemented a 15-year, $800 million plan to rebuild and renovate.
Area museums include Akron Art Museum, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Goodyear World of Rubber Museum, and American Marble and Toy Museum. Other area attractions are:
Festivals and annual events that draw large crowds to Akron each year include:
Local newspapers and publications include Akron City Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, The Buchtelite (university newspaper), West Side Leader, and Akron Life and Leisure. Several television stations on the Cleveland-Akron media market broadcast out of Akron:
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