Lakewood, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 56,646 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Education
4 Attractions
5 Transportation
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Lakewood is located at 41°28′51″N, 81°48′1″W (41.480881, -81.800360)^GR1. This is about 6 miles east of downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²). 14.4 km² (5.6 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (17.16%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^{GR 2} of 2000, there were 56,646 people, 26,693 households, and 12,545 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,940.7/km² (10,208.5/mi²), making it more densely populated than both Los Angeles, California and Toronto, Canada (It is, in fact, the most densely populated city between New York and Chicago). There were 28,416 housing units at an average density of 1,976.8/km² (5,121.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.07% White, 1.97% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 2.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population. Lakewood has been recognized as being a counterculture and alternative haven for Northeast Ohio residents, as opposed to the outer-ring suburbs.

There were 26,693 households out of which 23.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.0% were non-families. 43.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,527, and the median income for a family was $53,433. Males had a median income of $38,513 versus $30,370 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,945. About 6.1% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Lakewood has the good fortune to have an excellent quality of education for its residents. There are educational opportunities for parochial schools, job specific training, and public education. There are two high schools in Lakewood:

St. Edward High School - Private Roman Catholic High School for men which attracts students from around Northeast Ohio due to its outstanding athletic and academic programs. Students from St. Edward regularly place among the top athletes in the state.
Lakewood High School - One of the largest high schools in the state of Ohio, with over 2000 students attending. Has outstanding athletic facilities which regularly host regional competitions.
Lincoln Elementary 15615 Clifton Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 - Lincoln Elementary is the best elementary school in Lakewood by greatschools performance index.

[edit] Attractions

Gold Coast - Lakewood, OH.

Lakewood Park - Lakewood, OH.

Lakewood's Gold Coast, along Edgewater Drive, is a densely populated row of luxury high-rise apartment and condominium buildings.
Lakewood Park is one of the largest lakefront parks in Ohio and features a live concert stage, outdoor swimming pool, picnic pavillions, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and a skate park. In May of 2006, the city of Lakewood added a paved bicycle/jogging trail that loops the entire park and a lakefront boardwalk that offers outstanding views of the Cleveland skyline.
The Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks System forms part of the city's western border. The Lakewood Dog Park is located next to the Metroparks, in the Rocky River valley.
Lakewood Public Library has won numerous awards and has several branches throughout the city.
The Beck Center for the Arts is the largest cultural arts center in Northeast Ohio and showcases numerous theatrical productions, concerts, events, activities and art shows.
Madison Village, an area in southeast Lakewood that consists of art and record stores, and has a progressive, or counterculture atmosphere.
Five art galleries: Bela Dubby (art gallery and coffee shop), the Pop Shop (pop art), the Dead Horse Gallery, the Local Girl Gallery and the Wobblefoot Gallery.
Lakewood boasts a very popular bar scene up and down both Madison Avenue and Detroit Avenue.
Historical housing and an active historical society.
The eastern edge of Lakewood blends smoothly with Cleveland's Edgewater neighborhood to create a culturally diverse district that comprises two cities, known as "The Edge: Two Cities, One Neighborhood".
Birdtown (also known as Bird's Nest) is a very well-known 8-street residential district on the southeast side of the city that was built specifically for the workers of the nearby Union Carbide company in the 1890's. The houses are distinctive and most of the streets are named after birds. Birdtown was recently designated a National Register Historic District. Located adjacent to Madison Park, the former Union Carbide factory, and the W. 117th St. Rapid Transit Station.

[edit] Transportation

The Gold Line (55X/55F) is RTA's most efficient bus route which runs east and west along Clifton Boulevard, terminating at Cleveland State University at East 21st Street in downtown Cleveland to the east and in Avon Lake via Lake Road to the west.
The RTA #326 serves Detroit Avenue, the #86 serves Warren Road, and #70 goes to Lakewood Park.
The Rapid Transit Station is located at W. 117th St. and Madison Avenue, offering access to the Red Line east to downtown Cleveland or west to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
I-90 borders the southside of Lakewood and has on/off-ramps at W. 117th St., Bunts Road, Warren Road, and McKinley Road.
The Shoreway begins approximately 1 mile east of Lakewood via Lake Avenue and Clifton Boulevard and serves as a transportation hub to and from downtown Cleveland.